In Matthew's Gospel, the Beatitudes are addressed to Jesus' disciples in the third person (Mt 5:3-10). In Luke's Gospel, they are in the second person. Therefore, in Luke, it's harder to assume that the Beatitudes are meant for someone else.
In Matthew, it is implied that if we don't live the Beatitudes, we will merely miss out on the blessings. But in Luke, those who don't live the Beatitudes put themselves under several curses (Lk 6:24-26). Luke doesn't mention "poor in spirit" or "hunger and thirst for holiness". He simply says "you poor" and "you who hunger" (Lk 6:20). Luke's Beatitudes more clearly require practical changes in our lifestyle.
Of course, both Matthew's and Luke's Beatitudes are divinely inspired, but Luke's especially challenge us to obey Jesus. Luke's four Beatitudes and four Woes motivate us to obey Matthew's eight Beatitudes. This leads us to obey Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and then all the Lord's commands.
| PRAYER: | Father, by repenting, may my woes give way to blessings. |
| PROMISE: | "Since you have been raised up in company with Christ, set your heart on what pertains to higher realms where Christ is seated at God's right hand. Be intent on things above rather than on things of earth." –Col 3:1-2 |
| PRAISE: | Frequent Confession has profoundly changed Larry's life. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College