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Luke 6

49 verses

TL;DR

Jesus teaches on Sabbath law, appoints apostles, delivers the Sermon on the Mount, and gives ethical instructions, blending miracles, parables, and blessings and woes.

Summary

Luke 6 opens with a Sabbath controversy: Jesus heals a man with a withered hand while disciples eat corn, prompting Pharisees to question their actions. He cites David’s eating of the shewbread to justify the mercy of Sabbath work. Jesus declares himself Lord of the Sabbath. He then chooses twelve apostles and shows compassion to the sick in a gathering from Judea and beyond. The chapter transitions to the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus pronounces blessings upon the poor, hungry, weeping, and persecuted, and woes upon the rich, complacent, and those praised. He commands love for enemies, good deeds without expectation, and offers parables on judgment, hypocrisy, and the foundation of a house to illustrate the importance of obedience and mercy. The discourse concludes with a metaphor comparing the righteous to a house built on rock and the unrighteous to one built on earth.

Outline
  1. Sabbath debate and healing; apostles chosen and miracles
  2. Sermon on the Mount—Beatitudes, ethics, and woes
  3. Parables and instruction on foundation and judgment
Themes
Sabbath justice versus legalismKingdom values of blessedness and humilityLove, mercy, and righteous living
Keywords
SabbathBeatitudeslove enemiesmercyapostlesJesusPhariseesDavidparableskingdomvirtue
People
JesusPhariseesDiscipleDavidPeterAndrewJamesJohnPhilipBartholomewMatthewThomasJames (Alphaeus)Simon (Zelotes)Judas (brother of James)Judas Iscariot
Places
JudeaJerusalemTyreSidonmountainplain
Things
cornshebreadSabbathapostleskingdomvirtueparableshouse
Key Verses
  • Luke 6:35: summarizes the call to love enemies and gives the overarching ethical mandate of the chapter
  • Luke 6:20-24: the Beatitudes that frame the Sermon on the Mount and reveal kingdom values
  • Luke 6:5: Jesus’ claim as Lord of the Sabbath sets the theological tone for the section on work and law
Questions
  • How does Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath challenge conventional Jewish law?
  • In what ways do the Beatitudes reflect the values of the kingdom that Jesus describes?
  • What does the parable about the house on rock versus earth teach about the importance of obedience to Jesus’ teachings?
  • How can the command to love enemies be applied in contemporary conflict?
  • Why does Jesus juxtapose blessings with woes in this chapter?
  • How do the actions of the disciples during the miracle illustrate the principles Jesus outlines?
  • What does the inclusion of the call to “do good without expecting anything in return” suggest about Christian generosity?
  • How does the narrative of choosing the twelve apostles reinforce the message of the Sermon on the Mount?
Sentiment

mixed
the chapter contains both blessings and harsh warnings, balancing encouragement with admonition