Luke 6 - Summary

Historical setting

Jesus is teaching in Galilee during the period of Roman rule over Judea. The Pharisees and scribes are the learned interpreters of Jewish law, with authority to challenge what they see as breaches of tradition, though they have no power to execute. The events in verses 1-11 happen on the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, when Jewish law forbade work. The twelve apostles chosen in verse 13 form the core leadership of the movement. The crowds in verse 17 travel from across Jewish territory and the nearby coastal cities, showing Jesus' reputation is spreading. The teaching in verses 20 onwards, delivered "in the plain" to crowds and disciples together, is Luke's version of a major discourse on living as Jesus' followers.

Life and customs

Sabbath law was taken seriously by devout Jews. The rabbinical tradition had developed detailed rules about what counted as "work" on the Sabbath. Plucking and rubbing grain to eat it, as the disciples do in verse 1, could be argued to constitute harvesting and threshing, both forbidden. The shewbread in verses 4 mentioned is the consecrated bread placed in the temple, which only priests were permitted to eat; Jesus uses this as a precedent that hunger sometimes overrides ritual law. A withered hand was a physical disability that would prevent a person from full participation in community life. The crowds seeking healing in verses 17-19 reflect the common belief that healers had power, and that touching a healer or being touched could transmit healing power. The blessings and woes in verses 20-26 follow a form common in Jewish wisdom teaching, pronouncing future reversal of present conditions.

What the text says

The chapter opens with disciples eating grain on the Sabbath, and Pharisees challenging whether this is lawful (verses 1-2). Jesus responds by citing David entering the house of God and eating the shewbread, reserved for priests alone, when he was hungry, suggesting that human need can override ritual restriction (verses 3-4). He then declares himself "Lord also of the sabbath" (verse 5).

On another Sabbath Jesus enters a synagogue and teaches. A man with a withered right hand is present, and the scribes and Pharisees watch to see whether Jesus will heal him on the Sabbath, seeking grounds to accuse him (verses 6-7). Jesus knows their thoughts, brings the man forward, and asks whether it is lawful on the Sabbath to do good or evil, to save life or destroy it (verses 8-9). He then heals the man, and the authorities become filled with anger, discussing what they might do to Jesus (verses 10-11).

After a night of prayer on a mountain (verse 12), Jesus calls his disciples and selects twelve, whom he names apostles (verse 13). The passage names all twelve: Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called Zelotes, Judas brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who is identified as "the traitor" (verses 14-16).

Jesus comes down with them to a level place where a large multitude of disciples and people from Judea, Jerusalem, Tyre, and Sidon gather, coming to hear him and be healed (verse 17). Those afflicted with unclean spirits are healed, and the entire multitude seeks to touch him because virtue goes out from him and heals them all (verses 18-19).

Jesus then addresses his disciples directly, pronouncing blessings: "Blessed be ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God" (verse 20). He blesses the hungry, the weeping, and those hated and separated from company for the Son of man's sake, with great reward in heaven (verses 21-23). He pronounces woes on the rich, the full, those who laugh now, and those of whom all men speak well, noting their fathers did likewise to false prophets (verses 24-26).

Jesus teaches his followers to love enemies, bless those who curse them, pray for those who despitefully use them, offer the other cheek, give to all who ask, and do to others as they would have done to them (verses 27-31). He contrasts this with what sinners do and emphasizes loving enemies, doing good, and lending without hope of return, promising great reward and calling them children of the Highest (verses 32-35). He commands them to be merciful as the Father is merciful (verse 36).

Takeaways

• Jesus claims authority over the Sabbath law itself, not merely permission to break it, and teaches that human need and doing good take precedence over ritual rules.
• The Sermon on the Plain reverses present conditions: the poor, hungry, weeping, and hated will be blessed, while the rich, full, laughing, and well-spoken-of will face woe.
• Discipleship requires loving enemies, judging oneself rather than others, and doing the words Jesus teaches, not merely claiming him as Lord.