Luke 6

Luke 6 describes various teachings and actions of Jesus, focusing on compassion, humility, and God's perspective on the law. The chapter highlights instances where Jesus heals and instructs, emphasizing the importance of love, forgiveness, and a heart focused on God rather than strict adherence to man-made interpretations of religious rules. Jesus challenges conventional attitudes towards the Sabbath, clarifies the essence of discipleship, and teaches principles for righteous living.

Luke 6:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first that He went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands.
2 And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?”

Jesus and His disciples are confronted by the Pharisees, who accuse them of breaking the Sabbath by plucking and eating grain. The Pharisees’ strict interpretation of Sabbath law overlooks the disciples’ need for sustenance. Jesus uses this moment to question legalistic attitudes, emphasizing that human need and mercy should not be neglected even on the Sabbath.

Luke 6:3-5 (NKJV)
3 But Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:
4 how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?”
5 And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

Jesus reminds the Pharisees of David’s actions when he and his men ate the showbread, which was normally reserved for priests. By referencing David, Jesus illustrates that human need can override ceremonial restrictions. He further declares His authority over the Sabbath, affirming that He has the right to interpret what is appropriate for the day of rest.

Luke 6:6-10 (NKJV)
6 Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered.
7 So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him.
8 But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood.
9 Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?”
10 And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.

Jesus, aware of the Pharisees’ intentions to accuse Him, confronts their mindset by asking whether it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. By healing the man’s withered hand, Jesus demonstrates that the Sabbath should be a day for compassion and restoration, challenging the rigid interpretations of the religious leaders.

Luke 6:11-12 (NKJV)
11 But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

The religious leaders, rather than rejoicing at the miracle, are enraged by Jesus’ actions, revealing their hardened hearts. Meanwhile, Jesus spends an entire night in prayer, showing His reliance on God for guidance, especially as He prepares to select His twelve disciples in the following verses.

Luke 6:13-16 (NKJV)
13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named 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 also became a traitor.

After a night of prayer, Jesus selects twelve apostles from among His disciples, choosing individuals with diverse backgrounds and personalities. These twelve would receive special training to carry forward Jesus’ mission, illustrating that God’s work is accomplished through various people, even those with weaknesses, like Judas, who would later betray Him.

Luke 6:17-19 (NKJV)
17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,
18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed.
19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

Jesus, surrounded by crowds from various regions, teaches and heals those who come to Him. This moment shows His compassion and authority, as people experience physical and spiritual healing. His power to heal is evident, and it draws people from distant places, symbolizing the inclusivity of His message.

Luke 6:20-23 (NKJV)
20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh.
22 Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake.
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.”

Jesus teaches His disciples about the blessings, or "beatitudes," that come from faithfully following Him, even in difficult circumstances. He declares blessings on the poor, hungry, weeping, and persecuted, emphasizing that their suffering is temporary and will be rewarded in the kingdom of God. The poor are blessed because they will inherit God's kingdom, and the hungry will be filled with true satisfaction. Those who weep will experience joy, and those who are hated, excluded, or reviled for Jesus' sake should rejoice, as their reward in heaven is great. These blessings reflect God's justice and reversal of worldly values, encouraging believers to endure trials with hope and trust in God's promises.

Luke 6:24-26 (NKJV)
24 “But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation.
25 Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets.”

Here, Jesus pronounces woes on those who are rich, satisfied, and praised in the present life. He warns against trusting in temporary pleasures or worldly approval, as these may lead to future sorrow. His message cautions against a life of self-sufficiency that disregards spiritual dependence.

Luke 6:27-31 (NKJV)
27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.
30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.
31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.”

Jesus calls His followers to radical love, teaching them to love enemies, bless those who curse, and be generous even when wronged.

Luke 6:32-36 (NKJV)
32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.
35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”

Jesus calls His followers to a radical standard of love that mirrors God’s character. He explains that loving those who love you or doing good to those who do good to you is no different from the actions of "sinners," emphasizing that even those without a relationship with God can do these things. Instead, He commands His disciples to love their enemies, do good, and lend without expecting anything in return. This reflects the mercy and grace of God, who is kind even to the unthankful and evil. Jesus concludes by urging believers to "be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful," challenging them to imitate God’s unconditional love and compassion. This standard is only possible for those who have been transformed by Christ, as Christians are no longer sinners in identity but saints—set apart for God’s purposes. While believers may occasionally sin, they are no longer in bondage to sin or enslaved by it (John 8:34-36). Through Christ, they have been freed from sin’s power, becoming sons and daughters of God who abide in His house forever. This freedom allows them to walk in righteousness, empowered by the Spirit to live according to God’s will and reflect His love to others, even to those who oppose or mistreat them. In this way, Christians live as saints, not sinners, demonstrating the transformative power of the gospel in both their character and actions.

Luke 6:37-38 (NKJV)
37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Jesus instructs His disciples not to judge or condemn others but to forgive freely. In doing so, they will also experience forgiveness and generosity. The imagery of a "good measure" reflects God’s abundant blessing, reinforcing that the way we treat others—whether with generosity or harshness—determines what we receive in return.

Luke 6:39-42 (NKJV)
39 And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?
40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.
41 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?
42 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.”

Jesus begins with a parable about the blind leading the blind, warning that leaders or teachers who lack spiritual insight will only lead others into error. This underscores the importance of personal growth and maturity before assuming responsibility for others. He then emphasizes that a disciple cannot surpass their teacher but can aspire to emulate them if properly trained, highlighting the responsibility of both the teacher to lead well and the disciple to learn with humility. The passage transitions to self-examination, illustrating the absurdity of focusing on another's minor faults ("the speck in their eye") while ignoring one's own glaring issues ("the plank in one's eye"). Jesus calls for personal accountability—removing one’s own faults first—so that one can help others effectively and without hypocrisy. Together, these verses challenge believers to prioritize self-correction, pursue spiritual maturity, and approach others with grace and sincerity in judgment, reflecting Christ’s example.

Luke 6:43-45 (NKJV)
43 “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

Jesus uses the analogy of trees and fruit to illustrate how a person’s actions reveal their character. Just as good trees produce good fruit, a righteous heart produces righteous actions. Our words and deeds reflect what is stored in our hearts, emphasizing the need for inner purity and integrity.

Luke 6:46-49 (NKJV)
46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:
48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.
49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

Jesus concludes with a parable about two builders, contrasting those who obey His words with those who merely listen. The one who obeys is like a house built on a solid foundation, able to withstand trials, while the one who ignores His teaching is like a house without a foundation, destined to collapse. This parable stresses that genuine discipleship involves both hearing and acting on Jesus' teachings, providing stability and strength amidst life’s storms.