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Luke 6

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1Now on the second Sabbath after the first, he was going through the grain fields. His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate, rubbing them in their hands. 2But some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day?” 3Jesus, answering them, said, “Haven’t you read what David did when he was hungry, he, and those who were with him; 4how he entered into God’s house, and took and ate the show bread, and gave also to those who were with him, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?” 5He said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” 6It also happened on another Sabbath that he entered into the synagogue and taught. There was a man there, and his right hand was withered. 7The scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against him. 8But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Rise up, and stand in the middle.” He arose and stood. 9Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you something: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?” 10He looked around at them all, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his hand was restored as sound as the other. 11But they were filled with rage, and talked with one another about what they might do to Jesus. 12In these days, he went out to the mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to God. 13When it was day, he called his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles: 14Simon, whom he also named Peter; Andrew, his brother; James; John; Philip; Bartholomew; 15Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Simon, who was called the Zealot; 16Judas the son of James; and Judas Iscariot, who also became a traitor. 17He came down with them, and stood on a level place, with a crowd of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; 18as well as those who were troubled by unclean spirits, and they were being healed. 19All the multitude sought to touch him, for power came out of him and healed them all. 20He lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and said, “Blessed are you who are poor, God’s Kingdom is yours. 21Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall exclude and mock you, and throw out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. 23Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for their fathers did the same thing to the prophets. 24“But woe to you who are rich! For you have received your consolation. 25Woe to you, you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26Woe, when men speak well of you, for their fathers did the same thing to the false prophets. 27“But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. 29To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from him who takes away your cloak, don’t withhold your coat also. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and don’t ask him who takes away your goods to give them back again. 31“As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them. 32If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much. 35But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. 36“Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful. 37Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Set free, and you will be set free. 38“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you.” 39He spoke a parable to them. “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit? 40A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41Why do you see the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? 42Or how can you tell your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck of chaff that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye. 43For there is no good tree that produces rotten fruit; nor again a rotten tree that produces good fruit. 44For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people don’t gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks. 46“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things which I say? 47Everyone who comes to me, and hears my words, and does them, I will show you who he is like. 48He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep, and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it was founded on the rock. 49But he who hears, and doesn’t do, is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

World English Bible (public domain)

"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,"

Luke 6:27

Summary

In Luke 6, Jesus faces criticism from the Pharisees for allowing His disciples to pick grain on the Sabbath, which He defends by teaching about the true purpose of the Sabbath. Jesus continues to perform healings, including a man with a withered hand, emphasizing mercy over legalism. He then chooses twelve apostles, highlighting His authority and the preparation for their mission. The chapter also contains the Sermon on the Plain, where Jesus presents radical teachings on love for enemies, judging others, and the significance of building one's life on firm foundations. These teachings underscore the call to compassionate living and deep trust in God.

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Chapter outline

How Luke 6 unfolds

  1. Luke 6:1–5 Debate on the Sabbath Law

    Jesus and His disciples pick grain on the Sabbath, leading to a confrontation with Pharisees. Jesus defends their actions by emphasizing His authority over the Sabbath.

  2. Luke 6:6–11 Healing on the Sabbath

    In the synagogue, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand, challenging the legalistic interpretation of the Sabbath. This act further angers the Pharisees.

  3. Luke 6:12–16 Choosing the Twelve Apostles

    After a night of prayer, Jesus selects twelve apostles from His disciples, indicating a shift in His ministry. Their selection signifies the beginning of a new community.

  4. Luke 6:17–19 The Crowd and Healings

    A large crowd gathers to hear Jesus and be healed, demonstrating His growing influence. Power flows from Jesus as He heals many.

  5. Luke 6:20–26 The Beatitudes and Woes

    Jesus pronounces blessings on the marginalized and woes on the rich, presenting reversal of worldly values. This teaching highlights God’s concern for the oppressed.

  6. Luke 6:27–38 Radical Love and Mercy

    Jesus teaches to love enemies and show mercy, contrasting with societal norms. His message emphasizes compassion and generosity as hallmarks of true discipleship.

  7. Luke 6:39–49 Judgment and Foundations

    Jesus warns against hypocrisy and teaches about true discipleship through building on a solid foundation. This reinforces the need for sincere obedience to His words.

Key verses

  • Luke 6:27Luke 6:27 emphasizes the chapter's focus on radical love, highlighting a central aspect of Jesus' teaching.

Main themes in Luke 6

Sabbath

The theme of Sabbath appears in the first part of the chapter when Jesus defends His disciples for picking grain on the Sabbath. He emphasizes that mercy and doing good align with the true purpose of the Sabbath. This redefinition of Sabbath observance points to a deeper understanding of God's law that prioritizes human need.

Discipleship

Discipleship is highlighted when Jesus chooses the twelve apostles after a night of prayer, marking a pivotal moment in His ministry. This selection not only formalizes their roles but also prepares them for a mission to spread His teachings. The chapter emphasizes that true discipleship involves radical love and active obedience.

Love and Mercy

In Luke 6, love and mercy are emphasized through Jesus' command to love enemies and do good to those who hate you, as seen in verses 27 and 35. This teaching challenges societal norms that often prioritize reciprocal actions based on personal benefit or justice. The chapter ultimately illustrates that embodying such love and mercy is foundational for believers, marking them as true children of God and reflecting His character in their lives.

Judgment and Foundations

Judgment and foundations emerge toward the end when Jesus uses the metaphor of building on rock versus sand. He stresses the importance of not just hearing His words but acting on them, indicating that true discipleship is rooted in solid, actionable faith. This theme ties together the call to live out His teachings amidst societal pressures.

Cross-references

Passages that echo Luke 6

Study questions

Questions for studying Luke 6

  1. What justification does Jesus provide for His disciples picking grain on the Sabbath?
  2. How does Jesus challenge the Pharisees' interpretation of the Sabbath?
  3. What significance does the selection of the twelve apostles have in this chapter?
  4. In what ways do the Beatitudes redefine societal values?
  5. How does Jesus' teaching on love and mercy challenge conventional behavior?
  6. What metaphor does Jesus use to illustrate the importance of a strong foundation?
  7. How does this chapter depict the relationship between action and belief?

Luke 6: frequently asked questions

What is Luke 6 about?+
In Luke 6, Jesus faces criticism from the Pharisees for allowing His disciples to pick grain on the Sabbath, which He defends by teaching about the true purpose of the Sabbath. Jesus continues to perform healings, including a man with a withered hand, emphasizing mercy over legalism. He then chooses twelve apostles, highlighting His authority and the preparation for their mission. The chapter also contains the Sermon on the Plain, where Jesus presents radical teachings on love for enemies, judging others, and the significance of building one's life on firm foundations. These teachings underscore the call to compassionate living and deep trust in God.
What is the key verse in Luke 6?+
Luke 6:27: "“But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,"
What are the main themes of Luke 6?+
The main themes of Luke 6 are Sabbath, Discipleship, Love and Mercy, Judgment and Foundations.

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