Jesus" explanation of the importance of true righteousness was the heart of the Sermon on the Mount as Matthew narrated it ( Matthew 5:17 to Matthew 7:12). The need of love is the heart of this sermon according to Luke. Matthew reported that Jesus spoke of true righteousness in relation to three things: the Scriptures ( Matthew 5:17-48), the Father ( Matthew 6:1-18), and the world ( Matthew 6:19 to Matthew 7:12). Luke omitted Jesus" teaching on the relationship of true righteousness to the Father that included instruction about ostentation ( Matthew 6:1), alms-giving ( Matthew 6:2-4), praying ( Matthew 6:5-15), and fasting ( Luke 6:16-18). The first of these sections laid down a basic principle and the last three dealt with the Song of Solomon -called three pillars of Jewish piety. Luke recorded some of Jesus" teachings on these subjects elsewhere in his Gospel. [source][source][source]
In the section dealing with the relationship of true righteousness to the Scriptures, Luke recorded only one of Jesus" revelations. He combined Jesus" teaching about God"s will concerning love ( Matthew 5:43-47) and the importance of loving the brethren ( Matthew 7:1-5). He passed over here Jesus" explanation of His view of the Old Testament and His revelations about God"s will concerning murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, retaliation, and His summary of the disciple"s duty. [source][source][source]
As we have noted previously, one of Luke"s main concerns, as is clear from his selection of material, was his concern for people. He did not present Jesus" teaching about love contrasted with rabbinic distortions of the Old Testament, as Matthew did ( Matthew 5:43-44). Rather he stressed Jesus" positive command, the Golden Rule, which Matthew included later in his version of the sermon ( Matthew 7:12). Luke recorded Jesus identifying seven actions that reveal true love in a disciple. These are all impossible to produce naturally; they require supernatural enablement. Demonstration of this kind of love reveals true righteousness in a disciple, righteousness imparted by God and enlivened by His Spirit. [source][source][source]