LukeChapter 6

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¹One Sabbath Jesus was walking through the grainfields. His disciples began to pick some heads of grain. They rubbed them in their hands and ate them. ²But some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what the law says not to do on the Sabbath?" ³Jesus answered them, "Haven't you read what David did? He and his men were hungry. ⁴He went into the house of God. He took the holy bread and ate it. He also gave some to his men. But the law says only the priests may eat it." ⁵Then Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." ⁶On another Sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and was teaching. A man was there whose right hand was shriveled. ⁷The teachers of the law and the Pharisees were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus. So they watched him closely. They wanted to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. ⁸But Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Get up and stand here in front of everyone." So the man got up and stood there. ⁹Then Jesus said to them, "Let me ask you something. What does the law allow on the Sabbath? Doing good or doing evil? Saving a life or destroying it?" ¹⁰He looked around at all of them. Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." The man did, and his hand was made well again. ¹¹But the teachers of the law and the Pharisees were furious. They began to talk with one another about what they could do to Jesus. ¹²In those days Jesus went out to a mountain to pray. He spent the whole night praying to God. ¹³When morning came, he called his disciples to him. He chose twelve of them and also named them apostles. ¹⁴They were Simon, whom he named Peter, and Simon's brother Andrew. There were James and John, and Philip and Bartholomew. ¹⁵There were Matthew and Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot. ¹⁶There were Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. ¹⁷Jesus went down the mountain with them and stood on a flat place. A large crowd of his disciples was there. A great many people were there too. They came from all over Judea and Jerusalem. They came from the coast near Tyre and Sidon. ¹⁸They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. People who were troubled by unclean spirits were made well. ¹⁹The whole crowd was trying to touch him. Power was coming out from him, and it was healing all of them. ²⁰Jesus looked at his disciples and said,
"Blessed are you who are poor,
for the kingdom of God is yours. ²¹Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
Blessed are you who cry now,
for you will laugh. ²²Blessed are you when people hate you.
Blessed are you when they shut you out and insult you.
Blessed are you when they say your name is evil
because of the Son of Man. ²³When that happens, be glad and jump for joy, because your reward in heaven is great. For their ancestors treated the prophets the same way. ²⁴But how terrible it will be for you who are rich,
for you have already had your comfort! ²⁵How terrible for you who are full now,
for you will be hungry!
How terrible for you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and cry! ²⁶How terrible for you when everyone speaks well of you!
For their ancestors treated the false prophets the same way. ²⁷But I say this to you who are listening. Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. ²⁸Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who treat you badly. ²⁹If someone hits you on one cheek, turn the other cheek to him too. If someone takes your coat, don't stop him from taking your tunic too. ³⁰Give to everyone who asks you. If anyone takes what belongs to you, don't ask for it back. ³¹Do to others what you would want them to do to you. ³²Suppose you love those who love you. Why should you be praised for that? Even sinners love those who love them. ³³And suppose you do good to those who are good to you. Why should you be praised for that? Even sinners do that. ³⁴Suppose you lend to people you expect to pay you back. Why should you be praised for that? Even sinners lend to sinners. They expect to be paid back in full. ³⁵But love your enemies. Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great. You will be children of the Most High. For he is kind to people who are not thankful and to people who are evil. ³⁶Show mercy, just as your Father shows mercy. ³⁷Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸Give, and it will be given to you. A good amount will be poured into your lap. It will be pressed down, shaken together, and spilling over. For the measure you use for others is the measure that will be used for you." ³⁹Jesus also told them a story. "Can a blind man lead another blind man? Won't they both fall into a pit? ⁴⁰A student is not greater than his teacher. But everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. ⁴¹Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye? Why don't you notice the log in your own eye? ⁴²How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye'? You don't even see the log in your own eye! You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. ⁴³A good tree doesn't grow bad fruit. And a bad tree doesn't grow good fruit. ⁴⁴Each tree is known by its own fruit. People don't pick figs from thornbushes. And they don't pick grapes from briers. ⁴⁵A good person brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what fills the heart. ⁴⁶Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' but don't do what I say? ⁴⁷Some people come to me, hear my words, and do what I say. I will show you what they are like. ⁴⁸They are like a man building a house. He dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the rushing water crashed against that house. But it could not shake the house, because it was built well. ⁴⁹But others hear my words and don't do what I say. They are like a man who built a house on the ground with no foundation. When the rushing water crashed against that house, it fell at once. And it was completely destroyed!"