Introduction

Luke chapter 6 presents a series of important teachings and events from the ministry of Jesus, centered on the themes of authority, mercy, and true righteousness. The chapter opens with two controversies about the Sabbath, in which Jesus and His disciples are criticized by the Pharisees for picking grain and for healing on the Sabbath. Jesus responds by asserting His authority as “Lord of the Sabbath” and by demonstrating that acts of mercy and healing are consistent with God’s intention for the Sabbath, not violations of it.

Following these confrontations, Jesus withdraws to a mountain to pray and then selects His twelve apostles, formally establishing the core group who will carry His teaching forward. Immediately after this, Luke records a large gathering of people, including many seeking healing, which sets the stage for what is commonly called the Sermon on the Plain, a parallel to the more familiar Sermon on the Mount in Matthew.

This sermon includes the Beatitudes, blessings pronounced on the poor, the hungry, the sorrowful, and the persecuted, paired with corresponding warnings to the rich, the well fed, and the self satisfied. Jesus then delivers some of His most challenging ethical teachings, calling His followers to love their enemies, to refrain from judgment, and to practice extraordinary generosity and forgiveness. The chapter closes with the well known parable of building a house on rock versus building on sand, emphasizing that hearing Jesus’ words is not enough. True discipleship requires putting His teachings into practice.

Throughout the chapter, Jesus positions Himself as one greater than the Sabbath laws and religious traditions of the time, while also calling His followers to a radical standard of love and mercy that goes beyond conventional morality.

Chapter 6 (BBE)

1 Now on the Sabbath he was going through the fields of grain; and his disciples took the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and took the grain to eat.

2 But some of the Pharisees said, Why do you do what it is not right to do on the Sabbath?

3 And Jesus said, Have you not read what David did when he was in need of food, he and those who were with him?

4 How he went into the house of God and took the holy bread which the disciples are not permitted to eat, but only the priests, and gave it to those who were with him?

5 And he said to them, The Son of man is lord even of the Sabbath.

6 And it came about, on another Sabbath, that he went into the Synagogue and was teaching there. And a man was there whose right hand was dead.

7 And the scribes and the Pharisees were watching him closely, to see if he would make him well on the Sabbath day, so that they might have something against him.

8 But he saw what was in their minds, and said to the man, Get up, and come out into the middle. And he got up and came forward.

9 And Jesus said, I will put a question to you, is it right to do good on the Sabbath day, or to do evil? to give life or to take it away?

10 And looking round at them all, he said to the man, Put out your hand. And he did so; and his hand was made well.

11 But they were very angry, and were talking together about what they might do to Jesus.

12 And it came about in those days, that he went into a mountain to pray; and he was there all night before God.

13 And when it was day, he sent for his disciples, and out of them he took twelve, to whom he gave the name of Apostles;

14 Simon, who was named Peter, and Andrew, his brother, and James and John, and Philip and Bartholomew,

15 And Matthew and Thomas, James, the son of Alphaeus, and Simon, who was named the Zealot,

16 And Judas, the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was the traitor.

17 And he came down from the mountain with them, and took his place on level ground, with a great number of his disciples, and a great number of people from all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea-coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to give hearing to him and to be made well from their diseases;

18 And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were made well.

19 And all the people were trying to be near him, so that they might be touched by him, for power came from him and made them all well.

20 And turning his eyes on his disciples, he said, Happy are you who are poor: for the kingdom of God is yours.

21 Happy are you, who are without food now: for you will be full. Happy are you who are weeping now: for you will have joy.

22 Happy will you be when men have hate for you, and put you away from among them, and say evil against you, and put shame on your name, because of the Son of man.

23 Be glad in that day, and be lifted up for joy, for your reward in heaven will be great: for so did their fathers do to the prophets.

24 But it will be evil for you who have wealth: for you have had your comfort in full.

25 It will be evil for you who are full of food now: for you will be in need. It will be evil for you who are laughing now: for you will be crying in sorrow.

26 It will be evil for you when all men give you their approval: for so did their fathers do to the false prophets.

27 But I say to you who give ear to me, Have love for those who are against you, do good to those who have hate for you,

28 Give blessing to those who give you curses, say prayers for those who are cruel to you.

29 If a man gives you a blow on one side of your face, let him give you a blow on the other side; and if a man takes away your coat, do not keep back your shirt from him.

30 Give to everyone who comes with a request, and if a man takes away your goods, do not make him give them back.

31 And as you would have men do to you, do the same to them.

32 If you have love for those who have love for you, what credit is it to you? for even sinners have love for those who have love for them.

33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is it to you? for even sinners do this.

34 And if you let men have the use of your money in the hope of getting it back, what credit is it to you? even sinners do this hoping to get back as much as they gave.

35 But have love for those who are against you, and do good to them, and give them your money without desiring to get it back, and your reward will be great, and you will be the sons of the Most High: for he is kind even to the unthankful and to those who are evil.

36 Have mercy in your hearts, even as your Father has mercy.

37 Do not be judges of others, and you will not be judged: do not give a decision against others, and no decision will be given against you: make others free, and you will be made free:

38 Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you: for in the same amount with which you give, it will be measured again to you.

39 And he made a comparison, saying, Is it possible for one blind man to be a guide to another? will they not both go falling into a hole?

40 A disciple is not greater than his master, but every one whose learning is complete will be like his master.

41 And why do you take note of the grain of dust in your brother’s eye, and take no note of the great mass of wood which is in your own eye?

42 How will you say to your brother, Brother, let me take out the grain of dust which is in your eye, when you yourself do not see the great mass of wood which is in your eye? You hypocrite, first take the wood out of your eye, then you will see clearly to take out the grain of dust which is in your brother’s eye.

43 For no good tree gives bad fruit, and no bad tree gives good fruit.

44 Every tree is judged by its fruit: men do not get figs from thorns, or grapes from bramble bushes.

45 The good man out of the good in his heart, gives what is good; and the evil man out of the evil in his heart, gives what is evil: for out of the good of the heart the mouth is made to say good things, and out of the evil of the heart the mouth says evil things.

46 And why do you say to me, Lord, Lord, and do not do the things which I say?

47 Everyone who comes to me and gives ear to my words, and does them, of him I will now give a picture.

48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep, and put the base of it on a rock, and when the flood came, the force of the water gave a blow to that house, and was not able to overcome it, because it was well based.

49 But he who hears, and does not do, is like a man who put up a house on the earth, without a base, and when the force of the water came against it, immediately it came down, and the fall of that house was great.

Important Verses

• Luke 6:5 “The Son of man is lord even of the Sabbath.” Jesus declares His authority over religious law, affirming that He is greater than the tradition it created.
• Luke 6:20-22 The Beatitudes reveal a reversal of worldly values, blessing those who suffer for the sake of the kingdom rather than those who prosper by earthly standards.
• Luke 6:27-31 The call to love enemies and practice radical mercy stands as one of the most demanding ethical teachings in Scripture, showing the depth of Christian love.
• Luke 6:37 “Do not be judges of others, and you will not be judged.” This verse warns against a critical and condemning spirit, calling believers to grace instead.
• Luke 6:46-49 The parable of the two builders emphasizes that genuine faith is proven through obedience, not merely through hearing or acknowledging Jesus as Lord.