Luke 6

1 One [second-first, after the first] Sabbath [day of rest, seventh day of the week] Jesus was passing [walking, journeying] through the grainfields [fields of grain, corn fields], and His disciples [learners, pupils] began to pick [pluck, gather] the heads of grain [ears of corn, wheat], rub [crush, thresh] them in their hands [with their fingers, by hand], and eat [consume, devour] them. word study 2 But some [certain] of the Pharisees [a Jewish sect that followed strict religious rules] asked, “Why are you doing [to make or do something, to create or produce] what is unlawful [not permitted, contrary to the law] on the Sabbath [a day of rest and worship, the seventh day of the week]?” word study 3 Jesus [the Messiah, God’s anointed] replied, “Have you not [ever] read [studied or known] what David [the king of Israel, a man after God’s heart] did [performed or accomplished] when he [himself] and his companions [those who were with him, his followers] were hungry [in need of food, experiencing physical hunger]? word study 4 He entered [went into, approached] the house [temple, dwelling place] of God [the one true deity], took [received, lifted up] the consecrated [set apart, holy] bread [showbread, loaves of presentation] and gave [bestowed, granted] it to his companions [those with him, his men], and ate [partook of, consumed] what is lawful [permitted, allowed] only for the priests [those who serve God, spiritual leaders] to eat [partake of, consume].” word study 5 Then Jesus [the Messiah, Savior] declared, “The Son [a divine being] of Man [a human being] is Lord [having authority and power] of the Sabbath [a day of rest and worship, the seventh day].” word study 6 On another [different, separate] Sabbath [day of rest, seventh day] Jesus entered [went into, came into] the synagogue [gathering place, house of worship] and was teaching [instructing, guiding], and a man [human being, person] was there whose right [dominant, favored] hand [instrument, means of action] was withered [dried up, shriveled]. word study 7 Looking for a reason [to find fault] to accuse Jesus, the scribes [scholars of the law, teachers] and Pharisees [strict adherents to Jewish tradition] were watching Him closely [observing, monitoring] to see if He would heal [to serve, to cure] on the Sabbath [the day of rest, the seventh day]. word study 8 But Jesus [knowing their inner thoughts, perceiving their intentions] knew their thoughts and said to the man with the [dried up] withered hand, “Get up [arise, stand up from a position of rest] and stand [be in an upright position, take your place] among us [in the midst, among the crowd].” So he got up [stood up from a position of rest, arose] and stood [was in an upright position, remained standing] there [in the midst, among them]. word study 9 Then Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful [permitted, allowed] on the Sabbath [a day of rest and worship]: to do good [acts of kindness, benevolence] or to do evil [harm, wrong], to save life [preserve, rescue] or to destroy [kill, take away] it?” word study 10 And after looking around [gazing at, taking in the scene] at all [every single one] of them, He said to the man, “Stretch out [extend, reach out] your hand [as a symbol of power and instrument].” He did so, and it was restored [made whole, healed completely]. word study 11 But the scribes [men who taught the Jewish laws] and Pharisees [strict Jewish leaders] were filled [completely consumed] with rage [madness, fury] and began to discuss [talk, converse] with one another [mutually, among themselves] what they might do [take action, make] to Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation]. word study 12 In those days [at that specific time, in these circumstances] Jesus went out [departed, came forth] to the mountain [a high elevation, a place of solitude] to pray [to worship, communicate with God], and He spent the night [continued all night, passed the whole night] in prayer [in communion, in conversation] to God [the one true deity, the Father]. word study 13 When daylight [at dawn, when it was day] came, He called [summoned, invited] His disciples [learners, followers] to Him and chose [selected, picked out] twelve [a dozen, twelve men] of them, whom He also designated [named, appointed] as apostles [messengers, delegates of Jesus Christ]: word study 14 Simon [whom He also named Peter, to whom he gave the new name], whom He named Peter [a rock or stone], and his brother [manly, a male sibling] Andrew; James [one of Jesus’ twelve apostles] and John; Philip and Bartholomew [son of Tolmai, one of Jesus’ apostles]; word study 15 Matthew [also known as Levi] and Thomas [the twin]; James [a devoted follower] son of Alphaeus [the father of James and Levi] and Simon [a zealous disciple] called [invited, named] the Zealot [an enthusiastic advocate, a revolutionary]; word study 16 Judas [son of another James] son of James, and Judas [the man from Kerioth Town] Iscariot, who became [a betrayer, one who enabled the Jewish leaders to seize Jesus] a traitor [one who betrays others, a deceiver]. word study 17 Then Jesus came down [from the hills, to a lower elevation] with them and stood on a level [plain, flat] place. A large crowd [multitude, great number] of His disciples was there, along with a great number [large multitude] of people from all over [the entire region of] Judea [the southern region of Palestine], Jerusalem [the capital city], and the sea coast [seaside, coastal area] of Tyre [an ancient city in Phoenicia] and Sidon [a major city in the region]. word study 18 They had come to hear Him [to listen and obey] and to be healed [cured, made whole] of their diseases [sicknesses, infirmities], and those [people, individuals] troubled [vexed, harassed] by unclean [impure, evil] spirits [supernatural beings] were healed [restored, made well]. word study 19 The entire [whole, complete] crowd [multitude, large group of people] was trying to touch [attach oneself to, make physical contact with] Him, because [since, for the reason that] power [miraculous ability] was coming [going out, flowing] from Him and healing [curing, restoring to health] them all [every single one, without exception]. word study 20 Looking up [lifting his eyes, gazing at] at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed [happy, supremely fortunate] are you who are poor [needy, lacking worldly resources, humble], for yours [belonging to you, your possession] is the kingdom [reign, dominion, royal power] of God [the Almighty, Creator, and Savior]. word study 21 Blessed [happy, supremely fortunate] are you who hunger [are in need of food, crave spiritual nourishment] now, for you will be filled [satisfied, completely filled]. Blessed [happy, supremely fortunate] are you who weep [cry out loud, mourn] now, for you will laugh [with joy, rejoice]. word study 22 Blessed [happy, supremely fortunate] are you when people [men, humans] hate [detest, love less] you, and when they exclude [separate, set apart] you and insult [reproach, speak badly of] you and reject [cast out, expel] your name [character, authority] as evil [bad, morally wrong] because of [on account of] the Son [Child, descendant] of Man [human, humanity]. word study 23 Rejoice [be glad, leap with joy] in that day [the time of great reward] and leap [jump, dance] for joy, because great [abundant, plentiful] is your reward [wage, payment] in heaven [the spiritual realm, God’s home]. For their fathers [ancestors, forefathers] treated [did to, acted towards] the prophets [God’s messengers, spokesmen] in the same way [similarly, alike]. word study 24 But [however, introducing a contrast] woe [alas, expressing grief] to you [directly addressing the rich] who are rich [wealthy, having an abundance of material possessions], for you have already received [to have in full, obtained] your comfort [encouragement, solace, or consolation]. word study 25 Woe [alas, expressing grief or sorrow] to you who are well fed [full, satisfied, having an abundance] now, for you will hunger [feel a strong need or craving for food]. Woe [alas, expressing grief or sorrow] to you who laugh [are joyful, rejoicing] now, for you will mourn [grieve, feel sad and sorrowful] and weep [cry out loud, lament]. word study 26 Woe [alas, a cry of sorrow] to you when all men [people, humanity] speak well [with praise, approval] of you, for their fathers [ancestors, forefathers] treated [acted towards, behaved with] the false prophets [those who falsely claimed to speak for God] in the same way [similarly, with like actions]. word study 27 But [in contrast, on the other hand] to those of you who will [are willing to, choose to] listen [hear and obey], I say: Love [show esteem and goodwill towards] your enemies [those who are hostile or hateful towards you], do [make, produce] good [well, rightly, with moral excellence] to those who [towards those who, in relation to those who] hate [detest, love less] you, word study 28 bless [speak well of, praise] those who curse [wish harm upon] you, pray [worship, ask God for] for those who mistreat [insult, despitefully use] you. word study 29 If someone [who smites or strikes] strikes you on one cheek [the side of your face], turn to him the other [cheek, or side of the face] also. And if someone [a bandit or thief] takes your cloak [outer garment, or mantle], do not withhold [prevent or forbid] your tunic [inner garment, or shirt] as well. word study 30 Give [freely, generously] to everyone [all people, every man] who asks [requests, begs] you, and if anyone [a person, someone] takes [seizes, lifts up] what is yours [your possessions, belongings], do not [refuse, never] demand [insist, require] it back [again, to be returned]. word study 31 Do [treat, act towards] to others [people, humans, men] as [just as, in the same way] you would have [desire, wish] them do [act, treat] to you [towards yourself, in your place]. word study 32 If you love [show esteem and goodwill towards] those who love [have affection for] you, what credit [thank, reward] is that to you? Even sinners [those who miss the mark, the unrighteous] love [have affection for] those who love [show devotion to] them. word study 33 If you do good [show kindness, act with benevolence] to those who do good [treat you with generosity, act with goodwill] to you, what credit [thankfulness, recognition] is that to you? Even sinners [those who miss the mark, the unrighteous] do the same [similar actions, comparable deeds]. word study 34 And if you lend [expecting to receive back] to those from whom you expect [to hope or anticipate] repayment, what credit [grace or recognition] is that to you? Even sinners [those who miss the mark, unrighteous ones] lend to sinners, expecting [with confidence, to hope] to be repaid [to receive back, to get again] in full [completely, entirely]. word study 35 But love [show esteem and goodwill towards] your enemies, do good [be a well-doer, act with kindness] to them, and lend [give without expecting repayment] to them, expecting [hoping for] nothing [no reward or return] in return. Then your reward [wage or payment] will be great [abundant, plentiful], and you will be sons [children, heirs] of the Most High [the supreme God, the Highest]; for He is kind [good, benevolent] to the ungrateful [those who show no thanks, the unthankful] and wicked [evil, morally wrong]. word study 36 Be [therefore, in response to God’s nature] merciful [compassionate, full of pity], just as [in the same way, to the same extent] your Father [in heaven, the ultimate example] is merciful [compassionate, having a deep concern for others]. word study 37 Do not [stop or refrain from] judge [condemn or criticize], and you will not be judged [evaluated or condemned]. Do not [refrain from] condemn [declare guilty or punish], and you will not be condemned [found guilty or punished]. Forgive [release or pardon], and you will be forgiven [pardoned or set free]. word study 38 Give [freely, generously], and it will be given to you [in abundance, pressed down]. A good [fair, beautiful] measure, pressed down [to make room for more], shaken together [to settle and fill], and running over [to overflow, abundantly] will be poured into your lap [bosom, chest area]. For with the measure [standard, limit] you use [apply, mete out], it will be measured back to you [in return, as a reward].” word study 39 Jesus also told them a parable [a story that teaches a moral lesson]: “Can a blind [physically or spiritually unable to see] man lead [guide, direct] a blind [without spiritual insight] man? Will they not [surely not, is it not true] both [together, as a pair] fall [collapse, stumble] into a pit [a hole, a ditch, a place of spiritual darkness]? word study 40 A disciple [learner, pupil] is not above [superior to, greater than] his teacher [instructor, master], but everyone who is fully trained [perfected, completely instructed] will be like [similar to, as] his teacher [mentor, guide]. word study 41 Why do you look at the speck [a small, dry twig or straw, a minor fault] in your brother’s [fellow Christian, male sibling] eye, but fail to notice [do not consider, are not aware of] the beam [a large wooden plank, a significant flaw] in your own [private, personal] eye? word study 42 How can you say, ‘Brother [fellow believer, spiritual sibling], let me take the speck [small fault, imperfection] out of your eye,’ while you yourself fail to see [are blind to, do not perceive] the beam [large plank, serious sin] in your own eye? You hypocrite [insincere, pretending to be something you are not]! First [before anything else, as a priority] take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly [with spiritual insight, discernment] to remove the speck from your brother’s [fellow Christian, spiritual brother] eye. word study 43 No [absolutely not, in no way] good [beautiful, morally upright] tree [a plant with a trunk and branches] bears [produces, brings forth] bad [rotten, worthless] fruit [the result of its nature], nor [neither, not] does a bad [corrupt, evil] tree [a plant with a trunk and branches] bear [produce, yield] good [morally upright, healthy] fruit [the product of its character]. word study 44 For each [every, individual] tree [plant with a trunk and branches] is known [recognized, understood] by its own [private, personal] fruit [product, result]. Indeed [certainly, truly], figs [a type of fruit] are not gathered [collected, harvested] from thornbushes [prickly plants, brambles], nor [neither] grapes [clusters of ripe grapes] from brambles [thorny bushes, wilderness plants]. word study 45 The good [morally upright, righteous] man brings good [beneficial, wholesome] things out of the good [noble, virtuous] treasure [storehouse, repository] of his heart [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions], and the evil [wicked, bad] man brings evil [harmful, malevolent] things out of the evil [corrupt, depraved] treasure [storehouse, repository] of his heart [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions]. For out of the overflow [abundance, surplus] of the heart [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions], the mouth [the symbol of speech and communication] speaks [utters words, expresses thoughts]. word study 46 Why do you call Me [Master, or God] ‘Lord, Lord,’ [saying but not doing, or claiming but not obeying] but not do [obey, fulfill, or carry out] what I say [command, teach, or instruct]? word study 47 I will show [reveal, teach, or demonstrate] you what he is like who comes [approaches, draws near] to Me and hears [listens, obeys] My words [messages, teachings, or sayings] and acts [obeys, follows, or performs] on them [puts into practice, fulfills]: word study 48 He is like [similar in character] a man building [constructing, establishing] a house, who dug down deep [excavated, made a foundation] and laid his foundation [base, underlying structure] on the rock [a mass of stone, a cliff]. When the flood [a large amount of water, an overflowing] came, the torrent [a strong stream, a river] crashed against that house but could not shake [agitate, disturb] it, because it was well built [founded upon a rock, strongly established]. word study 49 But the one who hears [listens and understands] My words and does not act [obey, put into practice] on them is like a man who built [constructed, established] his house [dwelling, spiritual foundation] on ground [earth, soil] without [lacking, absent] a foundation [base, underlying support]. The torrent [flood, overwhelming force] crashed [struck, burst] against that house, and immediately [at once, without delay] it fell [collapsed, was destroyed]—and great [intense, profound] was its destruction [ruin, devastation]!” word study