Luke 6

Jesus Is Lord over the Sabbath

1 One Sabbath day Jesus was walking through some fields of grain. His followers picked the heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them.

2 Some Pharisees said, “Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath day?”
3 Jesus answered, “Have you not read what David did when he and those with him were hungry? 4 He went into God’s house and took and ate the holy bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he gave some to the people who were with him.”

5 Then Jesus said to the Pharisees, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath day.”

Jesus Heals a Man’s Hand

6 On another Sabbath day Jesus went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man with a crippled right hand was there.7 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees were watching closely to see if Jesus would heal on the Sabbath day so they could accuse him.8 But he knew what they were thinking, and he said to the man with the crippled hand, “Stand up here in the middle of everyone.” The man got up and stood there.9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath day: to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to destroy it?”

10 Jesus looked around at all of them and said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man held out his hand, and it was healed.

11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were very angry and discussed with each other what they could do to Jesus.

Jesus Chooses His Apostles

12 At that time Jesus went off to a mountain to pray, and he spent the night praying to God.13 The next morning, Jesus called his followers to him and chose twelve of them, whom he named apostles:14 Simon (Jesus named him Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon (called the Zealot),

16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who later turned Jesus over to his enemies.

Jesus Teaches and Heals

17 Jesus and the apostles came down from the mountain, and he stood on level ground. A large group of his followers was there, as well as many people from all around Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast cities of Tyre and Sidon.18 They all came to hear Jesus teach and to be healed of their sicknesses, and he healed those who were troubled by evil spirits.

19 All the people were trying to touch Jesus, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

20 Jesus looked at his followers and said,
“You people who are poor are blessed, because the kingdom of God belongs to you.

21 You people who are now hungry are blessed, because you will be satisfied.
You people who are now crying are blessed, because you will laugh with joy.
22 “People will hate you, shut you out, insult you, and say you are evil because you follow the Son of Man. But when they do, you will be blessed.

23 Be full of joy at that time, because you have a great reward in heaven. Their ancestors did the same things to the prophets.

24 “But how terrible it will be for you who are rich, because you have had your easy life.

25 How terrible it will be for you who are full now, because you will be hungry.
How terrible it will be for you who are laughing now, because you will be sad and cry.

26 “How terrible when everyone says only good things about you, because their ancestors said the same things about the false prophets.

Love Your Enemies

27 “But I say to you who are listening, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who are cruel to you. 29 If anyone slaps you on one cheek, offer him the other cheek, too. If someone takes your coat, do not stop him from taking your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and when someone takes something that is yours, don’t ask for it back. 31 Do to others what you would want them to do to you. 32 If you love only the people who love you, what praise should you get? Even sinners love the people who love them. 33 If you do good only to those who do good to you, what praise should you get? Even sinners do that! 34 If you lend things to people, always hoping to get something back, what praise should you get? Even sinners lend to other sinners so that they can get back the same amount! 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without hoping to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God, because he is kind even to people who are ungrateful and full of sin.

36 Show mercy, just as your Father shows mercy.

Look at Yourselves

37 “Don’t judge others, and you will not be judged. Don’t accuse others of being guilty, and you will not be accused of being guilty. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

38 Give, and you will receive. You will be given much. Pressed down, shaken together, and running over, it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.”
39 Jesus told them this story: “Can a blind person lead another blind person? No! Both of them will fall into a ditch.

40 A student is not better than the teacher, but the student who has been fully trained will be like the teacher.
41 “Why do you notice the little piece of dust in your friend’s eye, but you don’t notice the big piece of wood in your own eye?

42 How can you say to your friend, ‘Friend, let me take that little piece of dust out of your eye’ when you cannot see that big piece of wood in your own eye! You hypocrite! First, take the wood out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the dust out of your friend’s eye.

Two Kinds of Fruit

43 “A good tree does not produce bad fruit, nor does a bad tree produce good fruit. 44 Each tree is known by its own fruit. People don’t gather figs from thornbushes, and they don’t get grapes from bushes.

45 Good people bring good things out of the good they stored in their hearts. But evil people bring evil things out of the evil they stored in their hearts. People speak the things that are in their hearts.

Two Kinds of People

46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what everyone is like who comes to me and hears my words and obeys. 48 That person is like a man building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on rock. When the floods came, the water tried to wash the house away, but it could not shake it, because the house was built well. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not obey is like a man who built his house on the ground without a foundation. When the floods came, the house quickly fell and was completely destroyed.”

Luke 6

1 Now it came to pass on a sabbath, that he was going through the grainfields; and his disciples plucked the ears, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.2 But certain of the Pharisees said, Why do ye that which it is not lawful to do on the sabbath day?3 And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read even this, what David did, when he was hungry, he, and they that were with him;4 how he entered into the house of God, and took and ate the showbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat save for the priests alone?5 And he said unto them, The Son of man is lord of the sabbath.6 And it came to pass on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man there, and his right hand was withered.7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath; that they might find how to accuse him.8 But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man that had his hand withered, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.9 And Jesus said unto them, I ask you, Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to destroy it?10 And he looked round about on them all, and said unto him, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored.11 But they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.12 And it came to pass in these days, that he went out into the mountain to pray; and he continued all night in prayer to God.13 And when it was day, he called his disciples; and he chose from them twelve, whom also he named apostles:14 Simon, whom he also named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip and Bartholomew,15 and Matthew and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor;17 and he came down with them, and stood on a level place, and a great multitude of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judaea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;18 and they that were troubled with unclean spirits were healed.19 And all the multitude sought to touch him; for power came forth from him, and healed them all.20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed are ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same manner did their fathers unto the prophets.24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.25 Woe unto you, ye that are full now! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you, ye that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for in the same manner did their fathers to the false prophets.27 But I say unto you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you,28 bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you.29 To him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and from him that taketh away thy cloak withhold not thy coat also.30 Give to every one that asketh thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.32 And if ye love them that love you, what thank have ye? for even sinners love those that love them.33 And if ye do good to them that do good to you, what thank have ye? for even sinners do the same.34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? even sinners lend to sinners, to receive again as much.35 But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.36 Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful.37 And judge not, and ye shall not be judged: and condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: release, and ye shall be released:38 give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.39 And he spake also a parable unto them, Can the blind guide the blind? shall they not both fall into a pit?40 The disciple is not above his teacher: but every one when he is perfected shall be as his teacher.41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?42 Or how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me cast out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.43 For there is no good tree that bringeth forth corrupt fruit; nor again a corrupt tree that bringeth forth good fruit.44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?47 Every one that cometh unto me, and heareth my words, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like:48 he is like a man building a house, who digged and went deep, and laid a foundation upon the rock: and when a flood arose, the stream brake against that house, and could not shake it: because it had been well builded.49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that built a house upon the earth without a foundation; against which the stream brake, and straightway it fell in; and the ruin of that house was great.