Luke 6: Sabbath, Blessings, and Love

Short answer: Luke 6 presents Jesus as Lord of the Sabbath, choosing the twelve apostles, teaching a crowd about blessings and woes, and calling for radical love and obedience. It emphasizes mercy, a heart transformed, and building on a solid foundation.

What Luke 6 says

Luke 6 opens with two Sabbath controversies. In the grain fields, the disciples pluck and eat grain, and Pharisees question the legality. Jesus responds by recalling David eating the show bread, and declares the Son of Man lord of the Sabbath. On another Sabbath, in the synagogue, a man with a withered right hand is present. Scribes and Pharisees watch to accuse Jesus. Knowing their thoughts, he calls the man forward and asks whether it is lawful to do good or harm on the Sabbath, to save life or kill. He restores the man's hand, and the opponents are filled with rage, discussing what to do to Jesus.

Jesus then goes to a mountain to pray and spends the night in prayer. At daybreak, he calls his disciples and chooses twelve, whom he names apostles: Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. He comes down with them and stands on a level place with a crowd of disciples and many people from Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. They come to hear him and be healed of diseases; those troubled by unclean spirits are healed, and the whole multitude seeks to touch him because power comes out from him and heals them all.

Lifting his eyes to his disciples, Jesus pronounces blessings and woes. Blessed are the poor, for God's Kingdom is theirs. Blessed are the hungry, for they will be filled. Blessed are those who weep, for they will laugh. Blessed are those hated, excluded, mocked, and defamed for the Son of Man's sake; they should rejoice and leap for joy, for their reward is great in heaven, as their fathers did the same to the prophets. But woe to the rich, who have received their consolation; woe to the full, for they will hunger; woe to those who laugh now, for they will mourn and weep; woe when all speak well of you, for their fathers did the same to the false prophets.

Jesus then teaches his hearers to love enemies, do good to those who hate, bless those who curse, and pray for those who mistreat. He calls for turning the other cheek, giving without withholding, and doing to others as one would have them do. He points out that even sinners love those who love them, so such love earns no credit. Instead, love enemies, do good, and lend without expecting return; then the reward is great, and one becomes a child of the Most High, who is kind to the unthankful and evil. He calls for mercy, non-judgment, forgiveness, and generous giving, promising that the measure given will be measured back. He warns about blind guides, specks and beams, and trees known by their fruit. The good person brings good from the heart's good treasure, the evil from evil, for the mouth speaks from the heart's abundance. Finally, he contrasts those who hear and do his words, like a man building on rock, with those who hear and do not, like a man building without a foundation, whose ruin is great.

Verses that carry the chapter

• “He said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” (Luke 6:5)” (Luke 6:5) — This verse declares Jesus' authority over the Sabbath, setting the stage for his subsequent Sabbath healing and his teaching on mercy.
• “He lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and said, “Blessed are you who are poor, God’s Kingdom is yours.” (Luke 6:20) — This verse begins the blessings, showing God's favor toward the poor and establishing a central theme of reversal in the kingdom.
• ““But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,” (Luke 6:27) — This verse introduces the radical command to love enemies, which is the heart of Jesus' ethical teaching in this chapter.
• “Everyone who comes to me, and hears my words, and does them, I will show you who he is like.” (Luke 6:47) — This verse sets up the parable of the two builders, emphasizing that hearing Jesus' words must be matched by doing them.

Gospel connection

Luke 6 connects to the wider biblical story by presenting Jesus as the authoritative interpreter of God's law, the Lord of the Sabbath, who fulfills the law's intent by prioritizing mercy and human need. His choosing of the twelve echoes God's formation of Israel, but now around himself as the true Israel. The blessings and woes reverse worldly values, echoing the prophetic tradition that God favors the humble and judges the proud. The call to love enemies and be merciful reflects God's own character, ultimately displayed in the cross, where Jesus practices what he preaches by forgiving his executioners. The parable of the two builders calls for a life founded on Jesus' words, which the apostles will later proclaim, leading to the building of the church on the rock of confession and obedience.

Application

This chapter asks the reader to examine where trust is placed. It challenges any reliance on wealth, comfort, or reputation, and invites a life of mercy and love, even toward enemies. It calls for concrete acts: giving without expecting return, refusing to judge, and forgiving. It also warns against self-deception, urging not just hearing Jesus' words but doing them. The reader is invited to build life on the solid foundation of obedience to Christ, knowing that storms will come but a life rooted in him will stand.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not claim that the Sabbath is abolished; it presents Jesus as its lord and interprets its purpose as doing good. It does not say that poverty itself saves, but pronounces blessing on the poor because the kingdom is theirs. It does not promise that all suffering now will be immediately reversed, but points to a future reward in heaven. It does not claim that wealth is inherently evil, but warns of its consolation. It does not specify the exact nature of the unclean spirits or the details of the healings. It does not name the mountain of prayer or the level place. It does not describe the content of Jesus' all-night prayer. It does not explain how the twelve were chosen beyond Jesus' call. It does not detail the later lives of the apostles except Judas Iscariot becoming a traitor. It does not define the measure used in giving and receiving beyond the principle itself.

Questions for study

1. Why does Jesus appeal to David's example in verses 3 and 4, and what does that reveal about his view of the Sabbath?
2. In verses 20 to 26, how do the blessings and woes reverse common expectations, and what does that say about God's values?
3. What specific actions does Jesus command in verses 27 to 36, and how do they go beyond ordinary kindness?
4. What is the relationship between the heart and speech in verse 45, and how does that connect to the parable of the two builders in verses 47 to 49?
5. How does Jesus' choice of the twelve in verses 13 to 16, including Judas Iscariot, inform our understanding of discipleship and betrayal?

Keep reading

Related studies: Luke 1 Bible Study, Luke 11 Bible Study, Luke 12 Bible Study, Luke 13 Bible Study.

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FAQ

What does it mean that Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath?

It means Jesus has authority to interpret and apply the Sabbath command, and he prioritizes mercy and human need over rigid rule-keeping.

Why does Jesus pronounce woes on the rich and full?

He warns that those who find their comfort and satisfaction in present wealth and pleasure may miss the greater kingdom blessings and face future loss.

What is the main point of the parable of the two builders?

The point is that hearing Jesus' words is not enough; one must put them into practice, which provides a foundation that withstands life's storms.