Luke

Chapter 6

Luke 6:1-11
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 an hungred, 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.

The weekly Sabbath falling after Passover this was “second Sabbath” (leading to Pentecost)!

It was on that “second Sabbath” as they walked through a field of grain, the disciples plucked some grain, rubbed in their hands, and ate it. Both Passover and the second Sabbath point to Pentecost and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit!

That action (harvesting grain) broke the Sabbath rules against working on the Sabbath. And the ever-present Pharisees promptly reminded Christ of their violation!

“Why do you all do what is unlawful to do on the Sabbath days?”

Jesus responded, “Haven’t you heard about what David did? When he and his men were hungry? David and his men went into the house of God, took the bread that was dedicated to God, and they ate it! It was only lawful Priests to eat that bread!”

Jesus put it into modern context telling them the purpose, “The Son of man is also to be Lord of the Sabbath.” In saying that Jesus openly declared Himself to be The Messiah! Many Pastors have no idea what that means!

Later, on another Sabbath, Jesus went into a Synagogue to teach! In that Synagogue there was a man whose right hand was withered (Gr. xēros-ξηρός). The fact that it was his right hand held significance for ancient people who thought that the right hand was good and the left hand was evil.

Knowing that He healed many, the Pharisees watched Christ to see how He would handle this situation. It was against their man-made rules to heal anyone on the Sabbath. However, Jesus knew exactly what they were thinking, and despite their disapproval, He told the man, “Rise up! Stand so all may see!” Christ never tried to hide the wonderful things He did!

Then Jesus pointed to the Pharisee’s self-righteousness by asking, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or evil, to save a life or to destroy it?”

Instead of waiting for an answer that would not be forthcoming, Jesus once again turned to the man and commanded, “Stretch out your hand!”

And, as the man obeyed Christ, his hand was restored!

As the man was healed, the Pharisees were filled with anger! Heathen hate righteousness, because they do not understand it! They connived among themselves concerning what they might do to prevent the healing! They did not want the man to be healed! The unrighteous fear the healing of the body and soul!

Luke 6:12-16
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.
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.

Afterward, Jesus went up a hill to pray. He spent the whole night in prayer!

When daylight came, Christ called for His disciples to join him, and chose the twelve we know as Apostles. Jesus’ disciples, all those called appointed, and anointed, shall be called to Him when His Light appears to them personally!

Among those at that time were Simon (whom Jesus named Peter), his brother Andrew, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon (the Zealot), Judas son of James, and the other Judas, Judas Iscariot. It was Judas Iscariot who betrayed Christ.

Luke 6:17-19
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 Judaea 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.

When Jesus came down from the hill with the Apostles, He stood in a meadow along with many of his followers. A large crowd of people from all over Judea was there. The people came from Jerusalem, and the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear Christ speak, and to be healed by Him. Some in the crowd were distressed by evil spirits while others came to be healed. Many in the crowd tried to touch Jesus, because power (Gr. dunamis-δύναμις) from him was healing them all (Gr. pas-πᾶς).

Luke 6:20-26
20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
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.
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.
24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
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.

Here we begin Luke’s version of the beatitudes! This commentary on them may not be what you expect!

Jesus looked upon his disciples and told them, “Blessed are you all who are poor (Gr. ptōchos-πτωχός), because the Kingdom of God is yours!

The Greek word translated “poor” speaks of an itinerate worker grouched over laboring from dawn to dusk just to gain a meager wage!

At the time this was spoken, the Holy Spirit had not been given in the manner of Pentecost! Following Pentecost, Christians cannot be counted among the “poor!” When we receive the Holy Spirit, God has given us the wisdom of the ages to be used for our called purpose!

“Blessed Happy are all who are hungry! They shall be filled!

When you are chosen to be given to Christ, you hunger for greater understanding of the word of life! You shall rejoice greatly seeking more and more understanding, which God shall grant! You shall be filled with the wisdom and knowledge to perform the tasks God sets before you! He has not called you to fail or fall!

“Blessed are you all who now weep! You all shall laugh!

Those who finally understand what happened to their sin after being chosen to come to Christ shall shed tears knowing how undeserving they were! God does not save us because we deserve of His imputed righteousness! Christ Jesus does it because he came specifically to seek and to save that which was lost! We are the lost! He is the Savior!

The tears of those who weep shall be changed to extreme happiness when they understand that Christ Jesus paid the full and complete for our sin! Christ Jesus left nothing that we must “do” to inherit everlasting life in Christ Jesus!

“Blessed are you all when people hate you, and attempt to defame you saying you are evil, because of the Son of Man’ sake! Rejoice when that happens and jump for joy, because your reward in heaven is great!

“Their ancestors did the same thing to the prophets!

Suffering is not the issue! Suffering because of sins, and suffering for the sake of Christ Jesus are not identical!

Christians suffer simply because they are opposed to Lucifer and favored by God!

“However, for the wealthy there is grief! You have received your reward!

Being prosperous in Christ and being prosperous in human monetary wealth are separate issues. Paper money is made from wood products and so even after all these centuries men still worship their idols made of trees!

“How terrible it will be for those of you who are now physically satisfied! You shall be famished!

Due to their spiritual ignorance, some folks are content to live apart from Christ, because they have not been given to Him. That may sound harsh, but the truth is that unless a person has been given the imputed faith OF Christ enabling him/her to actually have faith in Christ, that person’s unregenerate human faith will have no effect on his/her spiritual situation! They shall remain spiritually malnourished!

“Grief is for those who now laugh at others to scorn them! You all who do such shall mourn!

Those who mock Christians shall one day become aware of their spiritual depravity, and shall weep and mourn!

“How dreadful it will be when all people speak well of you! Their ancestors said the same about the false prophets!”

Many speak well of God’s people falsely believing that God wants spiritual pretenders instead of true worshippers! We all can bow! But, to whom do you bow? If not Christ, your bowing is a vain act!

Luke 6:27-36
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 cloke 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.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Christ continued, “But, I tell those of you who hear Me, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you! Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone hits you on one cheek, let him hit the other one too!”

Do you love your enemies enough to tell them about Christ?

If not, you are not demonstrating love! Instead you are demonstrating hatred!

Jesus told His followers, “If someone takes your coat, let him have your shirt as well. Give to everyone who asks you for something, and when someone takes what is yours, do not ask for it back!

“Do for others what you want them to do for you.”

The above verses have been abused by many preachers! Many place their context in a physical realm! However, the true meaning is spiritual! If a person attempts to take away the righteousness (spiritual clothing given to you by Christ Jesus), then tell him about the Good News of Christ Jesus!

In one of our local Churches, a visiting preacher told the congregants to give away the extra clothing they had! His sermon was based in stupidity! The Pastor had to go behind him to tell the flock to keep their clothes, unless they thought they should physically help another!

2 Cor 5:1-4
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

Being properly “clothed” is the result of our relationship with Christ and not a matter of shopping at certain stores!

Do to others as you want them to do for you! If you had no knowledge of Christ Jesus, teach them! Tell them the gospel!

Giving a drunk more money so that he may buy another bottle is an act of hatred!

Jesus warned, “If you love only the people who love you, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners love those who love them!

“And, if you do good to only those who do good to you, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners do that!

“And if you to lend only those from whom you hope to get it back, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the something in return!

“Love your enemies! Do good things to them! Lend and expect nothing in return!”

Again, do you love you enemies enough to tell them the Truth?

John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”

Jesus continued, “Then, you will have great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God!

“Because He is good to those who are unthankful (Gr. acharistos-ἀχάριστος) and the wicked ones (Gr. ponēros-πονηρός)!

“Be merciful as your Father is merciful!”

Imitate Christ Jesus, our Lord! The greatest love is shown in telling the gospel to heathen such as Muslims! Honoring their heathenism is and act of hatred for those who are lost and without Christ! If we truly love Muslims we will tell them about the Savior!

Luke 6:37-38
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
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.

Here Christ Jesus speaks a truth that is known to every drug dealer in the world! “Judge not, and you all shall not be judged!

“Do not condemn others, and God will not condemn you all”

That is a not get out of hell free card!

The fact is that if you are wearing a blue shirt and I tell you it is blue that is not judging! Telling a sinner who is lost and without Christ that he/she is lost and without Christ is NOT a judgment call!

Christians do not condemn others by telling them that without Christ they are lost! Telling a sinner that he/she is a sinner are acts of love if that telling is accompanied by the telling of the gospel of Christ Jesus!

“Forgive, and you all shall be forgiven!

“Give and it shall be given to you! Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. Because, with the same measure that you all give out, it shall be given back to you.”

If all you give is money, you will find that your return on that money is small. There is no money in heaven!

Many fakes use his section of Scripture to refer to money! Some even call it “seed!” Now I don’t know your experience, but when we plant tomatoes in specific soil, we expect to get tomatoes back from that same soil! Did you ever plant “seed” into a ministry and they paid your back with money?

Luke 6:39-45
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.
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?
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.
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.

And Jesus told them this parable: "One blind man cannot lead another man! If he does, both will fall into a ditch!”

What do you think a spiritually blind teacher can teach another blind person? We may only teach what they know, but if the only thing we know is darkness!...

The spiritually blind are spiritually blind because they cannot see Christ Jesus as their Lord! We teach Christ as the result of the revelation of Christ to us personally!

“A disciple is not above his master! But, every one that is completely mature (Gr. katartizō-καταρτίζω) shall be on a plain with his master!”

Human Ego is out of place in the kingdom of Christ! There is only One Head of the Church! That Head of the Church is NOT the Pope, nor is it your preacher! Christ alone is the Head of the Church!

Col 1:18a And he [Christ Jesus] is the head of the body,…

Then Jesus asked “Why do you look at the sliver that is in your brother's eye, but don’t perceive the beam that is in your own eye?

“Or, how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me pull that sliver out of your eye,’ when you do not acknowledge the large plank that is in your own eye?

“You hypocrite, first cleanse your own eyes, and then you shall see well enough to pull the sliver out of your brother's eye.”

Those instructions are not telling us that we should never criticize another Christian! True criticism may be negative or positive! Christ was telling us how to help a brother!

Jesus continued, “A good tree does not produce corrupt fruit! And, neither does a corrupt tree produce good fruit!

“For every tree is known by the fruit it produces.”

Did you know that apple trees produce apples and peach trees produce peaches? Do you understand how to tell an apple tree from a peach tree? You simply wait to see what grows!

Then, Jesus told them, “For men do not gather thorns and call them figs! Neither do they search a bramble bush looking for grapes! A man’s treasure is found within, in his heart! A good heart brings forth that which is good! And, an evil treasure comes from an evil heart! Because, men speak what is in their hearts!

Common sense is at the heart of Christianity, spiritual common sense!

Luke 6:46-49
46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
48 He is like a man which built an 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 an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Jesus confronted His Jewish detractors by asking what some suppose to be a benign question. He asked, “Why call you all call Me, Lord, Lord, without obeying what I say?”

That question could be asked of many Christians today!

Further, Jesus told them that whoever comes to Him, listens to His words and obeys what He says will be shown as the truth!

That man is like one who built a house on the Rock! Christ Jesus is the Rock! Is your spiritual home built on the Rock of Ages, Christ Jesus? If it is not you are doomed to fail in any attempt to find safety from the storms of life.

Chapter 7

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