Blessings and Woes | The Wolfe Notes

These notes follow our 7-step rhythm for Bible study. Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotes are from the International Children's Bible.

Blessings and Woes

(From Luke 6:17-26)

Sunshine on Birch Trees by SutekhDF at Pixabay

1. Summary

The disciples all descend the mountain to a flat land where they are joined by an extremely diverse group of people from across the region. They came for healing and to be liberated from demonic possession by simply touching Jesus. Jesus looks at His disciples and tells them they are blessed. Their current circumstance might be poor, hungry, mourning, or hated, but Jesus urges them to look beyond to the eternal truth as satisfied, joyful, chosen, heirs to God's kingdom. He further comforts them by recalling a promise of old: those who curse you, will be cursed. Those who seek their reward on earth—wealth, satisfaction, and happiness—receive the opposite eternally.

2. N/W/L Statements

1. I NOTICED that 
1. While the characteristics are the same (finances, food, and mood), the consequences are reversed. 
2. According to Jesus, if you struggle now, you are actually blessed. But if you are content in this world, danger is coming.
2. I WONDER why He addressed the disciples in the midst of a larger crowd that was seeking His healing, a crowd who knew lack.
3. I think God wants us to LEARN:
1. Our reward is the transformation that comes from following Christ. 
2. The Kingdom is for everyone, but being a member of it while we're still in this broken world is not easy.
3. What God promised in the Old Testament remains true today: He will bless those who bless us and curse those who curse us.
4. If the things of this world do satisfy us, we should heed the warning.

3. Key Verse

When these things happen, rejoice! Jump for JOY! Then you have a great reward in heaven for at that moment, you are experiencing what the ancient prophets did when they were similarly treated by the ancestors of your detractors. Luke 6:23 VOICE

Jesus told us we would experience trouble (John 16:33), but we're never to let our current position affect our eternal standing. We've chosen Jesus, and some people will harshly criticize our choices. Even if we must live through supremely horrible, blazing furnace type conditions, we have hope (Daniel 3:17-18). And, when people ask for the hope that is within us, we're ready to explain it (I Peter 3:15-16). At a moment like this, we know we are truly living for God and not man (Isaiah 2:22).

4. God's Character

1. God invites us into kingdom living today.
1. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. Isaiah 54:17 KJV
2. The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you. Matthew 6:33
3. In the kingdom of God, eating and drinking are not important. The important things are living right with God, peace, and JOY in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17
2. God is the only thing that truly satisfies.
1. He satisfies the thirsty. He fills up the hungry. Psalm 107:9
2. "My people have done two sins. They have turned away from me. And I am the spring of living water. And they have dug their own wells. But they are broken wells that cannot hold water. Jeremiah 2:13 
3. Then Jesus said, "I am the bread that gives life. He who comes to me will never be hungry. He who believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35
3. God blesses those who bless us, and curses those who curse us.
1. I will bless those who bless you. I will place a curse on those who harm you. And all the people on earth will be blessed through you. Genesis 12:3
2. Laban said to him, "If I have pleased you, please stay. I know the Lord has blessed me because of you. Genesis 30:27
3. They may curse me, but you bless me. They may attack me, but they will be disgraced. Then I, your servant, will be glad. Psalm 109:28

5. Pray

Father God, while living in this broken world, it is easy to find myself desiring the things of it: money, food, and happiness. Teach me that transformation through the power of Your Son is my true reward, and help me slow down to rest in the abundance of Your kingdom, to savor the satisfaction found in hungering for you, to laugh when You turn my tears of sorrow to tears of JOY, and to reJOYce through rejection as I find my true self once again in You. I know the secret: Blessed am I. This world will never satisfy me; I've tasted and seen the goodness of You.

6. Act

• Heal the hurting.
• Free the oppressed
• Seek transformation.
• Know you are blessed.

7. Annotation Notes

? Denotes a question, * a personal thought, x a cross reference, ! a connection, and italics a referenced source.

1. ! It would be interesting to compare these blessings and woes with the ones recited in Deuteronomy 27:9-28 by the priests on opposing mountains. 
1. Deuteronomy ranks third in frequency of the word blessing in the OT, Genesis comes first and Psalms second. Interestingly, Genesis and Deuteronomy bookend the Torah, which hints at the Torah being encompassed by blessings. - Bible Project (Genesis Scroll: Great Blessing and Great Responsibility)
2. * The confidence that would come from living with a spirit of blessedness reminds me of Proverbs 31:25: She is strong and is respected by the people. She looks forward to the future with JOY.
3. *This brings to mind the idea of trading. Are you trading things of this world for God's promises, or trading God's promises for the things of this world.
1. x He has sent me to the sorrowing people of Jerusalem. I will give them a crown to replace their ashes. I will give them the oil of gladness to replace their sorrow. I will give them clothes of praise to replace their spirit of sadness. Then they will be called Trees of Goodness. They will be like trees planted by the Lord and will show his greatness. Isaiah 61:3
2. x "When you give to the poor, don't be like the hypocrites. They blow trumpets before they give so that people will see them. They do that in the synagogues and on the streets. They want other people to honor them. I tell you the truth. Those hypocrites already have their full reward. Matthew 6:2
3. x They don't realize their need; Jesus came to save the ones who knew they were sick. (Mark 2:17)
4. ! Many lessons about the beatitudes come to mind.
1. Memorizing them in children's church.
2. The Chosen Bible Study: Session 2: The idea of the Beatitudes is to help you understand what you already have as a member of God's Kingdom living in the in-between. The world may not see you as blessed, and you may not recognize yourself as blessed, but because God chose you, you are. We need to train ourselves to see it. 
3. A sermon at my church: The beatitudes highlight the Kingdom's upside down view: what the world views as reprehensible, God values; what the world calls good, God cautions.

Sample these related resources:

• For notes on Matthew's version of the Sermon on the Mount.
• To listen to the Bible Project podcast "Great Blessing and Great Responsibility" from the "Genesis Scroll" series.
• For a word study on "blessed".
• To laugh at the days to come with the concluding poem of Proverbs 31.
• To contrast "poor" and "needy".

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