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Lord of the Sabbath

Jesus[a] was going through the grain fields on[b] a Sabbath,[c] and his disciples picked some heads of wheat,[d] rubbed them in their hands, and ate them.[e] But some of the Pharisees[f] said, “Why are you[g] doing what is against the law[h] on the Sabbath?” Jesus[i] answered them,[j] “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry— how he entered the house of God, took[k] and ate the sacred bread,[l] which is not lawful[m] for any to eat but the priests alone, and[n] gave it to his companions?”[o] Then[p] he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord[q] of the Sabbath.”

Healing a Withered Hand

On[r] another Sabbath, Jesus[s] entered the synagogue[t] and was teaching. Now[u] a man was there whose right hand was withered.[v] The experts in the law[w] and the Pharisees[x] watched[y] Jesus[z] closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath,[aa] so that they could find a reason to accuse him. But[ab] he knew[ac] their thoughts,[ad] and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Get up and stand here.”[ae] So[af] he rose and stood there. Then[ag] Jesus said to them, “I ask you,[ah] is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save a life or to destroy it?” 10 After[ai] looking around[aj] at them all, he said to the man,[ak] “Stretch out your hand.” The man[al] did so, and his hand was restored.[am] 11 But they were filled with mindless rage[an] and began debating with one another what they would do[ao] to Jesus.

Choosing the Twelve Apostles

12 Now[ap] it was during this time that Jesus[aq] went out to the mountain[ar] to pray, and he spent all night[as] in prayer to God.[at] 13 When[au] morning came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles:[av] 14 Simon[aw] (whom he named Peter), and his brother Andrew; and James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,[ax] 15 Matthew, Thomas,[ay] James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot,[az] 16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot,[ba] who became a traitor.

The Sermon on the Plain

17 Then[bb] he came down with them and stood on a level place.[bc] And a large number[bd] of his disciples had gathered[be] along with[bf] a vast multitude from all over Judea, from[bg] Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon.[bh] They came to hear him and to be healed[bi] of their diseases, 18 and those who suffered from[bj] unclean[bk] spirits were cured. 19 The[bl] whole crowd was trying to touch him, because power[bm] was coming out from him and healing them all.

20 Then[bn] he looked up[bo] at his disciples and said:

“Blessed[bp] are you who are poor,[bq] for the kingdom of God belongs[br] to you.
21 “Blessed are you who hunger[bs] now, for you will be satisfied.[bt]
“Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.[bu]
22 “Blessed are you when people[bv] hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject you as evil[bw] on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and jump for joy, because[bx] your reward is great in heaven. For their ancestors[by] did the same things to the prophets.[bz]
24 “But woe[ca] to you who are rich, for you have received[cb] your comfort[cc] already.
25 “Woe to you who are well satisfied with food[cd] now, for you will be hungry.
“Woe to you[ce] who laugh[cf] now, for you will mourn and weep.
26 “Woe to you[cg] when all people[ch] speak well of you, for their ancestors[ci] did the same things to the false prophets.

27 “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies,[cj] do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat[ck] you. 29 To the person who strikes you on the cheek,[cl] offer the other as well,[cm] and from the person who takes away your coat,[cn] do not withhold your tunic[co] either.[cp] 30 Give to everyone who asks you,[cq] and do not ask for your possessions[cr] back[cs] from the person who takes them away. 31 Treat others[ct] in the same way that you would want them to treat you.[cu]

32 “If[cv] you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners[cw] love those who love them.[cx] 33 And[cy] if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even[cz] sinners[da] do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to be repaid,[db] what credit is that to you? Even sinners[dc] lend to sinners, so that they may be repaid in full.[dd] 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back.[de] Then[df] your reward will be great, and you will be sons[dg] of the Most High,[dh] because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people.[di] 36 Be merciful,[dj] just as your Father is merciful.

Do Not Judge Others

37 “Do[dk] not judge,[dl] and you will not be judged;[dm] do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive,[dn] and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over,[do] will be poured[dp] into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive.”[dq]

39 He also told them a parable: “Someone who is blind cannot lead another who is blind, can he?[dr] Won’t they both fall[ds] into a pit? 40 A disciple[dt] is not greater than[du] his teacher, but everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why[dv] do you see the speck[dw] in your brother’s eye, but fail to see[dx] the beam of wood[dy] in your own? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while you yourself don’t see the beam in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

43 “For[dz] no good tree bears bad[ea] fruit, nor again[eb] does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known[ec] by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered[ed] from thorns, nor are grapes picked[ee] from brambles.[ef] 45 The good person out of the good treasury of his[eg] heart[eh] produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury[ei] produces evil, for his mouth speaks[ej] from what fills[ek] his heart.

46 “Why[el] do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’[em] and don’t do what I tell you?[en]

47 “Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and puts them into practice[eo]—I will show you what he is like: 48 He is like a man[ep] building a house, who dug down deep,[eq] and laid the foundation on bedrock. When[er] a flood came, the river[es] burst against that house but[et] could not shake it, because it had been well built.[eu] 49 But the person who hears and does not put my words into practice[ev] is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When[ew] the river burst against that house,[ex] it collapsed immediately, and was utterly destroyed!”[ey]

Footnotes

  1. Luke 6:1 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  2. Luke 6:1 tn Grk “Now it happened that on.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
  3. Luke 6:1 tc Most later mss (A C D Θ Ψ13] M lat) read ἐν σαββάτῳ δευτεροπρώτῳ (en sabbatō deuteroprōtō, “a second-first Sabbath”), while the earlier and better witnesses have simply ἐν σαββάτῳ (P4 א B L W ƒ1 33 579 1241 2542 it sa). The longer reading is most likely secondary, though various explanations may account for it (for discussion, see TCGNT 116).
  4. Luke 6:1 tn Or “heads of grain.” While the generic term στάχυς (stachus) can refer to the cluster of seeds at the top of grain such as barley or wheat, in the NT the term is restricted to wheat (L&N 3.40; BDAG 941 s.v. 1). KJV “corn” is the result of British English, in which “corn” refers to the main cereal crop of a district, wheat in England and oats in Scotland (British English uses “maize” to refer to American corn).
  5. Luke 6:1 tn Grk “picked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands.” The participle ψώχοντες (psōchontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style, and the order of the clauses has been transposed to reflect the logical order, which sounds more natural in English.
  6. Luke 6:2 sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.
  7. Luke 6:2 tn Note that the verb is second person plural (with an understood plural pronominal subject in Greek). The charge is again indirectly made against Jesus by charging the disciples.
  8. Luke 6:2 sn The alleged violation expressed by the phrase what is against the law is performing work on the Sabbath. That the disciples ate from such a field is no problem given Deut 23:25, but Sabbath activity is another matter in the leaders’ view (Exod 20:8-11 and Mishnah, m. Shabbat 7.2). The supposed violation involved reaping, threshing, winnowing, and preparing food. This probably explains why the clause describing the disciples “rubbing” the heads of grain in their hands is mentioned last, in emphatic position. This was preparation of food.
  9. Luke 6:3 tn Grk “And Jesus.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  10. Luke 6:3 tn Grk “Jesus, answering them, said.” This is redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified to “Jesus answered them.”
  11. Luke 6:4 tn Grk “and took.”
  12. Luke 6:4 tn Grk “the bread of presentation.” sn The sacred bread refers to the “bread of presentation,” “showbread,” or “bread of the Presence,” twelve loaves prepared weekly for the tabernacle and later, the temple. See Exod 25:30; 35:13; 39:36; Lev 24:5-9. Each loaf was made from 3 quarts (3.5 liters; Heb “two-tenths of an ephah”) of fine flour. The loaves were placed on a table in the holy place of the tabernacle, on the north side opposite the lampstand (Exod 26:35). It was the duty of the priest each Sabbath to place fresh bread on the table; the loaves from the previous week were then given to Aaron and his descendants, who ate them in the holy place, because they were considered sacred (Lev 24:9). These were the loaves that David requested from Ahimelech for himself and his men (1 Sam 21:1-6; cf. also Matt 12:1-8; Mark 2:23-28).
  13. Luke 6:4 sn Jesus’ response to the charge that what his disciples were doing was not lawful is one of analogy: ‘If David did it for his troops in a time of need, then so can I with my disciples.’ Jesus is clear that on the surface there was a violation here. What is not as clear is whether he is arguing a “greater need” makes this permissible or that this was within the intention of the law all along.
  14. Luke 6:4 tc Most mss (א A D Θ ƒ13 33 M) read “also” here, but this looks like it is a reading made to agree with Mark 2:26. A better combination of witnesses (B L W Ψ ƒ1 lat sa) lacks the word “also.”
  15. Luke 6:4 tc The Western ms D adds here a full saying that reads, “On the same day, as he saw someone working on the Sabbath he said, ‘Man, if you know what you are doing, you are blessed, but if you do not know, you are cursed and a violator of the law.’” Though this is not well enough attested to be considered authentic, many commentators have debated whether this saying might go back to Jesus. Most reject it, though it does have wording that looks like Rom 2:25, 27 and Jas 2:11.sn See 1 Sam 21:1-6.
  16. Luke 6:5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
  17. Luke 6:5 tn The term “lord” is in emphatic position in the Greek text. To make this point even clearer a few mss add “also” before the reference to the Son of Man, while a few others add it before the reference to the Sabbath.sn A second point in Jesus’ defense of his disciples’ actions was that his authority as Son of Man also allowed it, since as Son of Man he was lord of the Sabbath.
  18. Luke 6:6 tn Grk “Now it happened that on.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
  19. Luke 6:6 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  20. Luke 6:6 sn See the note on synagogues in 4:15.
  21. Luke 6:6 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic. In addition, because the Greek sentence is rather long and complex, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  22. Luke 6:6 tn Grk “a man was there and his right hand was withered.”sn Withered means the man’s hand was shrunken and paralyzed.
  23. Luke 6:7 tn Or “The scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.
  24. Luke 6:7 sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.
  25. Luke 6:7 sn The term translated watched…closely is emotive, since it carries negative connotations. It means they were watching him out of the corner of their eye or spying on him.
  26. Luke 6:7 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  27. Luke 6:7 sn The background for this is the view that only if life was endangered should one attempt to heal on the Sabbath (see the Mishnah, m. Shabbat 6.3; 12.1; 18.3; 19.2; m. Yoma 8.6).
  28. Luke 6:8 tn Here the conjunction δέ (de) has been translated as contrastive.
  29. Luke 6:8 sn The statement that Jesus knew their thoughts adds a prophetic note to his response; see Luke 5:22.
  30. Luke 6:8 tn Grk “their reasonings.” The implication is that Jesus knew his opponents’ plans and motives, so the translation “thoughts” was used here.
  31. Luke 6:8 sn Most likely synagogues were arranged with benches along the walls and open space in the center for seating on the floor.
  32. Luke 6:8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the man’s action was a result of Jesus’ order.
  33. Luke 6:9 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
  34. Luke 6:9 sn With the use of the plural pronoun (“you”), Jesus addressed not just the leaders but the crowd with his question to challenge what the leadership was doing. There is irony as well. As Jesus sought to restore on the Sabbath (but improperly according to the leaders’ complaints) the leaders were seeking to destroy, which surely is wrong. The implied critique recalls the OT: Isa 1:1-17; 58:6-14.
  35. Luke 6:10 tn Grk “And after.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  36. Luke 6:10 tn The aorist participle περιβλεψάμενος (periblepsamenos) has been translated as antecedent (prior) to the action of the main verb. It could also be translated as contemporaneous (“Looking around…he said”).
  37. Luke 6:10 tn Grk “him”; the referent (the man with the withered hand) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  38. Luke 6:10 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the man) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  39. Luke 6:10 sn The passive was restored points to healing by God. Now the question became: Would God exercise his power through Jesus, if what Jesus was doing were wrong? Note also Jesus’ “labor.” He simply spoke and it was so.
  40. Luke 6:11 tn The term ἄνοια (anoia) denotes a kind of insane or mindless fury; the opponents were beside themselves with rage. They could not rejoice in the healing, but could only react against Jesus.
  41. Luke 6:11 tn The use of the optative (ποιήσαιεν, poiēsaien, “might do”) in an indirect question indicates that the formal opposition and planning of Jesus’ enemies started here (BDF §§385.1; 386.1).
  42. Luke 6:12 tn Grk “Now it happened that in.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
  43. Luke 6:12 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  44. Luke 6:12 tn Or “to a mountain” (εἰς τὸ ὅρος, eis to horos).sn The expression to the mountain here may be idiomatic or generic, much like the English “he went to the hospital” (cf. 15:29), or even intentionally reminiscent of Exod 24:12 (LXX), since the genre of the Sermon on the Mount seems to be that of a new Moses giving a new law.
  45. Luke 6:12 sn This is the only time all night prayer is mentioned in the NT.
  46. Luke 6:12 tn This is an objective genitive, so prayer “to God.”
  47. Luke 6:13 tn Grk “And when.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  48. Luke 6:13 sn The term apostles is rare in the gospels, found only in Matt 10:2, possibly in Mark 3:14, and six more times in Luke (here plus 9:10; 11:49; 17:5; 22:14; 24:10).
  49. Luke 6:14 sn In the various lists of the twelve, Simon (that is, Peter) is always mentioned first (Matt 10:1-4; Mark 3:16-19; Acts 1:13) and the first four are always the same, though not in the same order after Peter.
  50. Luke 6:14 sn Bartholomew (meaning “son of Tolmai” in Aramaic) could be another name for Nathanael mentioned in John 1:45.
  51. Luke 6:15 sn This is the “doubting Thomas” of John 20:24-29.
  52. Luke 6:15 sn The designation Zealot means that Simon was a political nationalist before coming to follow Jesus. He may not have been technically a member of the particular Jewish nationalistic party known as “Zealots” (since according to some scholars this party had not been organized at that time), but simply someone who was zealous for Jewish independence from Rome, in which case the descriptive term applied to Simon means something like “Simon the patriot” (see L&N 25.77 and especially 11.88).
  53. Luke 6:16 sn There is some debate about what the name Iscariot means. It probably alludes to a region in Judea and thus might make Judas the only non-Galilean in the group. Several explanations for the name Iscariot have been proposed, but it is probably transliterated Hebrew with the meaning “man of Kerioth” (there are at least two villages that had that name). For further discussion see D. L. Bock, Luke (BECNT), 1:546; also D. A. Carson, John, 304.
  54. Luke 6:17 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
  55. Luke 6:17 tn Or “on a plateau.” This could refer to a message given in a flat locale or in a flat locale in the midst of a more mountainous region (Jer 21:13; Isa 13:2). It is quite possible that this sermon is a summary version of the better known Sermon on the Mount from Matt 5-7.
  56. Luke 6:17 tn Grk “large crowd.”
  57. Luke 6:17 tn There is no verb in Greek at this point, but since “a large crowd” (see preceding tn) is in the nominative case, one needs to be supplied.
  58. Luke 6:17 tn Grk “and.”
  59. Luke 6:17 tn Grk “and from,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
  60. Luke 6:17 sn These last two locations, Tyre and Sidon, represented an expansion outside of traditional Jewish territory. Jesus’ reputation continued to expand into new regions.
  61. Luke 6:17 sn To hear him and to be healed. Jesus had a two-level ministry: The word and then wondrous acts of service that showed his message of God’s care were real.
  62. Luke 6:18 tn Or “were oppressed by,” “were troubled with.” See L&N 22.17.
  63. Luke 6:18 sn Unclean spirits refers to evil spirits. See Luke 4:33.
  64. Luke 6:19 tn Grk “And the.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  65. Luke 6:19 sn There was a recognition that there was great power at work through Jesus, the subject of a great debate in 11:14-23. Luke highlights Jesus’ healing ministry (5:17; 6:18; 7:7; 8:47; 9:11, 42; 14:4; 17:15; 18:42-43; 22:51; Acts 10:38).
  66. Luke 6:20 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
  67. Luke 6:20 tn Grk “lifting up his eyes” (an idiom). The participle ἐπάρας (eparas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  68. Luke 6:20 sn The term Blessed introduces the first of several beatitudes promising blessing to those whom God cares for. They serve as an invitation to come into the grace God offers.
  69. Luke 6:20 sn You who are poor is a reference to the “pious poor” for whom God especially cares. See Pss 14:6; 22:24; 25:16; 34:6; 40:17; 69:29.
  70. Luke 6:20 sn The present tense (belongs) here is significant. Jesus makes the kingdom and its blessings currently available. This phrase is unlike the others in the list with the possessive pronoun being emphasized. Jesus was saying, in effect, “the kingdom belongs even now to people like you.”
  71. Luke 6:21 sn You who hunger are people like the poor Jesus has already mentioned. The term has OT roots both in conjunction with the poor (Isa 32:6-7; 58:6-7, 9-10; Ezek 18:7, 16) or by itself (Pss 37:16-19; 107:9).
  72. Luke 6:21 sn The promise you will be satisfied is the first of several “reversals” noted in these promises. The beatitudes and the reversals that accompany them serve in the sermon as an invitation to enter into God’s care, because one can know God cares for those who turn to him.
  73. Luke 6:21 sn You will laugh alludes to the joy that comes to God’s people in the salvation to come.
  74. Luke 6:22 tn This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos), referring to both males and females.
  75. Luke 6:22 tn Or “disdain you”; Grk “cast out your name as evil.” The word “name” is used here as a figure of speech to refer to the person as a whole.sn The phrase when they exclude you and insult you and reject you as evil alludes to a person being ostracized and socially isolated because of association with the Son of Man, Jesus.
  76. Luke 6:23 tn Grk “because behold.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) at the beginning of this clause has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).
  77. Luke 6:23 tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”
  78. Luke 6:23 sn Mistreatment of the prophets is something Luke often notes (Luke 11:47-51; Acts 7:51-52).
  79. Luke 6:24 sn Jesus promises condemnation (woe) to those who are callous of others, looking only to their own comforts. On Luke and the rich see 1:53; 12:16; 14:12; 16:1, 21-22; 18:23; 19:2; 21:1. These woes are unique to Luke.
  80. Luke 6:24 sn Ironically the language of reward shows that what the rich have received is all they will get. This result looks at a current situation, just as the start of the beatitudes did. The rest of the conclusions to the woes look to the future at the time of judgment.
  81. Luke 6:24 tn Grk “your consolation.”
  82. Luke 6:25 tn Grk “who are filled.” See L&N 23.18 for the translation “well satisfied with food.”
  83. Luke 6:25 tc The wording “to you” (ὑμῖν, humin) is lacking in several witnesses (א B K L T W Θ Ξ 0147 ƒ1,13 579 700 892 1241 2542 al), though found in most (P75 A D Q Ψ 33 M lat co). The longer reading looks to be a clarifying addition; nevertheless, “to you” is included in the translation because of English requirements.
  84. Luke 6:25 sn That is, laugh with happiness and joy.
  85. Luke 6:26 tc The wording “to you” (ὑμῖν, humin) is lacking throughout the ms tradition except for a few witnesses (D W* Δ 1424 co). The Western witnesses tend to add freely to the text. Supported by the vast majority of witnesses and the likelihood that “to you” is a clarifying addition, the shorter reading should be considered autographic; nevertheless, “to you” is included in the translation because of English requirements.
  86. Luke 6:26 tn This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos), referring to both males and females.
  87. Luke 6:26 tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”
  88. Luke 6:27 sn Love your enemies is the first of four short exhortations that call for an unusual response to those who are persecuting disciples. Disciples are to relate to hostility in a completely unprecedented manner.
  89. Luke 6:28 tn The substantival participle ἐπηρεαζόντων (epēreazontōn), sometimes translated “those who abuse” (NRSV), is better rendered “those who mistreat,” a more general term (see L&N 88.129).
  90. Luke 6:29 sn The phrase strikes you on the cheek probably pictures public rejection, like the act that indicated expulsion from the synagogue.
  91. Luke 6:29 sn This command to offer the other cheek as well is often misunderstood. It means that there is risk involved in reaching out to people with God’s hope. But if one is struck down in rejection, the disciple is to continue reaching out.
  92. Luke 6:29 tn Or “cloak.”
  93. Luke 6:29 tn See the note on the word “tunics” in 3:11.
  94. Luke 6:29 sn The command do not withhold your tunic either is again an image of continually being totally at risk as one tries to keep contact with those who are hostile to what Jesus and his disciples offer.
  95. Luke 6:30 sn Jesus advocates a generosity and a desire to meet those in dire need with the command give to everyone who asks you. This may allude to begging; giving alms was viewed highly in the ancient world (Matt 6:1-4; Deut 15:7-11).
  96. Luke 6:30 tn Grk “your things,” sometimes translated “what is yours” or “what belongs to you.”
  97. Luke 6:30 sn Do not ask for your possessions back… is an example of showing forgiveness. Paul’s remarks in 1 Cor 6:7 may reflect this principle.
  98. Luke 6:31 tn This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos), referring to both males and females.
  99. Luke 6:31 sn Jesus’ teaching as reflected in the phrase treat others in the same way you would want them to treat you, known generally as the Golden Rule, is not completely unique in the ancient world, but it is stated here in its most emphatic, selfless form. It is stated negatively in Tobit 4:15, and can also be found in the Talmud in a story about the great rabbi Hillel, who is said to have told a Gentile who asked to be taught the Torah, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor; that is the whole Torah, while the rest is the commentary thereof; go and learn it” (b. Shabbat 31a).
  100. Luke 6:32 tn Grk “And if.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. This is a first class condition, but the next two conditional clauses are third class conditions, so that stylistic variation is probably at work.
  101. Luke 6:32 sn Here the term sinners may refer to people who had no concern for observing the details of the Mosaic law; these were often treated as social outcasts. See L&N 88.295.
  102. Luke 6:32 sn Jesus’ point in the statement even sinners love those who love them is that disciples are to go further than sinners do. The examples replay vv. 29-30.
  103. Luke 6:33 tc ‡ Three key mss (P75 א* B) have “for” here, but it is unlikely that it was present originally. The addition of conjunctions, especially to the beginning of a clause, are typically suspect because they fit the pattern of Koine tendencies toward greater explicitness. NA28 has the word in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.
  104. Luke 6:33 tc Most mss (A D L Θ Ξ Ψ ƒ13 33 M lat) include γάρ (gar, “for”) following καί (kai, here translated “even”), but a few significant mss (א B W 700 892* 1241) lack the conjunction. The inclusion of the conjunction seems to be motivated by clarity and should probably be considered inauthentic.
  105. Luke 6:33 sn See the note on the word sinners in v. 32.
  106. Luke 6:34 tn Grk “to receive,” but in context the repayment of the amount lent is implied. Jesus was noting that utilitarian motives are the way of the world.
  107. Luke 6:34 sn See the note on the word sinners in v. 32.
  108. Luke 6:34 tn Grk “to receive as much again.”
  109. Luke 6:35 tn Or “in return.”
  110. Luke 6:35 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the outcome or result. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started in the translation at this point.
  111. Luke 6:35 sn The character of these actions reflects the grace and kindness of God, bearing witness to a “line of descent” or relationship of the individual to God (sons of the Most High). There is to be a unique kind of ethic at work with disciples. Jesus refers specifically to sons here because in the ancient world sons had special privileges which were rarely accorded to daughters. However, Jesus is most likely addressing both men and women in this context, so women too would receive these same privileges.
  112. Luke 6:35 sn That is, “sons of God.”
  113. Luke 6:35 tn Or “to the ungrateful and immoral.” The word “people” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
  114. Luke 6:36 sn Merciful is a characteristic of God often noted in the OT: Exod 34:6; Deut 4:31; Joel 2:31; Jonah 4:2; 2 Sam 24:14. This remark also echoes the more common OT statements like Lev 19:2 or Deut 18:13: “you must be holy as I am holy.”
  115. Luke 6:37 tn Grk “And do.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  116. Luke 6:37 sn As the Gospel makes clear, with the statement do not judge Jesus had in mind making a judgment that caused one to cut oneself off from someone so that they ceased to be reached out to (5:27-32; 15:1-32). Jesus himself did make judgments about where people stand (11:37-54), but not in such a way that he ceased to continue to offer them God’s grace.
  117. Luke 6:37 sn The point of the statement do not judge, and you will not be judged is that the standards one applies to others God applies back. The passive verbs in this verse look to God’s action.
  118. Luke 6:37 sn On forgive see Luke 11:4; 1 Pet 3:7.
  119. Luke 6:38 sn The background to the image pressed down, shaken together, running over is pouring out grain for measure in the marketplace. One often poured the grain into a container, shook it to level out the grain and then poured in some more. Those who are generous have generosity running over for them.
  120. Luke 6:38 tn Grk “they will give”; that is, “pour.” The third person plural has been replaced by the passive in the translation.
  121. Luke 6:38 tn Grk “by the measure with which you measure it will be measured back to you.”
  122. Luke 6:39 tn Questions prefaced with μή () in Greek anticipate a negative answer. This can sometimes be indicated by using a “tag” at the end in English (here it is “can he?”).
  123. Luke 6:39 sn The picture of a blind man leading a blind man is a warning to watch who one follows: Won’t they both fall into a pit? The sermon has been about religious choices and reacting graciously to those who oppose the followers of Jesus. Here Jesus’ point was to be careful who you follow and where they are taking you.
  124. Luke 6:40 tn Or “student.”
  125. Luke 6:40 tn Or “significantly different.” The idea, as the next phrase shows, is that teachers build followers who go the same direction they do.
  126. Luke 6:41 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  127. Luke 6:41 sn A speck (also twice in v. 42) refers to a small piece of wood, chaff, or straw (L&N 3.66); KJV, ASV “mote”; NAB “splinter.”
  128. Luke 6:41 tn Or “do not notice.”
  129. Luke 6:41 sn The beam of wood (also twice in v. 42) refers to a big piece of wood, the main beam of a building, in contrast to the speck in the other’s eye (L&N 7.78).
  130. Luke 6:43 tn The explanatory connective γάρ (gar) is often dropped from translations, but the point of the passage is that one should be self-corrective and be careful who one follows (vv. 41-42), because such choices also reflect what the nature of the tree is and its product.
  131. Luke 6:43 tn Grk “rotten.” The word σαπρός, modifying both “fruit” and “tree,” can also mean “diseased” (L&N 65.28).
  132. Luke 6:43 tc Most mss, especially later ones (A C D Θ Ψ 33 M lat sy sa), lack the adverb πάλιν (palin, “again”) here. Its presence is attested, however, by several good witnesses (P75 א B L W Ξ ƒ1,13 579 892 1241 2542).
  133. Luke 6:44 sn The principle of the passage is that one produces what one is.
  134. Luke 6:44 tn Grk “they do not gather”; this has been simplified to the passive voice in the translation since the subject “they” is not specified further in the context.
  135. Luke 6:44 tn This is a different verb (τρυγῶσιν, trugōsin) for gathering from the previous one (συλλέγουσιν, sullegousin).
  136. Luke 6:44 tn This is a different term (βάτος, batos) for a thorn or bramble bush than the previous one (ἄκανθα, akantha).sn The statement nor are grapes picked from brambles illustrates the principle: That which cannot produce fruit, does not produce fruit.
  137. Luke 6:45 tn Grk “the”; the Greek article has been translated here and in the following clause (“out of the evil”) as a possessive pronoun (ExSyn 215).
  138. Luke 6:45 sn Mention of the heart shows that Jesus is not interested in what is done, but why. Motives are more important than actions for him.
  139. Luke 6:45 tn The word “treasury” is not repeated in the Greek text at this point, but is implied.
  140. Luke 6:45 sn What one utters from one’s mouth is especially singled out as the example of this principle. James seems to have known this teaching (Jas 1:26; 3:1-12).
  141. Luke 6:45 tn Grk “for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
  142. Luke 6:46 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  143. Luke 6:46 tn The double use of the vocative is normally used in situations of high emotion or emphasis. Even an emphatic confession without action means little.
  144. Luke 6:46 sn Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do what I tell you? Respect is not a matter of mere words, but is reflected in obedient action. This short saying, which is much simpler than its more developed conceptual parallel in Matt 7:21-23, serves in this form to simply warn and issue a call to hear and obey, as the last parable also does in vv. 47-49.
  145. Luke 6:47 tn Grk “and does them.”
  146. Luke 6:48 tn Here and in v. 49 the Greek text reads ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos), while the parallel account in Matt 7:24-27 uses ἀνήρ (anēr) in vv. 24 and 26.
  147. Luke 6:48 tn There are actually two different Greek verbs used here: “who dug (ἔσκαψεν, eskapsen) and dug deep (ἐβάθυνεν, ebathunen).” Jesus is placing emphasis on the effort to which the man went to prepare his foundation.
  148. Luke 6:48 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  149. Luke 6:48 sn The picture here is of a river overflowing its banks and causing flooding and chaos.
  150. Luke 6:48 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in the context.
  151. Luke 6:48 tc Most mss, especially later ones (A C D Θ Ψ ƒ1,13 M latt), read “because he built [it] on the rock” rather than “because it had been well built” (P75vid א B L W Ξ 33 579 892 1241 2542 sa). The reading of the later mss seems to be a harmonization to Matt 7:25, rendering it most likely secondary.
  152. Luke 6:49 tn Grk “does not do [them].”
  153. Luke 6:49 tn Grk “against which”; because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative clause was converted to a temporal clause in the translation and a new sentence started here.
  154. Luke 6:49 tn Grk “it”; the referent (that house) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  155. Luke 6:49 tn Grk “and its crash was great.”sn The extra phrase at the end of this description (and was utterly destroyed) portrays the great disappointment that the destruction of the house caused as it crashed and was swept away.

Chapter 6

Picking Grain on the Sabbath.[a] On one Sabbath, when Jesus was going through a field of grain, his disciples picked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them. Some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is forbidden on the Sabbath?”

Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God and took and ate the sacred bread that only the priests were permitted to eat, and he shared it with his companions.” Then he said to them, “The Son of Man,[b] is lord of the Sabbath.”

A Man with a Withered Hand. On another Sabbath, Jesus entered the synagogue and began to teach. A man was there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see whether he would cure him on the Sabbath so that they would have a charge to bring against him.

But Jesus was fully aware of their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here and stand before us.” The man got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I put this question to you: Is it lawful to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 After looking around at all of them, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with fury and discussed among themselves what they might do with Jesus.

12 Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles.[c] It was in those days that he went onto the mountain to pray, and he spent the entire night in prayer to God. 13 Then, when it was daylight, he summoned his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he designated as apostles: 14 Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot, 16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

17 The Crowds Seek Out Jesus.[d] He then came down with them and stood on a spot of level ground, where there was a large crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all sections of Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They had come there to listen to him and to be healed of their diseases. Those who were afflicted by unclean spirits were cured. 19 And everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him, because power came forth from him and healed them all.

The Sermon on the Plain[e]

20 The Beatitudes.[f] Then, turning to his disciples, he began to speak:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
    for the kingdom of God is yours.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
    for you will have your fill.
Blessed are you who weep now,
    for you will laugh.

22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and ostracize you, when they insult you and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice on that day and dance for joy, for your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the Prophets.

24 “But woe to you who are rich,
    for you have received your consolation.
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
    for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
    for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when all speak well of you,
    for their ancestors treated the false prophets in the same fashion.

27 Love of Enemies.[g]“But to those of you who are listening to me, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If anyone strikes you on one cheek, offer him the other cheek as well, and should someone take your cloak, let him have your tunic as well. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not demand the return of what is yours from the one who has taken it.

31 “Deal with others as you would like them to deal with you. 32 If you love only those who love you, what credit is that to you? 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? Even sinners do as much. 34 And if you lend only to those from whom you expect to be repaid, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.

35 “Rather, you must love your enemies and do good to them, and lend without expecting any repayment. In this way, you will receive a great reward. You will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

37 Relations with Others.[h]“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, and running over, will be poured into your lap. The measure that you use for others will be used to measure you.”

39 Parable of the Blind Leading the Blind. He also told them a parable: “Can one blind man guide another who is also blind? Will not both of them fall into a pit? 40 No student is greater than his teacher, but a fully trained student will be like his teacher.

41 “Why do you take note of the splinter in your brother’s eye but do not notice the wooden plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the splinter that is in your eye,’ while all the time you do not notice the wooden plank that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the wooden plank from your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly enough to remove the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.

43 A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit.[i]“No healthy tree can bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotting tree bear healthy fruit. 44 Every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes or grapes from brambles. 45 A good man produces good from the store of goodness in his heart, whereas an evil man produces evil from the store of evil within him. For the mouth speaks from the abundance of the heart.

46 Parable of the Two Foundations.“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but fail to do what I tell you? 47 I will show you what everyone is like who comes to me and hears my words and acts in accordance with them. 48 He is like a man who in building a house dug deeply and laid its foundations on rock. When the flood rose, it burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been solidly constructed. 49 In contrast, the one who hears and does not act in accordance with my words is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. As soon as the river burst against it, the house collapsed and was completely destroyed.”

Footnotes

  1. Luke 6:1 In resisting servitude to traditions, Jesus gives the example of the freedom David showed in face of the Law (see 1 Sam 21:2-7); in his act of healing Jesus recalls the true meaning of the Sabbath. See notes on Mt 12:1-14; 12:2; 12:3-4; 12:5-6; 12:8; 12:9-14.
  2. Luke 6:5 Son of Man: see note on Mt 8:20.
  3. Luke 6:12 This is an important moment in Luke’s eyes, as shown by the fact that Jesus prepares himself through prayer. The apostles are twelve in number in order to make clear their future work, which is comparable to that of the twelve tribes of Israel: that is, they are the builders of the new People of God (see Acts 1:25). The word “apostle” is derived from a Greek word meaning “sent,” “missionary.”
  4. Luke 6:17 The picture of the crowds pressing upon Jesus shows the hope raised by Jesus from the very beginning of his public ministry. People came to him from everywhere, even from the nearby pagan towns, to obtain healing. Jesus came among us as the sign of salvation and the act by which God delivered it to us. When giving the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Plain, he will announce the true salvation.
  5. Luke 6:20 The remainder of ch. 6 corresponds to the “Sermon on the Mount,” which the Gospel of Matthew places at the beginning of Jesus’ activity (Mt 5–7). Luke offers a more concise and less solemn text. His readers have little knowledge of Jewish life; it was therefore pointless to contrast the old Law with the demands of the Gospel. The latter are stated in a more absolute manner. Matthew describes the interior attitude, the disposition of heart, without which no one can enter the kingdom of God. Luke prefers to evoke a more concrete and living tone. He underlines with special insistence the deportment in regard to riches; this is the test of entrance into the kingdom.
  6. Luke 6:20 The Beatitudes of the Gospel of Matthew bring forth an unexpected message (Mt 5:3-12). The short sentences in which Luke opposes the blessedness and woe of people reach us in an even more powerful manner. The Old Testament loved such contrasting formulas, but here the reader is directly challenged: “you.” In announcing the kingdom Jesus overturns the system of values on which we base our lives, relations, judgments, and actions. He denounces as false our more recurrent ideas. More than once, Luke underlines God’s predilection for the most deprived, who do not let themselves be deceived by pretension or by riches. Here we touch upon an essential point of a Christian conception of existence.
  7. Luke 6:27 Love your enemies—here is one of the most revolutionary slogans of the Gospel for each age and each existence. It is quite common to recommend solidarity with those who are near to us through family, religion, homeland, or political affiliation. Judaism, for example, insisted on love of neighbor inside the community. Jesus shatters all limits and sweeps away all objections that restrict charity. For him, the call to love others is not guided by our preferences but by the need and distress of others. The correlation of conflicts and hatred must be broken. A love that is gratuitous and without boundaries—like the love of God taught to us by Jesus—is the mark of a true disciple. The Lord himself gave us an example of such love on the cross (see Lk 23:34).
  8. Luke 6:37 These varied sentences have to do with the relations of people to one another. Developed is the meaning of mercy (v. 37)—a characteristic trait of Luke’s work—generosity (v. 38), and clear-sightedness regarding self that prevents one from judging others (v. 37). In Matthew’s Gospel, the parable of the blind leading the blind is used to denounce the false teachers of Judaism (Mt 15:13-14). In Luke, it has become a recommendation of clear-sightedness addressed to the disciples. This varied usage of the same theme demonstrates the liberty of the evangelists—or of tradition—in the working out of a theme.
  9. Luke 6:43 An authentic life does not deceive; it is by someone’s acts that we discern what truly fills the heart. True disciples are not satisfied with talk and appearances. For them, listening to the Word of God means transforming their whole existence.

And it came to pass, on the second-first sabbath, as he is going through the corn fields, that his disciples were plucking the ears, and were eating, rubbing with the hands,

and certain of the Pharisees said to them, `Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbaths?'

And Jesus answering said unto them, `Did ye not read even this that David did, when he hungered, himself and those who are with him,

how he went into the house of God, and the loaves of the presentation did take, and did eat, and gave also to those with him, which it is not lawful to eat, except only to the priests?'

and he said to them, -- `The Son of Man is lord also of the sabbath.'

And it came to pass also, on another sabbath, that he goeth into the synagogue, and teacheth, and there was there a man, and his right hand was withered,

and the scribes and the Pharisees were watching him, if on the sabbath he will heal, that they might find an accusation against him.

And he himself had known their reasonings, and said to the man having the withered hand, `Rise, and stand in the midst;' and he having risen, stood.

Then said Jesus unto them, `I will question you something: Is it lawful on the sabbaths to do good, or to do evil? life to save or to kill?'

10 And having looked round on them all, he said to the man, `Stretch forth thy hand;' and he did so, and his hand was restored whole as the other;

11 and they were filled with madness, and were speaking with one another what they might do to Jesus.

12 And it came to pass in those days, he went forth to the mountain to pray, and was passing the night in the prayer of God,

13 and when it became day, he called near his disciples, and having chosen from them twelve, whom also he named apostles,

14 (Simon, whom also he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

15 Matthew and Thomas, James of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,

16 Judas of James, and Judas Iscariot, who also became betrayer;)

17 and having come down with them, he stood upon a level spot, and a crowd of his disciples, and a great multitude of the people from all Judea, and Jerusalem, and the maritime Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him, and to be healed of their sicknesses,

18 and those harassed by unclean spirits, and they were healed,

19 and all the multitude were seeking to touch him, because power from him was going forth, and he was healing all.

20 And he, having lifted up his eyes to his disciples, said: `Happy the poor -- because yours is the reign of God.

21 `Happy those hungering now -- because ye shall be filled. `Happy those weeping now -- because ye shall laugh.

22 `Happy are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you, and shall reproach, and shall cast forth your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake --

23 rejoice in that day, and leap, for lo, your reward [is] great in the heaven, for according to these things were their fathers doing to the prophets.

24 `But wo to you -- the rich, because ye have got your comfort.

25 `Wo to you who have been filled -- because ye shall hunger. `Wo to you who are laughing now -- because ye shall mourn and weep.

26 `Wo to you when all men shall speak well of you -- for according to these things were their fathers doing to false prophets.

27 `But I say to you who are hearing, Love your enemies, do good to those hating you,

28 bless those cursing you, and pray for those accusing you falsely;

29 and to him smiting thee upon the cheek, give also the other, and from him taking away from thee the mantle, also the coat thou mayest not keep back.

30 `And to every one who is asking of thee, be giving; and from him who is taking away thy goods, be not asking again;

31 and as ye wish that men may do to you, do ye also to them in like manner;

32 and -- if ye love those loving you, what grace have ye? for also the sinful love those loving them;

33 and if ye do good to those doing good to you, what grace have ye? for also the sinful do the same;

34 and if ye lend [to those] of whom ye hope to receive back, what grace have ye? for also the sinful lend to sinners -- that they may receive again as much.

35 `But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again, and your reward will be great, and ye shall be sons of the Highest, because He is kind unto the ungracious and evil;

36 be ye therefore merciful, as also your Father is merciful.

37 `And judge not, and ye may not be judged; condemn not, and ye may not be condemned; release, and ye shall be released.

38 `Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed, and shaken, and running over, they shall give into your bosom; for with that measure with which ye measure, it shall be measured to you again.'

39 And he spake a simile to them, `Is blind able to lead blind? shall they not both fall into a pit?

40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but every one perfected shall be as his teacher.

41 `And why dost thou behold the mote that is in thy brother's eye, and the beam that [is] in thine own eye dost not consider?

42 or how art thou able to say to thy brother, Brother, suffer, I may take out the mote that [is] in thine eye -- thyself the beam in thine own eye not beholding? Hypocrite, take first the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou shalt see clearly to take out the mote that [is] in thy brother's eye.

43 `For there is not a good tree making bad fruit, nor a bad tree making good fruit;

44 for each tree from its own fruit is known, for not from thorns do they gather figs, nor from a bramble do they crop a grape.

45 `The good man out of the good treasure of his heart doth bring forth that which [is] good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart doth bring forth that which [is] evil; for out of the abounding of the heart doth his mouth speak.

46 `And why do ye call me, Lord, Lord, and do not what I say?

47 Every one who is coming unto me, and is hearing my words, and is doing them, I will shew you to whom he is like;

48 he is like to a man building a house, who did dig, and deepen, and laid a foundation upon the rock, and a flood having come, the stream broke forth on that house, and was not able to shake it, for it had been founded upon the rock.

49 `And he who heard and did not, is like to a man having builded a house upon the earth, without a foundation, against which the stream brake forth, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house became great.'

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath(A)

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels.(B) Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”(C)

Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?(D) He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat.(E) And he also gave some to his companions.” Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man(F) is Lord of the Sabbath.”

On another Sabbath(G) he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely(H) to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.(I) But Jesus knew what they were thinking(J) and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.

Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious(K) and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

The Twelve Apostles(L)

12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.(M) 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:(N) 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew,(O) Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Blessings and Woes(P)

17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon,(Q) 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him,(R) because power was coming from him and healing them all.(S)

20 Looking at his disciples, he said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
    for yours is the kingdom of God.(T)
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
    for you will be satisfied.(U)
Blessed are you who weep now,
    for you will laugh.(V)
22 Blessed are you when people hate you,
    when they exclude you(W) and insult you(X)
    and reject your name as evil,
        because of the Son of Man.(Y)

23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy,(Z) because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.(AA)

24 “But woe to you who are rich,(AB)
    for you have already received your comfort.(AC)
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
    for you will go hungry.(AD)
Woe to you who laugh now,
    for you will mourn and weep.(AE)
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
    for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.(AF)

Love for Enemies(AG)

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,(AH) 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.(AI) 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.(AJ) 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.(AK)

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?(AL) Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?(AM) Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them,(AN) and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children(AO) of the Most High,(AP) because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful,(AQ) just as your Father(AR) is merciful.

Judging Others(AS)

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged.(AT) Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.(AU) 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.(AV) For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”(AW)

39 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?(AX) 40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.(AY)

41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

A Tree and Its Fruit(AZ)

43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.(BA) People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.(BB)

The Wise and Foolish Builders(BC)

46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’(BD) and do not do what I say?(BE) 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice,(BF) I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.

And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?

And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;

How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?

And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

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.

And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.

But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.

Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?

10 And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

11 And they were filled with madness; and communed 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 continued all night in prayer to God.

13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;

14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,

16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

18 And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.

19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be 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 shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like 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 that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.

30 Give to every man that asketh of 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 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?

40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull 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 pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

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 of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for 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 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.