Luke 6

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath Day

1 One Sabbath day Jesus was walking through the grainfields. His disciples began to break off some heads of grain. They rubbed them in their hands and ate them.
2 Some of the Pharisees said, "It is against the Law to do this on the Sabbath. Why are you doing it?"
3 Jesus answered them, "Haven't you ever read about what David did? He and his men were hungry.4 He entered the house of God and took the holy bread. He ate the bread that only priests were allowed to eat. David also gave some to his men."
5 Then Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath day."
6 On another Sabbath day, Jesus went into the synagogue and was teaching. A man whose right hand was weak and twisted was there.7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were trying to find fault with Jesus. So they watched him closely. They wanted to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.
8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking. He spoke to the man who had the weak and twisted hand. "Get up and stand in front of everyone," he said. So the man got up and stood there.
9 Then Jesus said to them, "What does the Law say we should do on the Sabbath day? Should we do good? Or should we do evil? Should we save life? Or should we destroy it?"
10 He looked around at all of them.
Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."
He did, and his hand was as good as new.
11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were very angry. They began to talk to each other about what they might do to Jesus.

Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles

12 On one of those days, Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray. He spent the night praying to God.13 When morning came, he called for his disciples to come to him. He chose 12 of them and made them apostles.
14 Simon was one of them. Jesus gave him the name Peter. There were also Simon's brother Andrew, James, John, Philip and Bartholomew.15 And there were Matthew, Thomas, and James, son of Alphaeus. There were also Simon who was called the Zealot16 and Judas, son of James. Judas Iscariot was one of them too. He was the one who would later hand Jesus over to his enemies.

Jesus Gives Blessings and Warnings

17 Jesus went down the mountain with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there. A large number of other people were there too. They came from all over Judea, including Jerusalem. They also came from the coast of Tyre and Sidon.
18 They had all come to hear Jesus and to be healed of their sicknesses. People who were troubled by evil spirits were made well.19 Everyone tried to touch Jesus. Power was coming from him and healing them all.
20 Jesus looked at his disciples. He said to them,
"Blessed are you who are needy.
God's kingdom belongs to you.
21 Blessed are you who are hungry now.
You will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are sad now.
You will laugh.
22 Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they have nothing to do with you
and say bad things about you,
and when they treat your name as something evil.
They do all this because you are followers of the Son of Man.
23 "Their people treated the prophets the same way long ago. When these things happen to you, be glad and jump for joy. You will receive many blessings in heaven.
24 "But how terrible it will be for you who are rich!
You have already had your easy life.
25 How terrible for you who are well fed now!
You will go hungry.
How terrible for you who laugh now!
You will cry and be sad.
26 How terrible for you when everyone says good things about you!
Their people treated the false prophets the same way long ago.

Love Your Enemies

27 "But here is what I tell you who hear me. Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you.28 Bless those who call down curses on you. And pray for those who treat you badly.
29 "Suppose someone hits you on one cheek. Turn your other cheek to him also. Suppose someone takes your coat. Don't stop him from taking your shirt.
30 "Give to everyone who asks you. And if anyone takes what belongs to you, don't ask to get it back.31 Do to others as you want them to do to you.
32 "Suppose you love those who love you. Should anyone praise you for that? Even 'sinners' love those who love them.33 And suppose you do good to those who are good to you. Should anyone praise you for that? Even 'sinners' do that.34 And suppose you lend money to those who can pay you back. Should anyone praise you for that? Even a 'sinner' lends to 'sinners,' expecting them to pay everything back.
35 "But love your enemies. Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then you will receive a lot in return. And you will be sons of the Most High God. He is kind to people who are evil and are not thankful.36 So have mercy, just as your Father has mercy.

Be Fair When You Judge Others

37 "If you do not judge others, then you will not be judged. If you do not find others guilty, then you will not be found guilty. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good amount will be poured into your lap. It will be pressed down, shaken together, and running over. The same amount you give will be measured out to you."
39 Jesus also gave them another example. He asked, "Can a blind person lead another blind person? Won't they both fall into a pit?40 Students are not better than their teachers. But everyone who is completely trained will be like his teacher.
41 "You look at the bit of sawdust in your friend's eye. But you pay no attention to the piece of wood in your own eye.42 How can you say to your friend, 'Let me take the bit of sawdust out of your eye'? How can you say this while there is a piece of wood in your own eye? You pretender! First take the piece of wood out of your own eye. Then you will be able to see clearly to take the bit of sawdust out of your friend's eye.

A Tree and Its Fruit

43 "A good tree doesn't bear bad fruit. And a bad tree doesn't bear good fruit.44 You can tell each tree by the kind of fruit it bears. People do not pick figs from thorns. And they don't pick grapes from bushes.
45 "A good man says good things. These come from the good that is put away in his heart. An evil man says evil things. These come from the evil that is put away in his heart. Their mouths say everything that is in their hearts.

The Wise and Foolish Builders

46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and still don't do what I say?47 Some people come to me and listen to me and do what I say. I will show you what they are like.48 They are like someone who builds a house. He digs down deep and sets it on solid rock. When a flood comes, the river rushes against the house. But the water can't shake it. The house is well built.
49 "But here is what happens when people listen to my words and do not obey them. They are like someone who builds a house on soft ground instead of solid rock. The moment the river rushes against that house, it falls down. It is 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.