Luke 6

Lord of the Sabbath

1 On a Sabbath, Jesus was going through grainfields, and His disciples were picking heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating.

2 Some Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not allowed on the Sabbath?”

3 Jesus answered, “Have you not read what David did when he and his men were hungry,

4 He went into the house of God, took the bread that was set apart, ate it, and gave some to his men, even though only the priests were allowed to eat it.”

5 Then He said, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

A Man with a Withered Hand

6 On another Sabbath, He went into the synagogue and was teaching. There was a man there whose right hand was withered.

7 The scribes and Pharisees were watching Him close, trying to catch Him healing on the Sabbath so they could accuse Him.

8 But He knew what they were thinking and said to the man, “Get up and stand here in front.” The man stood up.

9 Jesus said to them, “Let Me ask you, what is right on the Sabbath, To do good or to do harm, To save life or destroy it?”

10 He looked around at all of them, then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his hand was restored.

11 But they were filled with rage and started talking about what they might do to Jesus.

Jesus Chooses the Twelve

12 Around that time, Jesus went up on the mountain to pray and spent the whole night in prayer to God.

13 When morning came, He called His disciples and chose twelve of them, whom He also named apostles:

14 Simon (whom He named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,

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

16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Jesus Teaches and Heals

17 He came down with them and stood on a level place. A large group of His disciples was there, along with a huge crowd from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon.

18 They came to hear Him and be healed from their sicknesses, and those troubled by unclean spirits were being set free.

19 The whole crowd was trying to touch Him, because power was coming from Him and healing them all.

Blessings and Woes

20 Then He looked at His disciples and said, “Blessed are you who are poor, because the kingdom of God belongs to you.

21 Blessed are you who are hungry now, because you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, because you will laugh.

22 Blessed are you when people hate you, exclude you, insult you, and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man.

23 Rejoice in that day and be glad, your reward in heaven is great, because their ancestors treated the prophets the same way.

24 But woe to you who are rich, because you have already received your comfort.

25 Woe to you who are full now, because you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, because you will mourn and cry.

26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, because that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.”

Love for Enemies

27 “But I am telling you who are listening, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

29 If someone hits you on one cheek, turn the other too. If someone takes your coat, do not hold back your shirt either.

30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if someone takes what is yours, do not demand it back.

31 Treat people the way you want them to treat you.

32 If you only love those who love you, what credit is that, Even sinners love those who love them.

33 If you only do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that, Even sinners do the same.

34 If you lend to those you expect to pay you back, what credit is that, Even sinners lend to sinners to get it back.

35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend without expecting anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind even to the ungrateful and evil.

36 Be merciful, just like your Father is merciful.”

Judging Others

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

38 Give, and it will be given to you, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. The same measure you use will be measured back to you.”

39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind person lead another blind person, Will they not both fall into a pit,

40 A student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.

41 Why are you focused on the speck in your brother’s eye but do not notice the plank in your own,

42 How can you say, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you do not see the plank in your own, Hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s.”

A Tree and Its Fruit

43 “A good tree does not produce bad fruit, and a bad tree does not produce good fruit.

44 Every tree is known by its fruit. You do not pick figs from thorn bushes or grapes from brambles.

45 A good person brings good out of the good stored in their heart, and an evil person brings evil out of what is inside them. The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

The Wise and Foolish Builders

46 “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say,

47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to Me, hears My words, and puts them into practice.

48 They are like a man building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on rock. When the flood came, the river slammed against that house but could not shake it, because it was built right.

49 But the one who hears and does not act is like someone who built a house on the ground with any foundation. The river hit it hard, and it collapsed immediately, completely destroyed.”