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After various acts of healing, Jesus preached a sermon on a level place, or plain. This sermon contains much material that is also in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7). It begins with four blessings, all of which have parallels in the Sermon on the Mount. In Mt 5:3, 6 the blessings deal with spiritual poverty and hunger. In Lk 6:20-21 it is an open question whether Jesus' words about the poor and hungry refer to spiritual or material need. They may refer to both. The word translated “blessed” can also mean “happy.” The blessings are followed by four woes, a stern warning to all who pride themselves on worldly success and affluence.
The sermon contains important teaching about discipleship. It includes the Golden Rule (v.31). It stresses the need to love enemies, refrain from violence, and give to the poor. Those who love in this way will become children of God. Indeed God is to be regarded as the pattern of merciful conduct. People should exercise forgiveness rather than judgment, and self-criticism should precede criticism of others. There is a strong emphasis on good works. It is not sufficient to pay lip service to Jesus as Lord. Obedience to his teaching is required. The parable of the two men, one who built his house on rock and the other on sand, dramatizes this message (vv.46-49).