Luke 6
New American Standard Bible
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
6 (A)Now it happened that [a]Jesus was passing through some grainfields on a Sabbath, and His disciples (B)were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what (C)is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 3 And Jesus, answering them, said, “Have you not even read (D)what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him, 4 how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the [b]consecrated bread, which (E)is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests alone, and gave it to his companions?” 5 And He was saying to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
6 (F)On another Sabbath He entered (G)the synagogue and taught; and a man was there [c]whose right hand was withered. 7 Now the scribes and the Pharisees (H)were watching Him [d]closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse Him. 8 But He (I)knew [e]what they were thinking, and He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and [f]come forward!” And he got up and [g]came forward. 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you whether it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do harm, to save a life or to destroy it?” 10 And after (J)looking around at them all, He said to him, “Stretch out your hand!” And he did so; and his hand was restored. 11 But they themselves were filled with senseless rage, and began discussing together what they might do to Jesus.
Choosing the Twelve
12 Now it was [h]at this time that He went off to (K)the mountain to (L)pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer with God. 13 And when day came, (M)He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as (N)apostles: 14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and his brother Andrew; and [i]James and John; and Philip and Bartholomew; 15 and (O)Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot; 16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
17 And then Jesus (P)came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was (Q)a large crowd of His disciples, and a great multitude of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the coastal region of (R)Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled by unclean spirits were being cured. 19 And all the [j]people were trying to (S)touch Him, because (T)power was coming from Him and healing them all.
The Beatitudes
20 And He raised His eyes toward His disciples and began saying, “(U)Blessed are [k]you who are poor, for (V)yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are [l]you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are [m]you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 (W)Blessed are you when the people hate you, and when they [n](X)exclude you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice on that day and (Y)jump for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For their fathers used to [o]treat the prophets (Z)the same way. 24 But woe to (AA)you who are rich, for (AB)you are receiving your comfort in full. 25 Woe to you who [p]are well-fed now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when all the people speak well of you; for their fathers used to [q]treat the (AC)false prophets the same way.
27 “But I say to you who hear, (AD)love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, (AE)pray for those who are abusive to you. 29 (AF)Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your [r]cloak, do not withhold your [s]tunic from him either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. 31 [t](AG)Treat people the same way you want them to [u]treat you. 32 (AH)If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 (AI)And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 35 But (AJ)love your enemies and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be (AK)sons of (AL)the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil people. 36 [v]Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37 “(AM)Do not [w]judge, and you will not be judged; and do not [x]condemn, and you will not be condemned; [y](AN)pardon, and you will be pardoned. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will [z]pour (AO)into your lap a (AP)good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
39 Now He also spoke a parable to them: “(AQ)A person who is blind cannot guide another who is blind, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 (AR)A [aa]student is not above the teacher; but everyone, when he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you look at the [ab]speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the [ac]speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the [ad]speck that is in your brother’s eye. 43 (AS)For there is no good tree that bears bad fruit, nor, [ae]on the other hand, a bad tree that bears good fruit. 44 (AT)For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. 45 (AU)The good person out of the good [af]treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil person out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; (AV)for his mouth speaks from [ag]that which fills his heart.
The Parable of the Builders
46 “Now (AW)why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 (AX)Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and [ah]acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who [ai]dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when there was a flood, the river burst against that house and yet it could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation; and the river burst against it and it immediately collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”
Footnotes
- Luke 6:1 Lit He
- Luke 6:4 Lit loaves of presentation
- Luke 6:6 Lit and his
- Luke 6:7 Or maliciously
- Luke 6:8 Lit their thoughts
- Luke 6:8 Lit stand into the middle
- Luke 6:8 Lit stood
- Luke 6:12 Lit in these days
- Luke 6:14 Or Jacob, also vv 15 and 16
- Luke 6:19 Lit crowd
- Luke 6:20 Lit the poor
- Luke 6:21 Lit the ones who
- Luke 6:21 Lit the ones who
- Luke 6:22 Or excommunicate
- Luke 6:23 Lit do to
- Luke 6:25 Or have plenty to eat
- Luke 6:26 Lit do to
- Luke 6:29 Or outer garment
- Luke 6:29 A long shirt worn next to the skin
- Luke 6:31 Lit Do to
- Luke 6:31 Lit do to
- Luke 6:36 Or Prove yourselves merciful
- Luke 6:37 Or continually judge
- Luke 6:37 Or continually condemn
- Luke 6:37 Or continually pardon
- Luke 6:38 Lit give
- Luke 6:40 Or disciple
- Luke 6:41 Or splinter
- Luke 6:42 Or splinter
- Luke 6:42 Or splinter
- Luke 6:43 Lit again
- Luke 6:45 Or treasury, storehouse
- Luke 6:45 Lit the abundance of
- Luke 6:47 Lit does
- Luke 6:48 Lit dug and went deep
Luke 6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Question about the Sabbath
6 One Sabbath[a] while Jesus[b] was going through some grain fields, his disciples plucked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them.(A) 2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful[c] on the Sabbath?”(B) 3 Jesus answered, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?(C) 4 How he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and gave some to his companions?”(D) 5 Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
The Man with a Withered Hand
6 On another Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.(E) 7 The scribes and the Pharisees were watching him to see whether he would cure on the Sabbath, so that they might find grounds to bring an accusation against him. 8 But he knew what they were thinking, and he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come and stand in the middle.” He got up and stood there.(F) 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 After looking around at all of them, he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with fury and began discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles
12 Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.(G) 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles:(H) 14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, and James, and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Simon, who was called the Zealot, 16 and Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.(I)
Jesus Teaches and Heals
17 He came down with them and stood on a level place with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon.(J) 18 They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases, and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.(K)
Blessings and Woes
20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
“Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.(L)
22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you[d] on account of the Son of Man.(M) 23 Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven, for that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.(N)
24 “But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.(O)
25 “Woe to you who are full now,
for you will be hungry.
“Woe to you who are laughing now,
for you will mourn and weep.(P)
26 “Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.(Q)
Love for Enemies
27 “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you;(R) 28 bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you.(S) 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes away what is yours, do not ask for it back again.(T) 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.(U)
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.[e] Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.(V) 36 Be merciful, just as 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;(W) 38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”(X)
39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?(Y) 40 A disciple is not above the teacher, but every disciple who is fully qualified will be like the teacher.(Z) 41 Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.
A Tree and Its Fruit
43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit;(AA) 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a bramble bush.(AB) 45 The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil, for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.(AC)
The Two Foundations
46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?(AD) 47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them.(AE) 48 That one is like a man building a house who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built.[f] 49 But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it quickly collapsed, and great was the ruin of that house.”
Luke 6
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
6 And it came to pass on the second first sabbath, that as he went through the corn fields, his disciples plucked the ears, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.
2 And some of the Pharisees said to them: Why do you that which is not lawful on the sabbath days?
3 And Jesus answering them, said: Have you not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was hungry, and they that were with him:
4 How he went into the house of God, and took and ate the bread of proposition, and gave to them that were with him, which is not lawful to eat but only for the priests?
5 And he said to them: The Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And there was a man, whose right hand was withered.
7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched if he would heal on the sabbath; that they might find an accusation against him.
8 But he knew their thoughts; and said to the man who had the withered hand: Arise, and stand forth in the midst. And rising he stood forth.
9 Then Jesus said to them: I ask you, if it be lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to destroy?
10 And looking round about on them all, he said to the man: Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth: and his hand was restored.
11 And they were filled with madness; and they talked one with another, what they might do to Jesus.
12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and he passed the whole night in the prayer of God.
13 And when day was come, he called unto him his disciples; and he chose twelve of them (whom also he named apostles):
14 Simon, whom he surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon who is called Zelotes,
16 And Jude, the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was the traitor.
17 And coming down with them, he stood in a plain place, and the company of his disciples, and a very great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast both of Tyre and Sidon,
18 Who were come to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases. And they that were troubled with unclean spirits, were cured.
19 And all the multitude sought to touch him, for virtue went out from him, and healed all.
20 And he, lifting up his eyes on his disciples, said: Blessed are ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for you shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for you shall laugh.
22 Blessed shall you be when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
23 Be glad in that day and rejoice; for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For according to these things did their fathers to the prophets.
24 But woe to you that are rich: for you have your consolation.
25 Woe to you that are filled: for you shall hunger. Woe to you that now laugh: for you shall mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when men shall bless you: for according to these things did their fathers to the false prophets.
27 But I say to you that hear: Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you.
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them that calumniate you.
29 And to him that striketh thee on the one cheek, offer also the other. And him that taketh away from thee thy cloak, forbid not to take 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 you would that men should do to you, do you also to them in like manner.
32 And if you love them that love you, what thanks are to you? for sinners also love those that love them.
33 And if you do good to them who do good to you, what thanks are to you? for sinners also do this.
34 And if you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what thanks are to you? for sinners also lend to sinners, for to receive as much.
35 But love ye your enemies: do good, and lend, hoping for nothing thereby: and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the sons of the Highest; for he is kind to the unthankful, and to the evil.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
37 Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven.
38 Give, and it shall be given to you: good measure and pressed down and shaken together and running over shall they give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you shall mete withal, it shall be measured to you again.
39 And he spoke also to them a similitude: Can the blind lead the blind? do they not both fall into the ditch?
40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one shall be perfect, if he be as his master.
41 And why seest thou the mote in thy brother's eye: but the beam that is in thy own eye thou considerest not?
42 Or how canst thou say to thy brother: Brother, let me pull the mote out of thy eye, when thou thyself seest not the beam in thy own eye? Hypocrite, cast first the beam out of thy own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to take out the mote from thy brother's eye.
43 For there is no good tree that bringeth forth evil fruit; nor an evil tree that bringeth forth good fruit.
44 For every tree is known by its fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns; nor from a bramble bush do they gather the grape.
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
46 And why call you me, Lord, Lord; and do not the things which I say?
47 Every one that cometh to me, and heareth my words, and doth them, I will shew you to whom he is like.
48 He is like to a man building a house, who digged deep, and laid the foundation upon a rock. And when a flood came, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and it could not shake it; for it was founded on a rock.
49 But he that heareth, and doth not, is like to a man building his house upon the earth without a foundation: against which the stream beat vehemently, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.
Luke 6
The Message
In Charge of the Sabbath
6 1-2 On a certain Sabbath Jesus was walking through a field of ripe grain. His disciples were pulling off heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands to get rid of the chaff, and eating them. Some Pharisees said, “Why are you doing that, breaking a Sabbath rule?”
3-4 But Jesus stood up for them. “Have you never read what David and those with him did when they were hungry? How he entered the sanctuary and ate fresh bread off the altar, bread that no one but priests were allowed to eat? He also handed it out to his companions.”
5 Then he said, “The Son of Man is no slave to the Sabbath; he’s in charge.”
6-8 On another Sabbath he went to the meeting place and taught. There was a man there with a crippled right hand. The religion scholars and Pharisees had their eyes on Jesus to see if he would heal the man, hoping to catch him in a Sabbath violation. He knew what they were up to and spoke to the man with the crippled hand: “Get up and stand here before us.” He did.
9 Then Jesus addressed them, “Let me ask you something: What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?”
10-11 He looked around, looked each one in the eye. He said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” He held it out—it was as good as new! They were beside themselves with anger, and started plotting how they might get even with him.
The Twelve Apostles
12-16 At about that same time he climbed a mountain to pray. He was there all night in prayer before God. The next day he summoned his disciples; from them he selected twelve he designated as apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter,
Andrew, his brother,
James,
John,
Philip,
Bartholomew,
Matthew,
Thomas,
James, son of Alphaeus,
Simon, called the Zealot,
Judas, son of James,
Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
You’re Blessed
17-21 Coming down off the mountain with them, he stood on a plain surrounded by disciples, and was soon joined by a huge congregation from all over Judea and Jerusalem, even from the seaside towns of Tyre and Sidon. They had come both to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. Those disturbed by evil spirits were healed. Everyone was trying to touch him—so much energy surging from him, so many people healed! Then he spoke:
You’re blessed when you’ve lost it all.
God’s kingdom is there for the finding.
You’re blessed when you’re ravenously hungry.
Then you’re ready for the Messianic meal.
You’re blessed when the tears flow freely.
Joy comes with the morning.
22-23 “Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—skip like a lamb, if you like!—for even though they don’t like it, I do . . . and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this.
Give Away Your Life
24 But it’s trouble ahead if you think you have it made.
What you have is all you’ll ever get.
25 And it’s trouble ahead if you’re satisfied with yourself.
Your self will not satisfy you for long.
And it’s trouble ahead if you think life’s all fun and games.
There’s suffering to be met, and you’re going to meet it.
26 “There’s trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.
27-30 “To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more payback. Live generously.
31-34 “Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.
35-36 “I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.
37-38 “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”
39-40 He quoted a proverb: “‘Can a blind man guide a blind man?’ Wouldn’t they both end up in the ditch? An apprentice doesn’t lecture the master. The point is to be careful who you follow as your teacher.
41-42 “It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
Work the Words into Your Life
43-45 “You don’t get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It’s who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds.
46-47 “Why are you so polite with me, always saying ‘Yes, sir,’ and ‘That’s right, sir,’ but never doing a thing I tell you? These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on.
48-49 “If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss.”
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Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson