The purpose of this study is to identify and develop appreciation for the theme of the reversal of weeping in Luke’s gospel. Lukan scholarship has not fully recognized the reversal of weeping as a distinctive theme. By understanding Luke’s third beatitude (6:21b) and third woe (6:25b) as two pegs on which the theme of the reversal of weeping is hung, it proposes that the reversal of weeping is a distinctive theme in Luke. In doing so, Luke repetitively uses κλαίω to highlight the theme. This technique of Leitwort leads readers to focus on the reversal of weeping more effectively. Luke’s presentation of the reversal of weeping is not limited to identifying it as a distinctive theme. There are narrative intentions and theological implications that Luke also targets. First, Luke wants to demonstrate concern for marginalized groups in society. He also shows how their fortunes are reversed by Jesus. Second, Luke portrays Jesus as the promised prophet, describing him as like Elijah and Jeremiah, but superior to them. Finally, Luke provides the reversal of weeping as a significant phenomenon of the kingdom of God, particularly to show that the presence of God’s kingdom is inaugurated and realized in Jesus Christ.

Hyper-spiritual approaches to finding God's will don't work. It's time to try something new: Give up. Pastor and author Kevin DeYoung counsels Christians to settle down, make choices, and do the hard work of seeing those choices through. Too often, he writes, God's people tinker around with churches, jobs, and relationships, worrying that they haven't found God's perfect will for their lives. Or-even worse-they do absolutely nothing, stuck in a frustrated state of paralyzed indecision, waiting...waiting...waiting for clear, direct, unmistakable direction. But God doesn't need to tell us what to do at each fork in the road. He's already revealed his plan for our lives: to love him with our whole hearts, to obey His Word, and after that, to do what we like. No need for hocus-pocus. No reason to be directionally challenged. Just do something.

A spiritual classic, this detailed and comprehensive study by one of the greatest expository preachers of our time explains Christ's teaching in the Sermon on the Mount and incisively applies it to the Christian life. With characteristic vigor and emotional vitality Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents a brilliant and detailed exposition of one of the best known but most frequently misunderstood passages of Scripture. Here is a comprehensive and exhaustive study of our Lord's words as recorded in Matthew chapter five. This beautiful portion of the Sermon on the Mount is carefully analysed, its contents outlined and thoughtfully arranged, and vastly rich and abundant truths are gleaned for the reader's spiritual nurture. The author brought a wealth of devoted study as well as a profound spiritual appreciation to the work of interpreting this greatest address of our delightful experience in meditation. It presents depth of thought in simple language and beauty of style and contains a veritable thesaurus of spiritual truths drawn from the entire Bible.