Luke 6
Lord of the Sabbath
6:1 Jesus1 was going through the grain fields on2 a Sabbath,3 and his disciples picked some heads of wheat,4 rubbed them in their hands, and ate them.5 6:2 But some of the Pharisees6 said, “Why are you7 doing what is against the law8 on the Sabbath?” 6:3 Jesus9 answered them,10 “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry – 6:4 how he entered the house of God, took11 and ate the sacred bread,12 which is not lawful13 for any to eat but the priests alone, and14 gave it to his companions?”15 6:5 Then16 he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord17 of the Sabbath.”
Healing a Withered Hand
6:6 On18 another Sabbath, Jesus19 entered the synagogue20 and was teaching. Now21 a man was there whose right hand was withered.22 6:7 The experts in the law23 and the Pharisees24 watched25 Jesus26 closely to see if27 he would heal on the Sabbath,28 so that they could find a reason to accuse him. 6:8 But29 he knew30 their thoughts,31 and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Get up and stand here.”32 So33 he rose and stood there. 6:9 Then34 Jesus said to them, “I ask you,35 is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save a life or to destroy it?” 6:10 After36 looking around37 at them all, he said to the man,38 “Stretch out your hand.” The man39 did so, and his hand was restored.40 6:11 But they were filled with mindless rage41 and began debating with one another what they would do42 to Jesus.
Choosing the Twelve Apostles
6:12 Now43 it was during this time that Jesus44 went out to the mountain45 to pray, and he spent all night46 in prayer to God.47 6:13 When48 morning came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles:49 6:14 Simon50 (whom he named Peter), and his brother Andrew; and James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,51 6:15 Matthew, Thomas,52 James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot,53 6:16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot,54 who became a traitor.
The Sermon on the Plain
6:17 Then55 he came down with them and stood on a level place.56 And a large number57 of his disciples had gathered58 along with59 a vast multitude from all over Judea, from60 Jerusalem,61 and from the seacoast of Tyre62 and Sidon.63 They came to hear him and to be healed64 of their diseases, 6:18 and those who suffered from65 unclean66 spirits were cured. 6:19 The67 whole crowd was trying to touch him, because power68 was coming out from him and healing them all.
6:20 Then69 he looked up70 at his disciples and said:
“Blessed71 are you who are poor,72 for the kingdom of God belongs73 to you.
6:21 “Blessed are you who hunger74 now, for you will be satisfied.75
“Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.76
6:22 “Blessed are you when people77 hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject you as evil78 on account of the Son of Man! 6:23 Rejoice in that day, and jump for joy, because79 your reward is great in heaven. For their ancestors80 did the same things to the prophets.81
6:24 “But woe82 to you who are rich, for you have received83 your comfort84 already.
6:25 “Woe to you who are well satisfied with food85 now, for you will be hungry.
“Woe to you86 who laugh87 now, for you will mourn and weep.
6:26 “Woe to you88 when all people89 speak well of you, for their ancestors90 did the same things to the false prophets.
6:27 “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies,91 do good to those who hate you, 6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat92 you. 6:29 To the person who strikes you on the cheek,93 offer the other as well,94 and from the person who takes away your coat,95 do not withhold your tunic96 either.97 6:30 Give to everyone who asks you,98 and do not ask for your possessions99 back100 from the person who takes them away. 6:31 Treat others101 in the same way that you would want them to treat you.102
6:32 “If103 you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners104 love those who love them.105 6:33 And106 if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even107 sinners108 do the same. 6:34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to be repaid,109 what credit is that to you? Even sinners110 lend to sinners, so that they may be repaid in full.111 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back.112 Then113 your reward will be great, and you will be sons114 of the Most High,115 because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people.116 6:36 Be merciful,117 just as your Father is merciful.
Do Not Judge Others
6:37 “Do118 not judge,119 and you will not be judged;120 do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive,121 and you will be forgiven. 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over,122 will be poured123 into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive.”124
6:39 He also told them a parable: “Someone who is blind cannot lead another who is blind, can he?125 Won’t they both fall126 into a pit? 6:40 A disciple127 is not greater than128 his teacher, but everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher. 6:41 Why129 do you see the speck130 in your brother’s eye, but fail to see131 the beam of wood132 in your own? 6:42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while you yourself don’t see the beam in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
6:43 “For133 no good tree bears bad134 fruit, nor again135 does a bad tree bear good fruit, 6:44 for each tree is known136 by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered137 from thorns, nor are grapes picked138 from brambles.139 6:45 The good person out of the good treasury of his140 heart141 produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury142 produces evil, for his mouth speaks143 from what fills144 his heart.
6:46 “Why145 do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’146 and don’t do what I tell you?147
6:47 “Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and puts them into practice148 – I will show you what he is like: 6:48 He is like a man149 building a house, who dug down deep,150 and laid the foundation on bedrock. When151 a flood came, the river152 burst against that house but153 could not shake it, because it had been well built.154 6:49 But the person who hears and does not put my words into practice155 is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When156 the river burst against that house,157 it collapsed immediately, and was utterly destroyed!”158