Bible Verse: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Luke 6:46
Scripture Reading: Luke 6
There’s something especially delicious about a statement smothered with so much irony that it drips.
Jesus’ question in Luke 6:46 falls into the category of one of the tastier morsels in the whole Gospel account. In some ways, it could find a perfect home right at the end of the Gospel as Jesus’ parting question/challenge.
The Greek word for Lord, kurios, has two distinct meanings: one is the direction most Christians go, thinking of the divine nature of Jesus, a recognition of Jesus as God. The other meaning is more like “master” or “boss.”
The divine attribution is certainly appropriate when it comes to Jesus. But at this point in His ministry, we need to question whether His broader audience would have recognized this yet. Indeed, He had amazed crowds with His authoritative words and miraculous deeds, but would they have thought enough of Him to call Him God at this point?
In Luke 6, Jesus is delivering the Sermon on the Plain, an extended monologue of encouragement and challenge where He reorients His listeners to what true religion and life in the Kingdom of God looks like.
At the end of the sermon, Jesus calls out His listeners: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I say?” (v.46) Let’s read this both ways that “Lord” can be meant.
“Why do you call me ‘God, God,’ and not do what I say?” That is an unbelievably obvious question. If the listening audience was referring to Jesus as God, the idea that they would not listen attentively and do everything asked of them is as ridiculous as the question sounds—even though historically, people have struggled to do just that.
“Why do you call me ‘Boss, Boss,’ and not do what I say?” Let’s just be brief and say this is not a job you will hang on to for long when your boss asks that question.
While we do not know which usage the crowd was employing, the truth is that it’s an eye-roller either way. Jesus was telling His listeners (and us, too) that our actions must align with what we call Him. Don’t call me God or Boss if you are not going to do what I say.
Prayer: Lord, God, Boss of my life, I don’t always follow the instructions You have given. Forgive me for both willful disobedience and lazy ignorance. Help me to be careful to do all that You have revealed of what it means to follow You.
Reflection: What is one area in which you have struggled to follow Jesus? What steps can you take this week to surrender that area and follow your Boss and your God?
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