Year 4, Day 215: Luke 6

Theological Commentary: Click Here 

Discipleship Focus: Bear Fruit, Obedience

• Bear Fruit: We bear fruit after we grow.  Bearing fruit is ultimately the goal of abiding and the goal of being called into the Kingdom of God.  However, while bearing fruit is our calling, it is not the end.  We bear fruit so that we can then prune, abide, grow, and bear more fruit in another season.  Bearing fruit is not the end, but rather only a portion of the whole rhythm of life into which God has called us.
• Obedience: Genuine and satisfying obedience comes out of our identity.  Our true identity comes only from Father.

This chapter really focuses us in on the dynamics of bearing fruit and being obedient.  Take a look at the majority of the stories and teachings presented in Luke 6.

At the beginning of this chapter, we hear about the conflict between the Pharisees and Jesus because Jesus’ disciples eat grain from the field on the Sabbath and Jesus then heals a man with a withered hand on another Sabbath.  The middle of the chapter is all about Jesus telling the people that a life in God looks vastly different – even upside down – than a life of someone who is not with God.  At the end of this chapter Jesus focuses on listening to Him, not quarreling against Him, bearing good fruit, and building one’s house on the rock of His teaching.

Yes, this chapter is absolutely about obedience.  Jesus is concerned about obedience.  The conflict with the Pharisees is all because Jesus is teaching to be obedient to God the Father whereas the Pharisees are teaching about obeying “man’s improvement upon God’s Law.”  Jesus gives us the Sermon on the Plain so that we will have a general idea of the morals and values to which we should be obedient.  We should value things like the times when we are persecuted, the times when we have to rely upon God for food and clothing and shelter, the times when we can love an enemy, and the times when we can pray for those who seek our harm.  Jesus wants us to absolutely be obedient to that identity which comes from the Father.

Of course, in order to be obedient to that identity one will also bear fruit.  A disciple will become like his disciple-maker.  God will use the disciple to make a mark upon the next generation of disciples.  The obedient disciple will build his house and bear fruit in encouraging those around him to do the same.  Bearing fruit is just what obedient disciples do.

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