Luke Chapter 6

From The Open Bible Project

6:1 Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first, that he was going through the grain fields. His disciples plucked the heads of grain, and ate, rubbing them in their hands.

• (1) Christ shows against the superstitious, who dwell on every trifling matter, that the law of the very sabbath was not given to be kept without exception: much less that the salvation of man should consist in the outward keeping of it.
• (a) Epiphanius notes well in his treatise, where he refutes Ebion, that the time when the disciples plucked the ears of the corn was in the feast of unleavened bread. Now, in those feasts which were kept over a period of many days, as the feast of tabernacles and passover, their first day and the last were very solemn; see (Leviticus 23:1-44). Luke then fitly calls the last day the second sabbath, though Theophylact understands it to be any of the sabbaths that followed the first.

6:2 But some of the Pharisees said to them, "Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day?"

6:3 Jesus, answering them, said, "Haven't you read what David did when he was hungry, he, and those who were with him;

6:4 how he entered into the house of God, 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?"

6:5 He said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."

6:6 It also happened on another Sabbath that he entered into the synagogue and taught. There was a man there, and his right hand was withered.

• (2) Charity is the rule of all ceremonies.

6:7 The scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against him.

6:8 But 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.

6:9 Then 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?"

• (b) Whoever does not help his neighbour when he can, he kills him.

6:10 He 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.

6:11 But they were filled with rage, and talked with one another about what they might do to Jesus.

6:12 It happened in these days, that he went out to the mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to God.

• (3) In using earnest and long prayer in choosing twelve of his own company to the office of the apostleship, Christ shows how religiously we ought to behave ourselves in the choice of ecclesiastical persons.

6:13 When it was day, he called his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles:

6:14 Simon, whom he also named Peter; Andrew, his brother; James; John; Philip; Bartholomew;

6:15 Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Simon, who was called the Zealot;

6:16 Judas the son of James; and Judas Iscariot, who also became a traitor.

6:17 He 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;

• (c) From all the sea coast, which is called Syrophoenecia.

6:18 as well as those who were troubled by unclean spirits, and they were being healed.

6:19 All the multitude sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.

6:20 He lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and said, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.

• (4) Christ teaches against all philosophers, and especially the Epicureans, that the greatest happiness of man is laid up in no place here on earth, but in heaven, and that persecution for righteousness’ sake is the right way to achieve it.

6:21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

6:22 Blessed 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.

• (d) Cast you out of their synagogues, as John expounds in (John 16:2), which is the severest punishment the Church has, if the elders judge rightfully, and by the word of God.

6:23 Rejoice 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.

• (e) Leap for exceeding joy, as cattle do who are spurred on by food.

6:24 "But woe to you who are rich! For you have received your consolation.

• (f) That is, you reap now of your riches all the convenience and blessing you are ever likely to have, and therefore you have no other reward to look for; (Matthew 6:2).

6:25 Woe to you, you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

6:26 Woe,[13] when[14] men speak well of you, for their fathers did the same thing to the false prophets.

6:27 "But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

• (5) Christian charity, which is very different from worldly charity, not only does not revenge injuries, but is even extended to our most grievous enemies, and that for our Father’s sake who is in heaven: in well doing it is not at all seeking its own.

6:28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.

6:29 To 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.

6:30 Give to everyone who asks you, and don't ask him who takes away your goods to give them back again.

6:31 "As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them.

6:32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

• (g) What is there in this your work that is to be accounted of? For if you look to have reward by loving, seek those rewards which are indeed rewards: love your enemies, and so will you show to the world that you look for those rewards which come from God.

6:33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

6:34 If 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.

6:35 But 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.

• (h) When you will lend, do it only to benefit and please with it, and not with the hope of receiving the principal again.

6:36 Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful.

6:37 Don'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.

• (6) Brotherly judgments must not proceed from curiosity nor rudeness nor malice, but they must be just, moderate and loving.
• (i) He does not speak here of civil judgments, and therefore by the word "forgive" is meant that good nature which the Christians use in patiently suffering and pardoning wrongs.

6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given [15] to you. [See Luke Footnotes 15] For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you."

• (k) These are borrowed types of sayings, taken from those who used to measure dry things, as corn and such things, who do it in a rather forceful manner, and thrust it down and shake it together, and press it and put it into a pile.

6:39 He spoke a parable to them. "Can the blind guide the blind? Won't they both fall into a pit?

• (7) Unskillful reprehenders hurt both themselves and others: for as the teacher is, so is the student.

6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

6:41 Why 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?

• (8) Hypocrites who are very severe reprehenders of others are very quick to spitefully spot other men’s faults, but very blind to see their own.

6:42 Or 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.

6:43 For there is no good tree that brings forth rotten fruit; nor again a rotten tree that brings forth good fruit.

• (9) Skill in reprehending others does not make a good man, but rather he that proves his uprightness both in word and deed.

6:44 For 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.

6:45 The 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.

6:46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things which I say?

6:47 Everyone who comes to me, and hears my words, and does them, I will show you who he is like.

• (10) Affliction at length discerns true godliness from false and feigned godliness.

6:48 He 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.

6:49 But 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."