Luke 6

Lord of the Sabbath

1 On a Sabbath,^[a] He passed through the grainfields. His disciples were picking heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.

2 But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?"

3 Jesus answered them, "Haven't you read what David and those who were with him did when he was hungry-

4 how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the sacred bread, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat? He even gave some to those who were with him."

5 Then He told them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

The Man with the Paralyzed Hand

6 On another Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching. A man was there whose right hand was paralyzed.

7 The scribes and Pharisees were watching Him closely, to see if He would heal on the Sabbath, so that they could find a charge against Him.

8 But He knew their thoughts and told the man with the paralyzed hand, "Get up and stand here." ^[b] So he got up and stood there.

9 Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you: is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?"

10 After looking around at them all, He told him, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was restored.^[c]

11 They, however, were filled with rage and started discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus.

The 12 Apostles

12 During those days He went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God.

13 When daylight came, He summoned His disciples, and He chose 12 of them-He also named them apostles:

14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;

15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot;

16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Teaching and Healing

17 After coming down with them, He stood on a level place with a large crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon.

18 They came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those tormented by unclean spirits were made well.

19 The whole crowd was trying to touch Him, because power was coming out from Him and healing them all.

The Beatitudes

20 Then looking up at^[d] His disciples, He said: Blessed are you who are poor, because the kingdom of God is yours.

21 Blessed are you who are hungry now, because you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, because you will laugh.

22 Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you, insult you, and slander your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

23 "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! Take note-your reward is great in heaven, because this is the way their ancestors used to treat the prophets.

Woe to the Self-Satisfied

24 But woe to you who are rich, because you have received your comfort.

25 Woe to you who are full now, because you will be hungry. Woe to you ^[e] who are laughing now, because you will mourn and weep.

26 Woe to you ^[f] when all people speak well of you, because this is the way their ancestors used to treat the false prophets.

Love Your Enemies

27 "But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

29 If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don't hold back your shirt either.

30 Give to everyone who asks from you, and from one who takes away your things, don't ask for them back.

31 Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them.

32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.

33 If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.

34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full.

35 But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil.

36 Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Do Not Judge

37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

38 Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure-pressed down, shaken together, and running over-will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, ^[g] it will be measured back to you."

39 He also told them a parable: "Can the blind guide the blind? Won't they both fall into a pit?

40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

41 "Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but don't notice the log in your own eye?

42 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself don't see the log in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck in your brother's eye.

A Tree and Its Fruit

43 "A good tree doesn't produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn't produce good fruit.

44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren't gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush.

45 A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.

The Two Foundations

46 "Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things I say?

47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to Me, hears My words, and acts on them:

48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep ^[h] and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn't shake it, because it was well built.

49 But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great!"

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Luke 6 Commentary

Chapter 6

The disciples pluck corn on the sabbath. (1-5) Works of mercy suitable to the sabbath day. (6-11) The apostles chosen. (12-19) Blessings and woes declared. (20-26) Christ exhorts to mercy. (27-36) And to justice and sincerity. (37-49)

Verses 1-5 Christ justifies his disciples in a work of necessity for themselves on the sabbath day, and that was plucking the ears of corn when they were hungry. But we must take heed that we mistake not this liberty for leave to commit sin. Christ will have us to know and remember that it is his day, therefore to be spent in his service, and to his honour.

Verses 6-11 Christ was neither ashamed nor afraid to own the purposes of his grace. He healed the poor man, though he knew that his enemies would take advantage against him for it. Let us not be drawn either from our duty or from our usefulness by any opposition. We may well be amazed, that the sons of men should be so wicked.

Verses 12-19 We often think one half hour a great deal to spend in meditation and secret prayer, but Christ was whole nights engaged in these duties. In serving God, our great care should be not to lose time, but to make the end of one good duty the beginning of another. The twelve apostles are here named; never were men so privileged, yet one of them had a devil, and proved a traitor. Those who have not faithful preaching near them, had better travel far than be without it. It is indeed worth while to go a great way to hear the word of Christ, and to go out of the way of other business for it. They came to be cured by him, and he healed them. There is a fulness of grace in Christ, and healing virtue in him, ready to go out from him, that is enough for all, enough for each. Men regard the diseases of the body as greater evils than those of their souls; but the Scripture teaches us differently.

Verses 20-26 Here begins a discourse of Christ, most of which is also found in ( Matthew 5 , Matthew 7 ) . But some think that this was preached at another time and place. All believers that take the precepts of the gospel to themselves, and live by them, may take the promises of the gospel to themselves, and live upon them. Woes are denounced against prosperous sinners as miserable people, though the world envies them. Those are blessed indeed whom Christ blesses, but those must be dreadfully miserable who fall under his woe and curse! What a vast advantage will the saint have over the sinner in the other world! and what a wide difference will there be in their rewards, how much soever the sinner may prosper, and the saint be afflicted here!

Verses 27-36 These are hard lessons to flesh and blood. But if we are thoroughly grounded in the faith of Christ's love, this will make his commands easy to us. Every one that comes to him for washing in his blood, and knows the greatness of the mercy and the love there is in him, can say, in truth and sincerity, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Let us then aim to be merciful, even according to the mercy of our heavenly Father to us.

Verses 37-49 All these sayings Christ often used; it was easy to apply them. We ought to be very careful when we blame others; for we need allowance ourselves. If we are of a giving and a forgiving spirit, we shall ourselves reap the benefit. Though full and exact returns are made in another world, not in this world, yet Providence does what should encourage us in doing good. Those who follow the multitude to do evil, follow in the broad way that leads to destruction. The tree is known by its fruits; may the word of Christ be so grafted in our hearts, that we may be fruitful in every good word and work. And what the mouth commonly speaks, generally agrees with what is most in the heart. Those only make sure work for their souls and eternity, and take the course that will profit in a trying time, who think, speak, and act according to the words of Christ. Those who take pains in religion, found their hope upon Christ, who is the Rock of Ages, and other foundation can no man lay. In death and judgment they are safe, being kept by the power of Christ through faith unto salvation, and they shall never perish.