Luke 6
1 And it came to pass on the second Sabbath, He was going through the cornfields; and His disciples were plucking the ears, and eating, shelling them out with their hands.
One (Sabbath/Jewish day of rest), while Jesus was walking through some grain fields with his disciples, the disciples picked some of the heads of grain. They rubbed them in their hands [to separate the grains from the husks], and ate the grain. [The law of Moses permitted people to do that if they were hungry].
2 And certain ones of the Pharisees said to them, Why are you doing that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?
Some Pharisees [who were watching] said to Jesus, “(You should not be doing on our rest day [work] that [our] laws forbid!/Why are you doing on our rest day [work] that our laws forbid?)” [RHQ]
3 Jesus responded and said to them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those being with him?
[Jesus wanted to show them that the record in Scriptures indicated that God permitted people to disobey certain religious laws when they needed food]. [So] he replied, “[It is written in the Scriptures] what [our revered ancestor, King] David did when he and the men with him were hungry. You have read about that, ([but you do not think about what it implies/so why do you not think about what it implies]?) [RHQ]
4 How he entered into the house of God, and how he took the shewbread, and ate it, and gave it to those with him; which is not lawful to eat, except the priests only?
David entered God’s big worship tent [and asked for some food]. [The high priest gave him] the bread that the priests had presented to God. It was permitted [in] one of [Moses’ laws] that only the priests could eat that bread. But [even though David was not a priest], he ate some, and gave some to the men who were with him. [And God did not consider that what David did was wrong]!”
5 And He said to them, The Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath also.
Jesus also said to them, “[I am] the one who came from heaven, so [I] have the authority [to determine what is right for my disciples to do on] the day of rest!”
6 And it came to pass on another Sabbath, that He came into the synagogue and taught, and a man was there, whose right hand was withered.
Another (Sabbath/Jewish day of rest) Jesus entered a (synagogue/Jewish meeting place) and taught the people. There was a man there whose right hand was shriveled.
7 And the scribes and Pharisees were watching Him, if He will heal him on the Sabbath, in order that they may find accusation against Him.
The men who taught the [Jewish] laws and the Pharisees [who were there] watched Jesus, to see if he would heal the man (on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day). They did this so that, [if he healed the man], they would accuse him [of disobeying their laws by working on the day of rest].
8 But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man having the withered hand, Rise up, and stand in the midst; and he having arisen stood.
But Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Come and stand here [in front of everyone]!” So the man got up and stood there.
9 And Jesus said to them, I will ask you; What is lawful on the Sabbath; to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy?
Then Jesus said to the others, “I ask you this: Do the laws that [God gave Moses] permit [people] to do what is good (on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day), or [do they permit people] to harm [others]? [Do they permit us] to save [a person’s] life [on our day of rest] or to let [him] die [HYP] [by refusing to help him]?”
10 And looking around upon them all, He said to him, Reach forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored.
[They refused to answer him. So] after he looked around at them all, he said to the man, “Stretch out your [shriveled] hand!” The man did that, and his hand became all right again!
11 And they were filled with rage; and they were talking one to another what they might do to Jesus.
But the men who taught the Jewish laws and the Pharisees were very angry, and they discussed with one another what they could do to [get rid of] Jesus.
12 And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into the mountain to pray; and was there through the night in the prayer of God.
About that time [Jesus] went up into the hills to pray. He prayed to God all night.
13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Him: and having chosen twelve from them, whom He also named apostles;
The next day he summoned all his disciples to come near him. From them he chose twelve men, whom he called apostles.
14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John. Philip and Bartholomew,
They were Simon, to whom he gave the [new] name, Peter; Andrew, Peter’s [younger] brother; James and [his younger brother], John; Philip; Bartholomew;
15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon called the Zealot;
Matthew, whose other name was Levi; Thomas; [another] James, the [son] of Alpheus; Simon, who belonged to the party [that encouraged people to] rebel [against the Roman government];
16 and Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who also became His betrayer.
Judas, the [son] of [another] James; and Judas Iscariot (OR, Judas, the man from Kerioth [Town]), the one who later (betrayed Jesus./enabled the Jewish leaders to seize Jesus.)
17 And having come down with them, He stood upon a level place, and a great multitude of His disciples, and a great crowd of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and Tyre and Sidon by the sea, who came to hear Him, and to be healed of their diseases;
[Jesus] came down from the hills with his disciples and stood on a level area. There was a very big crowd of his disciples there. There was also a large group of people who had come from Jerusalem and from many [other] places [in] Judea [district], and from the coastal areas near Tyre and Sidon [cities].
18 and those troubled by unclean spirits; and they were getting healed.
They came to hear Jesus talk to them and to be healed {and for him to heal them} from their diseases. He also healed those whom evil spirits had troubled.
19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him: because power was going out from Him, and was healing all.
Everyone [in the crowd] tried to touch him, because he was healing everyone by [his/God’s] power.
20 And He lifting up His eyes to His disciples, said, Blessed are ye poor: because the kingdom of God is yours.
He looked [MTY] at his disciples and said, “[God] is pleased with you [who know] that you lack what [he wants you to have; ] he will allow you to be the people whose lives he rules over.
21 Blessed are ye who hunger now: because ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye who weep now: because ye shall laugh.
[God] is pleased with you who sincerely desire to receive what [MTY] [he wants you to have]; he will give you what you need, until you are satisfied. [God] is pleased with you that grieve now [because of sin]. Later you will be joyful.
22 Blessed are ye, when the people may hate you, and when they may separate you, and cast out your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of man.
[God] is pleased with you when [other] people hate you, when they will not let you join them, when they insult you, when they say that you are evil because [you believe in] me, the one who came from heaven.
23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy: for behold your reward in heaven is great: for according to these things were their fathers accustomed to do to the prophets.
When that happens, rejoice! Jump up and down because you are so happy! [God will give] you a great reward in heaven! [When they do these things to you, it will prove that you are God’s servants]. (OR, [People have always treated God’s servants like that].) Do not forget that these people’s ancestors did the same things to the prophets [who served God faithfully]!
24 Moreover woe unto you rich! because you exhaust your reward.
But there will be terrible punishment for you that are rich; the happiness you have received [from your riches] is the only happiness that you will get.
25 Woe unto you who are full! because you shall hunger. Woe unto you who are now laughing because you shall weep and mourn.
There will be terrible punishment for you who [think that you] have all that you need now; you will [realize] that these things will not make you feel satisfied. There will be terrible punishment for you who are joyful now; you will [later] be very sad.
26 Woe unto you when all the people may speak well of you! because according to the same things their fathers were accustomed to do to the false prophets.
When most [HYP] people speak well about you, trouble is ahead for you; [it will not prove that you are God’s servants, because] your ancestors used to speak well about those who falsely [claimed that they were] prophets.”
27 But I say unto you that hear, Love your enemies with divine love, and do good to those that hate you,
“But I say this to each of you [disciples] who are listening [to what I say]: Love your enemies [as well as your friends]. Do good things for those who hate you!
28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who despitefully use you.
[Ask God to] bless those who curse you! Pray for those who mistreat you!
29 To the one smiting thee on the cheek turn the other also; and from the one taking away thy cloak do not withhold even the coat.
If someone [insults one of you by] striking you on one of your cheeks, turn your face [so that he can strike] the other cheek [also]. If [a bandit] wants to take away your [(sg)] coat, let him also have your shirt.
30 Give to every one asking thee, and turn not away from the one taking thy possessions,
Give something to everyone who asks you [(sg) for something]. If someone takes away things that belong to you [(sg)], do not ask him to return them.
31 And as you wish that the people may do unto you, do ye unto them even likewise.
In whatever way you [(pl)] want others to act toward you, that is the way that you should act toward them.
32 If you love those who love you, what grace is there to you? for even sinners love those who love them.
If you love [only] those who love you, do not [expect God] to praise you for [doing that] [RHQ], [because] even sinners love those who love them.
33 And if you may do good to those doing good to you, what grace is there to you? for sinners also do the same.
If you do good things [only] for those who do good things for you, do not [expect God] to reward you [for doing that] [RHQ], [because] even sinners do that.
34 And if you may lend to those from whom you may hope to receive, what grace is there to you? for sinners lend to sinners, that they may receive back the equivalent.
If you lend [things or money only] to those who you expect will give something back to you, do not [expect that God] will reward you [RHQ] [for doing that]. Even sinners lend to other sinners, because they expect them to pay everything back.
35 Moreover love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping nothing in return; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the sons of the Highest: because He is good to the ungrateful and wicked.
Instead, love your enemies! Do good things for them! Lend to them, and do not expect them to pay anything back! [If you do that, God will give] you a big reward. And you will be [acting like] his children [should]. Remember that God is kind to people who are not grateful and to people who are wicked, [and he expects you to be like that too].
36 Therefore be ye merciful, as your Father is indeed merciful.
Act mercifully toward others, just like your Father [in heaven acts] mercifully [toward you].”
37 And criticise not, and you can not be criticised. Condemn not, and you can not be condemned.
“Do not say how sinfully others have acted, and then [God] will not say how sinfully you have acted. Do not condemn others, and then [he] will not condemn you [DOU]. Forgive others [for the evil things that they have done to you], and then [God] will forgive you.
38 Forgive, and you shall be forgiven: give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, heaped up, and shaken down, and running over, they will give into your bosom. For with the same measure, which you measure, it will be measured unto you.
Give [good things to others], and then [God] will give [good] things to you. It will be [as though] [MET] [God is putting things in a basket] for you. He will give you a full amount, pressed down in the basket, which he will shake [so that he can put more in], and it will spill over the sides! [Remember that] the way you act [toward others] will be the way that [God] will act toward you!”
39 And He spoke a parable unto them, Whether is the blind able to lead the blind? will they not both fall into the ditch?
He also told [his disciples] this parable [to show them that they should be like him, and not be like the Jewish religious leaders]: “(You certainly would not [expect] a blind man to lead another blind man./Would you [expect] a blind man to lead [another] blind man?) [RHQ] If he tried to do [that], (they would both probably fall into a hole!/wouldn’t they both probably fall into a hole?) [RHQ] [I am your teacher, and you disciples should be like me].
40 The disciple is not above his teacher; but every one having been made perfect shall be as his teacher.
A disciple should not [expect to be] better known than his teacher. But if a student is fully trained {if someone fully trains a student}, the student can become like his teacher [MET]. [So you should be content to be like me].
41 But why do you see the mote which is in the eye of your brother, and do not recognize the beam which is in your own eye?
(Why do you notice [someone else’s small faults]?/None of you should be concerned about [someone else’s small faults] [MET, RHQ].) [That would be like] noticing a speck in that person’s eye. But you should be concerned about [your own big faults. They are like] planks in your own eye, [which you do not notice].
42 Or how are you able to say to your brother; Brother, permit me, I will cast out the mote which is in thine eye, yourself not seeing the beam which is in your own eye? O hypocrite, first cast out the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to cast out the mote which is in the eye of your brother.
(You [(sg)] should not say, ‘Friend, let me take out that speck in your eye!’ when you do not notice the log in your own eye!/Why do you say, ‘Friend, let me take out that speck in your eye!’ when you do not notice the log in your own eye?) [RHQ] [If you do that], you are a hypocrite! You should first [stop committing your own sins. That will be like] removing the plank from your own eye. Then, as a result, you will have the spiritual insight you need to help others get rid of the [faults that are like] specks in their eyes.”
43 For there is no beautiful tree producing corrupt fruit, nor corrupt tree producing beautiful fruit.
“[People are like trees] [MET]. Healthy trees do not bear bad fruit (OR, bear only good fruit), and unhealthy trees do not bear good fruit.
44 For every tree is known by its own fruit: for they do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather the grape-bunch from the bramble.
[Just like you] can tell if a tree is good or bad by looking at its fruit, [you can tell which people are good and which are bad by looking at the way they] conduct their lives. [For example, because thornbushes cannot produce figs], no one can pick figs from thornbushes. And [since bramble bushes cannot produce grapes], no one can [pick] grapes from bramble bushes.
45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth the good; and the wicked man out of the wicked treasure of his heart brings forth that which is wicked: for out of the abundance of his heart his mouth speaks.
[Similarly], good people will conduct their lives in a good way because they think a lot of good [things], and evil people will live in an evil way because they think a lot of evil [things]. The basic principle is that people speak [and act] according to all that they think.”
46 But why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
“[Because people should obey what their masters tell them], (it is disgraceful that you say that I am your master but you do not do what I tell you!/why do you say that I am your master but you do not do what I tell you?) [RHQ]
47 Every one coming to me, and hearing my words, and doing the same, I will show you to whom he is like.
Some people come to me, and hear my messages and obey them. I will tell you what they are like.
48 He is like unto a man building a house, who dug and went down deep, and laid the foundation upon the rock: and there being a flood, the river broke against that house, and it was not able to shake it; for it was founded on the rock.
They are like a man who dug deep [into the ground to prepare to build his house]. He made sure that the foundation was on solid ground. Then when there was a flood, the water tried to wash away the house. But the river could not shake the house, because it was built {he built it} on a solid [foundation].
49 But the one hearing and not doing, is like unto a man building his house upon the ground without a foundation; against which the river broke, and it fell immediately, and great was the fall of that house.
But some people hear my messages but do not obey them. They are like a man who built a house on top of the ground without [digging] a foundation. When the river flooded, the house collapsed immediately and was completely ruined. [So it is important for you to obey what I teach you].”
