‏ Luke 6

Works of Mercy Suited to the Sabbath

This section explains how Jesus corrected misunderstandings about the Sabbath. The Pharisees focused too much on strict rules about rest, but Jesus showed that the Sabbath is meant for doing good and showing mercy. He taught that works of necessity and mercy are allowed on the Sabbath, and that he himself is Lord of the Sabbath.

v. 1–2: One Sabbath, Jesus’ disciples were hungry and picked some heads of grain to eat as they walked through the fields (Luke 6:1 ^a). The Pharisees criticized them, saying it was not lawful to do this on the Sabbath (Luke 6:2 ^b). They were quick to judge others for small things, even though they themselves often broke more important rules.

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v. 3–4: Jesus answered by reminding them of the story of David, who ate the sacred bread that was only for priests when he was hungry (Luke 6:3-4 ^c). This showed that God allows his laws to be set aside in cases of real need. If David could do this in an emergency, then Jesus’ disciples were not wrong to eat when they were hungry.

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v. 5: Jesus declared, The Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath(Luke 6:5 ^d). This means that Jesus has authority over the Sabbath. The day should be used to honor him, and he can decide what is right to do on it.

v. 6–7: On another Sabbath, Jesus went into the synagogue and taught. There was a man there whose right hand was withered. The Pharisees and teachers of the law watched closely to see if Jesus would heal on the Sabbath, hoping to accuse him (Luke 6:6-7 ^e). They were more interested in finding fault than in helping someone in need.

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v. 8–9: Jesus knew what they were thinking. He told the man to stand up in front of everyone. Then Jesus asked, Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil?He showed that the Sabbath is a time for doing good, not just for following rules (Luke 6:8-9 ^f).

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v. 10: Jesus told the man to stretch out his hand, and it was completely healed. Even though Jesus knew his enemies would be angry, he still did what was right and helped the man (Luke 6:10 ^g).

v. 11: The Pharisees and teachers were furious and began to discuss what they could do to stop Jesus (Luke 6:11 ^h). Instead of being happy for the man who was healed, they were filled with anger and planned against Jesus. This shows how hard their hearts had become, while Jesus continued to show patience and mercy.

The Twelve Apostles Chosen

This passage shows Jesus in three different settings: in secret prayer, with his disciples, and in public ministry. In each, he acts with purpose and grace, teaching us about prayer, leadership, and service.

v. 12: Jesus went to a mountain to pray and spent the whole night in prayer to God (Luke 6:12 ⁱ). This shows the importance of private prayer and communion with God, especially during significant moments. Jesus prayed alone, seeking a quiet place without distractions. His example reminds us to dedicate time to prayer, even when life is busy or challenging.

v. 13: After praying all night, Jesus called his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles (Luke 6:13 ^j). These twelve would be his closest followers, learning from him and later spreading his message to the world. This decision was made with prayer, showing that important choices should be guided by seeking God’s will.

v. 14–16: The names of the twelve apostles are listed. They came from different backgrounds, including fishermen and a tax collector. One of them, Judas Iscariot, would later betray Jesus (Luke 6:14-16 ^k). This reminds us that Jesus knows the hearts of all people and that even those close to him can fail. Yet, he chose them with a purpose, showing his grace and wisdom.

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v. 17–19: Jesus came down from the mountain with the apostles and stood in a plain where a large crowd had gathered. People came from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and even the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon to hear him and be healed. Jesus taught them and healed their diseases, showing his power over sickness and evil spirits. Everyone who touched him experienced his healing power (Luke 6:17-19 ^l). This demonstrates Jesus’ compassion and the abundance of grace and healing available through him.

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Blessings and Woes.

This section is part of Jesus’ practical teaching, which continues to the end of the chapter. Many of these teachings are also found in the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5–7 ^m). Some people think Jesus gave these teachings at different times and places, but it is likely that Luke gives us a shorter version of the same sermon. The main ideas are the same: Jesus encourages his followers who suffer for his sake and warns those who trust in worldly success. Here, Jesus speaks directly to his disciples, preparing them for the challenges they will face as his followers.

v. 20: Jesus looked at his disciples—not just the twelve, but all who followed him—and said, Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God (Luke 6:20 ⁿ). He wanted them to know that even though they had left everything to follow him and lived in poverty, they were truly blessed. Their losses would be made up by the riches of God’s kingdom, both now and in the future. Jesus’ followers may be poor in this world, but they are rich in faith (James 2:5 ^o).

v. 21: Jesus continued, Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled (Luke 6:21 ^p). His disciples often went hungry, sometimes because they were busy serving others or had little food. But Jesus promised that in God’s kingdom, their hunger would be satisfied. They would never hunger or thirst again.

He also said, Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh (Luke 6:21 ^q). The disciples often cried—sometimes because they were sorry for their sins, or because they cared about others’ pain. But their sadness would not last forever. God would turn their tears into joy. As the psalm says, Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy (Psalm 126:5–6 ^r). God would fill their mouths with laughter and their lips with rejoicing (Job 8:21 ^s).

v. 22: Jesus warned them that they would face hatred and rejection because of him. He said, Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man (Luke 6:22 ^t). The world would treat them badly, even casting them out of their communities and calling them evil. But Jesus said this was actually a blessing. It showed they were following in the footsteps of the prophets who suffered before them (Matthew 5:10–12 ^u).

v. 23: Jesus told them to rejoice when they suffered for his sake: Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven (Luke 6:23 ^v). Their suffering would not be wasted. God would reward them greatly in heaven, just as he did for the prophets who were treated the same way.

v. 24: Then Jesus warned those who trusted in riches: But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort (Luke 6:24 ^w). People who put their hope in wealth and use it only for themselves have already received all the good they will ever get. When their riches are gone, they will have nothing left. This is like the story of the rich man and Lazarus, where the rich man had comfort in this life but misery in the next (Luke 16:19–31 ^x).

v. 25: Jesus continued, Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry (Luke 6:25 ^y). Those who are satisfied with the pleasures of this world and think they need nothing else will one day find themselves empty. When they leave this world, their desires will not be satisfied, and they will miss out on the true joy that only God can give (Psalm 73:7; Psalm 17:14 ^z; Revelation 3:17; 1 Corinthians 4:8 ^aa).

He also said, Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep (Luke 6:25 ^ab). People who only care about having fun and never think about God or their need for him will one day face sorrow that never ends. Their laughter will turn into weeping.

v. 26: Finally, Jesus said, Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets (Luke 6:26 ^ac). If everyone praises you, it may mean you are not being honest about what is right and wrong. The false prophets in the past were popular because they told people what they wanted to hear, not what they needed to hear. Jesus’ followers should care more about pleasing God than about being popular with people.

Exhortations to Justice and Mercy.

In this section, Jesus gives important lessons to everyone who listens to him, not just his close disciples. These teachings are also found at the end of Matthew chapter 5 (Matthew 5:38 ^ad and following). Jesus wants us to act with justice and mercy in all our relationships. He calls us to treat others as we would like to be treated, to give freely to those in need, and to forgive those who hurt us. These are universal lessons for all people, not just for a few.

v. 27: Jesus begins by saying, I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you (Luke 6:27 ^ae). This is for everyone willing to listen, and it is a key part of following him. Loving our enemies and doing good to them is a special mark of Jesus’ followers.

v. 28: He continues, Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:28 ^af). When others speak badly about us or treat us unfairly, Jesus wants us to respond with kindness and prayer, not anger or revenge.

v. 29: Jesus says, If someone strikes you on one cheek, offer the other also; and if someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic (Luke 6:29 ^ag). He teaches us not to fight back or hold tightly to our possessions. It is better to lose something than to fight and create more conflict. We can trust God to defend us and make things right (Psalm 3:7 ^ah).

v. 30: Jesus tells us, Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back (Luke 6:30 ^ai). He wants his followers to be generous, especially to those who are truly in need. We should help people with what we can spare and not hold grudges if we lose something in helping others.

v. 31: He gives the famous rule: As you would have others do to you, do so to them (Luke 6:31 ^aj). This is another way of saying, love your neighbor as yourself. We should treat people the way we want to be treated, with fairness and compassion.

v. 32: Jesus explains that loving those who love us is easy. He says, If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them (Luke 6:32 ^ak). True Christian love goes beyond what everyone else does.

v. 33: He continues, If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same (Luke 6:33 ^al). Jesus wants us to do more than just repay kindness; we should do good even to those who do not treat us well.

v. 34: He challenges our motives: If you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full (Luke 6:34 ^am). True generosity is shown when we help those who might not be able to pay us back.

v. 35: Jesus repeats, Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked (Luke 6:35 ^an). When we act this way, we are like God, who shows kindness to everyone, even those who do not deserve it (Deuteronomy 15:7–10 ^ao).

v. 36: Jesus finishes this part by saying, Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful (Luke 6:36 ^ap). God is our example. He is merciful to us, even when we do not deserve it. We should try to copy his mercy in our lives (Matthew 5:48; Colossians 3:14 ^aq).

Exhortations to Justice and Sincerity.

This section includes many wise sayings of Jesus, similar to the proverbs of Solomon. These teachings are found in different places in Matthew’s Gospel, especially chapter 7 (Matthew 7 ^ar). Jesus repeats these truths often because they are important for everyone. Each saying is valuable by itself, and together they show us how to live with honesty, kindness, and real faith.

v. 37: Jesus teaches us not to judge or condemn others quickly. He says, Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven (Luke 6:37 ^as). We should show understanding and patience to others because we also make mistakes. If we are merciful, others—and even God—will be merciful to us.

v. 38: Jesus encourages a generous and forgiving spirit. He says, Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap (Luke 6:38 ^at). God rewards those who are generous, both by blessing them directly and by moving others to help them. When we give freely, God will repay us with abundance (Hebrews 6:10 ^au).

Jesus also says, For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you (Luke 6:38 ^av). This means God and people will treat us the way we treat others. If we are harsh, others will be harsh to us. If we are kind and generous, we can expect kindness in return. Even if we do not see perfect fairness in this life, God will settle everything in eternity (Judges 1:7 ^aw).

v. 39: Jesus warns about following the wrong leaders: Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? (Luke 6:39 ^ax). If we follow people who do not know the truth, we will end up in trouble with them. This is why it matters who we listen to and follow in life.

v. 40: Jesus explains that his followers should not expect better treatment than he received. A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher (Luke 6:40 ^ay). We should be ready to live simply and serve others, just as Jesus did.

v. 41–42: Jesus teaches that we must deal with our own faults before correcting others. He says, Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? (Luke 6:41–42 ^az). It is wrong to judge others for small mistakes while ignoring our own bigger problems. We must first fix ourselves before trying to help others.

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v. 43–44: Jesus says that people’s actions show what is in their hearts. No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit… each tree is recognized by its own fruit (Luke 6:43–44 ^ba). Good actions come from a good heart, and bad actions come from a bad heart. If someone truly loves God, it will show in the way they live (Isaiah 32:6; 1 Samuel 24:13 ^bb).

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v. 45: He continues, A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart… for the mouth speaks what the heart is full of (Luke 6:45 ^bc). Our words and actions reveal what is really inside us. If we fill our hearts with love for God, good things will come out (Matthew 12:34–35; John 2:8 ^bd; John 3:31 ^be).

v. 46: Jesus teaches that it is not enough to simply call him “Lord.” He asks, Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46 ^bf). True faith means obeying Jesus, not just saying we believe in him (Matthew 7:21–22 ^bg).

v. 47–48: Jesus uses a story to show this truth. He says those who come to him, hear his words, and do them are like a man building a house on a rock. When storms come, the house stands firm because it has a strong foundation (Luke 6:47–48; 1 Timothy 6:19 ^bh). They are safe and secure, even in difficult times.

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v. 49: But those who hear Jesus’ words and do not obey are like a man who builds his house without a foundation. When trouble comes, the house falls quickly and is destroyed (Luke 6:49 ^bi). Mere words or religious habits cannot save us; only true obedience to Jesus can give us lasting hope.