Luke 6
Luke 6 is broadly made up of how many sections? At first, there is an incident in which the disciples pluck and eat heads of grain on the Sabbath, as well as a scene in which Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. Next come the appointment of the twelve disciples, the Sermon on the Mount (also known as the Sermon on the Plain), and then the teachings included in the Sermon on the Mount—“Love your enemies,” “Do not judge,” “You will know a tree by its fruit,” “Lord, Lord,” and the parable about building a house.
1verseNow 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.
2verseBut some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day?”
3verseJesus, answering them, said, “Haven’t you read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him,
4versehow 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?”
5verseHe said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
6verseIt also happened on another Sabbath that he entered into the synagogue and taught. There was a man there, and his right hand was withered.
7verseThe scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against him.
8verseBut 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.
9verseThen 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?”
10verseHe 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.
11verseBut they were filled with rage, and talked with one another about what they might do to Jesus.
12verseIn these days, he went out to the mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to God.
13verseWhen it was day, he called his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles:
14verseSimon, whom he also named Peter; Andrew, his brother; James; John; Philip; Bartholomew;
15verseMatthew; Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus; Simon who was called the Zealot;
16verseJudas the son of James; and Judas Iscariot, who also became a traitor.
17verseHe 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,
18verseas well as those who were troubled by unclean spirits; and they were being healed.
19verseAll the multitude sought to touch him, for power came out of him and healed them all.
20verseHe lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for God’s Kingdom is yours.
21verseBlessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
22verseBlessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude and mock you, and throw out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake.
23verseRejoice 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.
24verse“But woe to you who are rich! For you have received your consolation.
25verseWoe to you, you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
26verseWoe, when men speak well of you, for their fathers did the same thing to the false prophets.
27verse“But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28versebless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.
29verseTo 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.
30verseGive to everyone who asks you, and don’t ask him who takes away your goods to give them back again.
31verse“As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them.
32verse“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
33verseIf you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
34verseIf 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.
35verseBut 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.
36verse“Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful.
37verseDon’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.
38verse“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.”
39verseHe spoke a parable to them. “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit?
40verseA disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.
41verseWhy 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?
42verseOr 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.
43verse“For there is no good tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces good fruit.
44verseFor 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.
45verseThe 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.
46verse“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things which I say?
47verseEveryone who comes to me, and hears my words and does them, I will show you who he is like.
48verseHe 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.
49verseBut 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.”
The Sabbath Controversy and Jesus’ Authority
In the beginning of chapter 6, Jesus shows a new understanding and interpretation of the Law. Both the incident where the disciples ate grain on the Sabbath and the event where he healed a man with a withered hand conflict with the traditional legal interpretations of Jewish society at the time. Jesus declares, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath,” and says that the true meaning of the Law is for the benefit of all people and to give life.
Choosing the Twelve Disciples and the Start of Discipleship
After praying through the night, Jesus calls the twelve disciples. This scene marks the beginning of the disciples’ community, showing that Jesus’ ministry will move from individuals to a community, and then into the world.
The Sermon on the Mount: Blessings and Woes
Jesus speaks to many people on the mountain and declares “blessed” those who, in the society of that time, were alienated or weak—such as the poor, those who hunger, and those who weep. At the same time, he also declares “woe” for the “rich,” “those who are full,” and “those who laugh.” This reminds us that God’s standards differ from the world’s standards, and it helps us see anew where true blessings and woes are found.
A New Ethics: Love Your Enemies
Then Jesus says, “Love your enemies” (6:27 and following). Instead of the world’s logic of repaying in the same way one has been treated, he emphasizes love, forgiveness, and compassion. He even raises the bar further by saying to treat others the way you want to be treated—bringing the standard of love one step higher.
Do Not Judge and the Fruits of Life
Jesus teaches that we should not criticize others thoughtlessly and that we should first examine ourselves (6:37 and following). He also emphasizes that, just as a good tree bears good fruit and a bad tree bears bad fruit, a person’s life is likewise revealed through its fruit.
The Parable of the Two Houses
Finally, Jesus compares “the one who hears my words and puts them into practice” and “the one who hears them but does not put them into practice” to people who build houses on rock and on sand, respectively. This awakens the importance of putting the words into practice in our lives.
Meditation Points
- You can check whether what you think God’s will is differs from the heart of God that Jesus teaches.
- In the relationships with neighbors you find it difficult to love, you can meditate on what challenge Jesus’ teaching to “love your enemies” presents to you.
- It can become an opportunity to look back on what “fruit” comes about in your life.
Try Applying It to Yourself
- Reflect today’s message in your everyday life, and you can try small practices of loving or forgiving someone.
- Ask yourself: Am I only stopping at hearing Jesus’ words, or am I actually doing them?
- You can pray so that you can continue building the ground for your life on the word every day.