Luke 6

The disciples pluck ears of corn on the Sabbath and are by Christ defended for it against the Pharisees 6 Christ cureth a withered hand on the Sabbath and justifies his so doing 12 prayeth on the mountain and choseth out of his disciples twelve to be apostles 17 healeth divers sick &possessed persons 20 teacheth what man are blessed and what are not 7 exhorts to love even towards our very enemies 36 to mercy to an equal judgment of our neighbor 38 as also to bountifulness 41 teacheth that a man must look at himself when he will reprove another 43 and that the tree is known by his fruits 46 finally he teacheth by the similitude of a house built upon a rock and on the sand that it is not enough to consol him with the mouth only but that we must also do his will.

1. And it came to pass on the second first Sabbath [this Sabbath is called the second first because as men learnt think it was the first Sabbath after the first Passover from whence seven Sabbath were to be reckoned into the feast of Pentecost Leviticus 3:15 of which seven Sabbaths which was the first which the Jews yet at this day call the first Sabbath after the second day for that even about that time in Judea the ears were great appears Luke 23:10 Deuteronomy 16:9 others think that it was the last day of the feast of the Passover which was the special day of the feast as well as the first Numbers 28:5 like as the last day of the feast of the tabernacle is called the great day of the feast John 67.37 but others think that it is so called because it was the Sabbath in the second great feast namely of Pentecost on which the first ripe fruits were offered up Exodus 34 verse 22] that he went through the sown fields and the disciples plucked ears and did eat them rubbing them with the hands.

2. And some of the Pharisees said unto them wherefore do ye that which is lawful to do on the Sabbaths

3. And Jesus answering them said have ye not read that which David did when he was hungered and those that were with him?

4. How he went into the house of God [see concerning the house of God and concerning shewbred the annotations on Matthew 12:4] and did take and eat the shew bread and gave to them that were with him which are not lawful to eat but only for the priest

5. And he said unto them the son of man is a Lord also of the Sabbath [see the exposition hereof Matthew 12:8]

6. And it came to pass also that on another Sabbath he went to the synagogue and taught and there was a man and his right hand was withered

7. And the Scribes and the Pharisees observed him whether he would heal on the Sabbath that they might find some accusations against him [Gr his accusation that is any matter or occasion of accusation thereby to make suspected of the people as transgressors of the law]

8. But he knew their thoughts and reasoning and said to the man with the withered hand rise up and stands in the midst and he being risen stood up

9. Then said Jesus unto them I will ask you what is lawful on Sabbaths? To do good or to do evil? to save a man or to destroy him ?

10. And having looked upon them all round about [namely with anger see Mark 3:5] 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 [that is with a raging hatred] and communed with one another what they should do to Jesus

12. And it came to pass in those days that he went forth into the mountain to pray and he continued all night in prayer to God [Gr in the prayer o God namely by prayer to prepare himself for the choosing of his apostle as the apostles also did after the example Acts 13:3]

13. And when it was day he called his disciples unto him and chose twelve out of them when he also called apostles [that is sent forth or ambassadors because they were to be sent forth by him first through the land of Judea Matthew 10:6 afterwards into the whole world to preach the gospel]

14. Namely Simon whom he also called Peter [wherefore he so surnamed see Matthew 3:16 and this saved also to distinguish him from the second Simon who is likewise therefore here surnamed Zelotes verse 15 see Matthew 10:4]and Andrew his brother James and John, Philip and Bartholomew .

15. Matthew Thomas and James the son of Alpheus and Simon called Zelotes [that is Zealot see Matthew 10:4]

16. Judas of James and also Judas Iscariot who also became the traitor.

17. And being down with them he stood on a plain place with him the multitude of his disciples and a great multitude of the people of Judas and Jerusalem and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon

18. Who were come to hear him and to be healed of their disease and they that were vexed by unclean spirit and they were healed

19. And all the multitude sought to touch him for there went power out of him [that is he shewed his divine power on them where by he healed them see Mark 5:30] and he healed them all

20. And lifting up his eyes upon his disciples he said blessed are ye poor [namely in spirit see Matthew 5:3] fro yours is the kingdom of God

21. Blessed are ye hunger now [namely after righteousness Matthew 5:6] for ye shall be satisfied blessed are ye that weep now [namely suffering for Christ and his gospel sake as appears out of the following verse] for ye shall laugh

22. Blessed are ye when man hate ye and when they separate ye [or cut you off namely from their assemblies or companies see John 6:2] and reproach ye [namely as ungodly or hereticks] and reject your name as evil [or put out Gr cast out] for the son of man sake

23. Rejoice ye in that day and be cheerful [Gr leap namely for joy] for behold your reward of this reward see Matthew 5:12] is great [Gr much] in heaven for their fathers did in like manner to the prophets.

24. But woe unto ye rich [that is which put confidence in your riches and seek your comfort therein Mark 10 verse 24] for ye have away comfort

25. Woe unto ye that are satisfied [Gr filled that is which take your delight in filling up your body with meat and drink see James 5:5] for ye shall hunger woe unto ye that laugh now [that is which have your recreation in all manner of wordly joys John 16:20 and in the oppression of the upright Revel 11.10] for ye shall mourn and weep [namely eternally James 5:1]

26. Wo unto ye when ye all man speak well unto ye [namely wordly man when ye shall seek to please them and be like unto them John 15:19 Galatians 1:10] for their fathers did the like to the false prophets

27. But I say unto ye this love your enemies but do good unto those that hate ye

28. Bless them that curse ye and pray for them that offer violence unto ye [or revile you as 1 Petr 3.16]

29. To him that smite thee on the cheek offer the other also [namely rather then that that thou shouldst revenge thyself or recompense evil for evil] and him that taketh away thy cloak hinder not to take away thy coat also

30. But give to every one that desireth of thee [this must be understood of the true poor which suffer want to when we must also according to our power see hereof the rule of Paul 2 Corinthians 8:12, 13, 14] and of him that taketh away that is thine ask is not again [namely is thereby the love of our neighbour should be violated or offence given to others1 Corinthians 6 verse 7]

31. And as ye will that men shall do unto ye do ye also unto them the like

32. And if ye love them that love you what thank have ye ?[or grace that is gracious benefit or recompence from God] for sinners [that is notorious and great sinners such as the publican were accounted such as the publican were accounted which are put instead of them Matthew 5:46,47] also love those that love them

33. And ye do good to them that do good to ye what thank have ye? for siners also do the same

34. And if ye lend to them o whom ye hope to receive again [namely the money lent or the like friendship when ye should have need thereof as appears from the following words in the end of the verse] what thank have ye? For even the sinner lend to the sinners that they may receive as much again

35. But love your enemies and do good and without hoping for anything again [or without hoping for anything from it that is not only to them which ye hope will give it ye again and do ye the lke courteous again but also to them of whom ye have not this hope like as he here command also to love not only our friends but also our enemies] and your reward shall be great[Gr much] and ye shall be [that is really shew that ye be] children o the highest for he is kind [or bountiful] towards the thankful and wicked

36. But ye therefore merciful as your father also is merciful

37. And judge not [namely rashly or perversely as Matthew 7:1] and ye shall not be judge condemn not an ye shall not be condemned release and ye shall be released [or forgive and ye shall be forgiven]

38. Give and it shall be given unto ye a good measure pressed down and shaken and running over[a similitude taken from measuring of dry wares when one is ready to give every one his full measure] shall man give into your lap [a phrase taken from the manner of the oriental people who wore long wide garments wherein they could receive that which was given them Psalms 79:12 Jeremiah 32:18] for with the same measure wherewith ye mete it shall be measured t ye again

39. And he spake a similitude unto them whether can a blind man lead a blind man on the way? Shall they not both fall into the ditch?

40. The disciple is not above his minister [Gr teacher or teaching master] but every perfect disciple [that is a right true and faithful disciple] shall be as his master

41. And why seest thou the splinter [what is understood by the splinter and the beam see Matthew 7:3] that is thy brothers eye and takest no notice of the beam that is in thine eye?

42. Or how canst thou say to thy brother suffer me to put out [Gr cast out] the splinter that is thine eye whereas thou thyself seest not the beam that is in thine eye? Thy hypocrite first put out the beam out of thine eye and then shall thou discern to put out the splinter that is thy brother’s eye.

43. For it is no good for tree that brings forth [Gr maketh] evil fruit nor an evil [Gr corrupt] tree which bringeth forth good fruit

44. For every tree is known by his own fruit for men do not gather figs of thorns neither do men cut grapes from brambles

45. The good man brings forth the good out of good treasure of his heart and the evil man bringeth forth evil [namely commonly or for the most part for otherwise hypocrite often speak that they do not mean although their hypocrisie many time comes to light] out of the evil treasure of his heart for out of abundance of his heart his mouth speaketh.

46. And what call ye me Lord Lord and do not that which I say?

47. Every one that cometh into me and beareth my words and doth the same I will shew you whom he is like

48. He is like a man which built an house and digged and made deep[that is digged deep namely to lay the faster foundation]and laid the foundation on a rock now when the high stood came [Gr the full stood whereby as also by the streams are understood seduction s temptations afflictions and persecution Matthew 13:21] the water stream beat[Gr brake] against that house and could not move it was founded on a rock

49. But he that heareth them and shall not have done them is like a man who built a house upon the earth without a foundation against which the water stream beat and it fell immediately and the fall [Gr the breach or rent] of that house was great.