Book of Luke

Luke Chapter 6

• Luke 6:1 And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.
• 2 And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days 
• 3 And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was hungry, and they which were with him; 
• 4 How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone? 
• 5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. 
• 6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. 
• 7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him. 
• 8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. 
• 9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? 
• 10 And looking round about upon them all, he said unto 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; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

They just didn't get it. Here they were face to face with the very Lord who created and made the Sabbath day. The feast days and all the special days were made to give men a day of rest and days of remembrance for the things God did for Israel in the past. All feasts and Sabbaths were made for a purpose. They were never made to keep people from helping the suffering or doing necessary things for the survival of those in need. Here is where they emphasized the letter of the law instead of the spirit of the law which was made for the good of mankind until that which was perfect had come. The perfect one stood in their midst.

Jesus was Lord of the Sabbath. They were not picking corn to gather for harvest or storage. They were just picking a few ears to eat because they were hungry. This did not break any Sabbath. In the case of the man with the withered hand, Jesus pointed out that when someone is hurting or even an animal was in trouble on the Sabbath, there is nothing wrong with doing good on the Sabbath and helping those who are hurting.

These people that were going around finding fault missed the very message of love Jesus tried to teach. Mercy and compassion is better than the sacrificial rituals of the law. In other words they were missing the intent of the law by trying to judge people by the exact letter of the law. Although they didn't judge themselves by the same standard.

The law was made to keep sin in check and to show what sin was, how serious it was and how hard it is to try to keep it in by our own strength and power. We needed a relationship with God to be able to keep ourselves from sin. This then pointed us to the need if a savor to forgive, deliver and save us from the power of sin by one who lived as a man yet didn't sin. This man could reverse the curse that Adam brought into the world by his disobedience to the word of God. Jesus the  perfect one who was God who became a man, paid the penalty of sin for all human beings by dying Himself when He didn't deserve to die. This man, the 2nd Adam was none other than the very Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Jesus was here to fulfill the law and bring in a new beginning. He was to show us a way to overcome sin by the strength of the Holy Spirit and not by just keeping the law by our own will power which no man could keep perfectly. We needed a helper or one called along our side to help. This is given through faith in Jesus Christ. Now we live by the law of love and compassion.

So many of us miss this message. To truly live for God and keep the commandments is made easier by remembering the two main ones. If we kept just these two, we would keep all the necessary things in the law. "Love the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind and our neighbor as ourselves."

Those that objected to Jesus healing the hurting on the Sabbath Day were not keeping the law themselves. The moral law says to love thy neighbor as thyself. We would not want to be in trouble on the Sabbath Day and no one help us.

Usually when we get our eyes off spreading the good news of the gospel and walking daily in fellowship with the Lord, we will start watching and finding fault with our fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord. When we don't go look outward, we tend to look inward.

Paul the apostle was careful to help those that got into serious error but he did it in love and compassion. He wasn't purposely following anyone around to find fault and condemn them. There is a difference.

• Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

This is an example to all of us. We need to pray continually and seek a place where we can be alone. We get so busy that this is neglected. Yet even Jesus needed this time with His Father when He walked upon the earth. If He needed this time, how much more do we need this time. There are too many forces of opposition for us to try to go it alone. 

• Luke 6:13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; 
• 14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 
• 15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, 
• 16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor. 
• 17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; 
• 18 And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. 
• 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. 
• 20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 

This didn't just mean literal poor people because both evil and good people are poor. Matthew says in 5:3, "Blessed are the poor in spirit." In other words the humble and meek; those that recognize that they need God in their lives. This is the very opposite of a proud person who is self-made and sees no need of repentance or change. 

• Luke 6:21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. 

This does not just mean physical hunger but a hunger after the word of God.

• Matthew 5:6 says, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."

How many of us desire to be righteous and live holy.? We do not hear that message taught any longer. Our fear of legalism have made us stop seeking God for righteousness. We need to seek the righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. If we are clothed with His righteousness, we will live a holy life.

Those that claim to be covered by the righteousness of Christ and still live in open disobedience and sin have not submitted to the righteousness of Christ. The two do not mix. Also if we just try to live a sinless life without receiving Jesus, it doesn't work either.

• Luke 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 

Those that live godly will be hated and called evil. Look around us and see the day we live in. Preachers who preach against the sin in our day are considered to be evil instead of good. When we warn against sin that kills and destroys both body and soul, we are considered hate mongers. A couple of examples are ungodly sexual relationship warned about in God's word, and abortion. Those sins are destroying our society. Living apart from God's divine order will cause mental confusion, a lower live expectancy, and disease more than those that refrain from living in sexual immorality.

If we try to warn them of the danger they are in, we are considered as bigots and hate-mongers. If we try to warn women that abortion is killing innocent children, we are accused of wanting to deny a woman the right to choose. In the name of freedom they are destroying themselves and we are expected to sit by and pat them on the back and tell them they are okay. That is not love. That would be closer to hate then patting someone on the back and saying, "Hey you are okay because God made you that way."  How is that love? To allow someone to die without Jesus and continue in sin only to spend eternity in hell; is that love? Yet is it called hate speech.

In 2015 and 16, we have gender confusion, sex change operations and many such mind destroying evils that if we don't turn back to God, our society will be crumble. Jesus makes a better way if we seek His better way.

• Luke 6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. 

It is more blessed to please God rather than be popular among friends and family or those we work with. To love God above the approval of man is better than to enjoy popularity for a short season. God is forever, man's approval is very short. 

• Luke 6:24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 

Those that are rich and increased with goods have their comfort already. If they do not help the poor or if they shut up their compassion from those that need help, they will stand before God guilty. Read the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. As we read this remember this doesn't mean we force the rich to give in the way of more taxes. The bible teaches willingness in giving not force.

• Luke 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 
• 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 
• 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 
• 23 And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 
• 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 
• 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 
• 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 
• 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 
• 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 
• 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 
• 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 
• 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. 

Chapter six continued:

• Luke 6:25 Woe unto you that are full for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. 
• 26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. 

We have to be careful, for those that are highly esteemed by men may not be pleasing to God. 

In Matthew's gospel, it reads, "Blessed are they that mourn." This means to mourn over the sinful condition of ourselves and our nation. When we mourn, we are saying within ourselves that sin is wrong and we see the need for God to save us from sin. If we go about laughing and having fun when the world is going to hell, there is something wrong. This does not mean that we can't laugh but we can't ignore the world around us and not warn and preach the gospel so that men might repent and be saved from sin. 

• Luke 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 
• 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 
• 29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. 
• 30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 
• 31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 
• 32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 
• 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 
• 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 
• 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 

This can only be done with the love of God within us and compassion for the lost. This takes the power of the Holy Spirit. We cannot possibly love in the way God says we are to love, without the Holy Spirit's help. Remember too that love does cause us to put others first but it doesn't cause us to shut out the word of God and not warn against sin. As the Holy Spirit leads which is always in line with the scripture taken in context, we warn, we comfort, we pray and we lead others to this good way. 

• Luke 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 
• 37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 

We are to make righteous judgments and not go about just trying to find fault with everything or everybody. This does not mean that we don't preach the gospel or warn against sin. If people do not repent and receive the gospel they will be lost. That message needs to be preached. That is not judging, that is preaching the word of God in order for the lost to be saved and forgiven. The word will judge us all in the latter days. 

• John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Judging is what the Pharisees did to Jesus constantly. They followed Him around trying to trip Him up and find fault even when He did good. If someone is truly healed of a sickness, let us rejoice not find fault with the vessel God uses to heal the sick. Sure there may be charlatans just out for money but there is no way we can know for sure so we have to let God do the judging in those cases lest we pull up the wheat with the weeds.

We must preach the truth and warn against sin, that is not judging. That is giving forth the word and letting the Holy Spirit convict of sin and turn sinners into the righteousness of Christ there by ushering in eternal life. The Kingdom of God comes within us, we are born again by the Spirit of God. We just have to be careful not to add to the word of God by forming our own opinions and forcing them on people above and beyond what the word says. 

• Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. 

This commandment must be taught but emphasizing a willing spirit. If we compel people to give 10 percent of their income and guilt them for not doing so, we are missing the message. Jesus teaches us to give willingly and with love. We are not to use intimidation or force because we will rob them of giving willingly and from their hearts. 

• Luke 6:39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? 
• 40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. 

This refutes hierarchy and titles that make someone higher than another. In saying that we do need godly leadership to keep out the false teachers and such but it is a calling, not a separation of exalting clergy above laity.

• Luke 6:41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 

Wow, how many of us have met people who criticize everyone they know and are blind to their own faults? God help us. 

• Luke 6:42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye. 

Notice that Jesus doesn't say that we are not ever to help someone that is living in a way that is not right but to examine ourselves first then help the one in fault.

• Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 

Love overlooks non essentials but is quick to help those in serious error. If we see a brother in error, we don't run to the phone and tell everyone; or in today's world, we don't place it on social media so the whole world can see their faults but we try to help in the spirit of meekness and love.

• Luke 6:43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 
• 44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 
• 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. 

We shall know the true ones by their fruits. Not by how loud they speak, not by what great speeches they make, and not by what they claim but by the fruit that we see in them as they live their daily lives. This is one reason why I despise presidential debates. Just because someone is a good speaker or debater doesn't mean one thing as far as how they will lead the country. 

• Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

We must take heed of this verse. Are we calling on the Lord, praying, worshipping, singing, and praising, yet ignoring the study of the word of God? We need all of those things, not leaving anything out.

• Luke 6:47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like: 
• 48 He is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 
• 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built a house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. 

To hear the words of Jesus and not obey them, is not true conversion. To hear and obey is like building a foundation that will not fall. 

The Psalmist wrote:

• Psalm 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 

So much treasure is available to us within the pages of the written word.

• Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 

We must not neglect the word and expect to bring forth fruit. That word must abide with us continually. The word does not have to be a burden, it can become our delight. It is only a burden when we resist the word and rebel against the truth. DC