Luke 6

1 One Sabbath day Jesus was walking through some fields of grain. His followers picked the heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them.

2 Some Pharisees said, "Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath day?"

3 Jesus answered, "Have you not read what David did when he and those with him were hungry?

4 He went into God's house and took and ate the holy bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he gave some to the people who were with him."

5 Then Jesus said to the Pharisees, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath day."

6 On another Sabbath day Jesus went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man with a crippled right hand was there.

7 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees were watching closely to see if Jesus would heal on the Sabbath day so they could accuse him.

8 But he knew what they were thinking, and he said to the man with the crippled hand, "Stand up here in the middle of everyone." The man got up and stood there.

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

10 Jesus looked around at all of them and said to the man, "Hold out your hand." The man held out his hand, and it was healed.

11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were very angry and discussed with each other what they could do to Jesus.

12 At that time Jesus went off to a mountain to pray, and he spent the night praying to God.

13 The next morning, Jesus called his followers to him and chose twelve of them, whom he named apostles:

14 Simon (Jesus named him Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,

15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon (called the Zealot),

16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who later turned Jesus over to his enemies.

17 Jesus and the apostles came down from the mountain, and he stood on level ground. A large group of his followers was there, as well as many people from all around Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast cities of Tyre and Sidon.

18 They all came to hear Jesus teach and to be healed of their sicknesses, and he healed those who were troubled by evil spirits.

19 All the people were trying to touch Jesus, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

20 Jesus looked at his followers and said, "You people who are poor are happy, because the kingdom of God belongs to you.

21 You people who are now hungry are happy, because you will be satisfied. You people who are now crying are happy, because you will laugh with joy.

22 "People will hate you, shut you out, insult you, and say you are evil because you follow the Son of Man. But when they do, you will be happy.

23 Be full of joy at that time, because you have a great reward waiting for you in heaven. Their ancestors did the same things to the prophets.

24 "But how terrible it will be for you who are rich, because you have had your easy life.

25 How terrible it will be for you who are full now, because you will be hungry. How terrible it will be for you who are laughing now, because you will be sad and cry.

26 "How terrible when everyone says only good things about you, because their ancestors said the same things about the false prophets.

27 "But I say to you who are listening, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you,

28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who are cruel to you.

29 If anyone slaps you on one cheek, offer him the other cheek, too. If someone takes your coat, do not stop him from taking your shirt.

30 Give to everyone who asks you, and when someone takes something that is yours, don't ask for it back.

31 Do to others what you would want them to do to you.

32 If you love only the people who love you, what praise should you get? Even sinners love the people who love them.

33 If you do good only to those who do good to you, what praise should you get? Even sinners do that!

34 If you lend things to people, always hoping to get something back, what praise should you get? Even sinners lend to other sinners so that they can get back the same amount!

35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without hoping to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God, because he is kind even to people who are ungrateful and full of sin.

36 Show mercy, just as your Father shows mercy.

37 "Don't judge other people, and you will not be judged. Don't accuse others of being guilty, and you will not be accused of being guilty. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

38 Give, and you will receive. You will be given much. Pressed down, shaken together, and running over, it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you."

39 Jesus told them this story: "Can a blind person lead another blind person? No! Both of them will fall into a ditch.

40 A student is not better than the teacher, but the student who has been fully trained will be like the teacher.

41 "Why do you notice the little piece of dust in your friend's eye, but you don't notice the big piece of wood in your own eye?

42 How can you say to your friend, 'Friend, let me take that little piece of dust out of your eye' when you cannot see that big piece of wood in your own eye! You hypocrite! First, take the wood out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the dust out of your friend's eye.

43 "A good tree does not produce bad fruit, nor does a bad tree produce good fruit.

44 Each tree is known by its own fruit. People don't gather figs from thornbushes, and they don't get grapes from bushes.

45 Good people bring good things out of the good they stored in their hearts. But evil people bring evil things out of the evil they stored in their hearts. People speak the things that are in their hearts.

46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but do not do what I say?

47 I will show you what everyone is like who comes to me and hears my words and obeys.

48 That person is like a man building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on rock. When the floods came, the water tried to wash the house away, but it could not shake it, because the house was built well.

49 But the one who hears my words and does not obey is like a man who built his house on the ground without a foundation. When the floods came, the house quickly fell and was completely destroyed."

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.