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Detailed Contents of Luke’s Sermon on the Plain:

.	LUKE	Matthew
Beatitudes: “Blessed are…”	6:20-23	5:3-12
Woes: “Woe to you who…”	6:24-26	[ch. 23]
Love your enemies (do good, bless, pray)	6:27-28	5:43-45
“Turn the other cheek…”	6:29-30	5:38-42
Golden Rule: “Do unto others…”	6:31	7:12
“If you love only those…”	6:32-34	5:46-47
Love your enemies (repeated)	6:35	x
Be merciful… as God is	6:36	5:48
Do not judge/condemn (cf. Mk 4:24)	6:37-38	7:1-2; 12:36-37
Can the blind lead the blind?	6:39	15:14
Disciples aren’t above teachers (cf. Jn 13:16)	6:40	10:24-25a
Parable of specks and planks	6:41-42	7:3-5
Trees with good or bad fruit	6:43-44	7:15-20; 12:33
Good/evil people produce good/evil	6:45	12:34-35
Don’t just call out, “Lord, Lord”	6:46	7:21-23
Parable of two houses	6:47-49	7:24-27
Conclusion/Transition	7:1	7:28-29; 8:1

Beatitudes and Woes (Luke: 6:20-26)
- 20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
  “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
  21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.
  “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
  22 “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.
  23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
  24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
  25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry.
  “Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.
  26 “Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.

Beatitudes (Matthew: 5:1-12)
Christ’s sermon upon the mount. The eight beatitudes.

[1] And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him. [2] And opening his mouth, he taught them, saying: [3] Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [4] Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. [5] Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

[3] The poor in spirit: That is, the humble; and they whose spirit is not set upon riches.

[6] Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. [7] Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. [8] Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. [9] Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God. [10] Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[11] Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: [12] Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you.

With regard to the Sermon on the Mount, the Pope is within the mainstream of Christianity in failing to grasp its message and, instead of actually listening to Jesus, make up what they want to hear and listen to themselves. The beatitudes have nothing to do with poverty. The two that seem to have something to do with poverty actually aren’t about poverty.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, Jesus says, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. First, poor in spirit, not poor. The two things - poor in spirit and poor - have nothing to do with each other.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. This isn’t about poverty (not having enough to eat or drink).

None of the other beatitudes are about poverty either. Check it out. The beatitudes are not about poverty. What’s important is being poor in spirit and hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Each of poverty and wealth has its own temptation (Proverbs 30:9). Neither is a sign of the elect. (Matthew 19:26)