‘Now it came about on a sabbath, that he was going through the grainfields, and his disciples plucked the ears, and ate, rubbing them in their hands.' On this particular Sabbath Jesus was walking through a grainfield with His disciples. The Law of Moses allowed anyone walking through a grainfield t... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But certain of the Pharisees said, “Why do you do what is not lawful to do on the sabbath day?” Some of the Pharisees became aware of what His disciples were doing. It may be that they had been walking with the disciples, professing interest in Jesus' message, while carefully watching for any fail... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Jesus answering them said, “Have you not read even this, what David did, when he was hungry, he, and those who were with him? How he entered into the house of God, and took and ate the showbread, and gave also to those who were with him, that which it is not lawful to eat save for the priests a... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he said to them, “The Son of man is lord of the sabbath.” ' And this was because as the Son of Man He was Lord of the Sabbath, that is, He was the overall authority who could make declarations of what was lawful to be done on the Sabbath Day. It was basically a claim to be the heaven appointed... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And it came about on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there, and his right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath, so that they might find how to accuse him.' Another Sabbath arrived a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND (6:6-11). This final incident in this cycle of stories contrasts the rigidity of the Pharisees with the compassion of Jesus. The one were concerned with the minutiae of the Law, the Other with the heart of God. In it He again reveals that He is Lord of the Sabbath. Bu... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man who had his hand withered, “Rise up, and stand forth among us.” And he arose and stood forth.' Jesus was fully aware of the situation. ‘He knew their thoughts.' This fact is stressed regularly (compare Luke 5:22). However, they were not hard to as... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to destroy it?” ' Jesus could see the workings of their hearts. He knew exactly what they were thinking. And He knew that they had it in their minds to have Him killed. So while to the ord... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he looked round about on them all, and said to him, “Stretch forth your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored.' Then He looked round at them all, one by one, giving each an opportunity to reply. But all they did was glare back. Then He turned to the man, saying, “Stretch forth your ha... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But they were filled with mad fury, and discussed together one with another what they might do to Jesus.' So they were mad with blind fury. All they could think of was how they could get rid of this man who was such a bain on their lives. Neither His compassion, nor His power to work miracles, mov... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION FOR THE NEW ISRAEL (6:12-19). After revealing what He has come to be, Jesus now goes about establishing the new Israel. He appoints leaders for the twelve tribes (Luke 6:12). He proclaims a new Law (Luke 6:17). He provides a foretaste of the sending out of His power to t... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And it came about in these days, that he went out into the mountain to pray; and he continued all night in prayer to God.' We should note that prior to choosing the twelve Jesus went into the mountain to pray and continued all night with God. This is the only place where we are informed that He pr... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And when it was day, he called his disciples; and he chose from them twelve, whom also he named apostles.' Having spent the night in prayer He now called all His disciples together, of whom there were a goodly number (He will shortly be able to send out seventy to preach), and out of them He chose... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Simon, whom he also named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip and Bartholomew,' The list of the twelve is also found in Acts 1:13; Matthew 10-2-4; Mark 3:16, with slight variations. Many people in those days had two names, and Jesus may have given each a new name as He di... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Matthew and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called Zelotes, (or ‘the zealous one'),' Matthew is Levi, the son of Alphaeus, who was the toll collector mentioned in Luke 5:27 (see Matthew 10:3). Thomas occasionally came into prominence (John 11:16; John 14:5) but is best... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.' Judas, the son of James (‘Judas, not Iscariot' - John 14:22), is probably Thaddaeus, (which Matthew possibly has as Lebbaeus. This is, however, by no means certain as many manuscripts have Thaddaeus. One may have been a new nam... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he came down with them, and stood on a level place, and a great multitude of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judaea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases.' Having chosen the twelve He then came down... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were healed. And all the multitude sought to touch him, for power came forth from him, and healed them all.' Unclean spirits could not stand His presence. We are probably to see that those who were possessed were healed at His word. Uncleanness was... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS PROCLAIMS THE NEW LAW OF THE KINGLY RULE OF GOD (6:20-49). Like Matthew 5-7 this ‘sermon' or ‘address' is carefully put together and patterned, but, in spite of similarities, we would be mistaken if we thought that it was simply made up of extracts from the same address (even though that is th... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSINGS AND WOES ON ISRAEL (6:20-26). ‘And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, a Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingly Rule of God (Luke 6:20). b Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled (Luke 6:21 a). c Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh (Luke... [ Continue Reading ]
2). THE FOUNDING OF THE NEW ISRAEL UNDER THE KINGLY RULE OF GOD (6:20-8:18) In this second part of the section Luke 5:1 to Luke 9:50, Jesus now reveals Himself as the founder of the new Israel under the Kingly Rule of God: a He proclaims the new Law of the Kingly Rule of God (Luke 6:20). b He sen... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingly Rule of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate yo... [ Continue Reading ]
“Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, For behold, your reward is great in heaven, For in the same manner did their fathers to the prophets.” Yes, if they are persecuted for His sake they can rejoice and jump for joy, for they will receive great reward in Heaven, for that is how God's prophets w... [ Continue Reading ]
“But woe to you who are rich! for you have received your consolation. Woe to you, you who are full now! for you shall hunger. Woe to you, you who laugh now! for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you, when all men shall speak well of you! for in the same manner did their fathers to the false prophe... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVE IS DEFINED AND COMMANDED (6:27-28). g Love your enemies (Luke 6:27 b), h Do good to those who hate you (Luke 6:27 c), g Bless those who curse you (Luke 6:28 a), h Pray for those who use you badly (Luke 6:28 b). LOVE IS DEFINED AND DEMANDED (6:27-28). He commences this next section with a... [ Continue Reading ]
TRUE LOVE IS ALL IMPORTANT AND MUST BE PRACTICALLY EXPRESSED (6:27-38). (This section is all about loving and giving and proceeds in a 4 4 6 6 4 4 pattern). ‘But I say to you who hear (Luke 6:27 a).'... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVE IS ILLUSTRATED (6:29-31). j To him who smites you on the one cheek, offer also the other (Luke 6:29 a) k And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your coat also (Luke 6:29 b). k Give to every one who asks you, and of him who takes away your goods, ask them not again (Luke 6:30... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVE IS TO BE SHOWN TOWARDS THE UNDESERVING (6:32-34). g And if you love those who love you, what thank have you (what reason have you to be thanked)? l For even sinners love those who love them (Luke 6:32). h And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thank have you? l For even sinner... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REASON WHY CHRISTIANS SHOULD LOVE THE UNDESERVING (6:35) g But love your enemies (Luke 6:35 a), h And do them good (Luke 6:35 b), k And lend, never despairing (Luke 6:35 c), f And your reward will be great (35d), m And you shall be sons of the Most High (35e), l For he is kind toward the u... [ Continue Reading ]
GENERAL ATTITUDES WHICH SHOULD RESULT FROM THIS KIND OF LOVE (6:36-37). n Be you merciful, even as your Father is merciful (Luke 6:36). p And judge not, and you shall not be judged (Luke 6:37 a). p And condemn not, and you shall not be condemned (Luke 6:37 b), n Release, and you shall be release... [ Continue Reading ]
“Give, and it shall be given to you, Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure you mete, It shall be measured to you again.” So those who are His are now called on to give freely and abundantly. The idea here, as earlier, is... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GENEROSITY THAT SHOULD RESULT FROM THIS KIND OF LOVE AND THE ASSURANCE OF GOD'S RECIPROCAL GENEROSITY (6:38-40). q Give, and it shall be given to you (Luke 6:38 a), r Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom (Luke 6:38 b). r For with what meas... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he spoke also a proverb (parable) to them,' THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING THE RIGHT TEACHER AND RESPONDING TO HIM (6:39B-40). ‘And he spoke also a proverb (or ‘a parable' - that is, ‘parabolically') to them,' From this point on Jesus introduces His ideas in parabolic language. The Importance Of... [ Continue Reading ]
S Can the blind guide the blind? (Luke 6:39 a). t Shall they not both fall into a pit? (Luke 6:39 b). u The disciple is not above his teacher (Luke 6:40 a), v But every one, when he is perfected, shall be as his teacher (Luke 6:40 b). “Can the blind guide the blind? Shall they not both fall int... [ Continue Reading ]
DISTINGUISHING THE GENUINE FROM THE FAKE (6:39-49).... [ Continue Reading ]
A REMINDER THAT LOVE MUST RESULT IN HONESTY WHEN JUDGING (6:41-42). w And why do you behold the mote that is in your brother's eye (Luke 6:41 a), x But do not consider the beam that is in your own eye? (Luke 6:41 b). y Or how can you say to your brother, Brother, let me cast out the mote that is... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE END WHAT MEN ARE IS REVEALED IN WHAT THEY PRODUCE BY THEIR LIVES (6:43-44). a A For there is no good tree which brings forth corrupt fruit (Luke 6:43 a), b B Nor again a corrupt tree which brings forth good fruit (Luke 6:43 b). c C For each tree is known by its own fruit (Luke 6:44 a). b... [ Continue Reading ]
“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good, And the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil, For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. And why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do the things which I say?” Jesus then points... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SECURITY OF THE ONE WHO HEARS THE WORDS OF JESUS AND DOES THEM (6:47-48). F F Every one who comes to me, and hears my words, and does them (Luke 6:47 a), g G I will show you to whom he is like (Luke 6:47 b), h H He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep (Luke 6:48 a), i I And... [ Continue Reading ]
DISASTER FOR THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORDS OF JESUS AND DO NOT DO THEM (6:49). f F But he who hears, and does not (Luke 6:49 a), h H Is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation (Luke 6:49 b), j J Against which the stream broke, and straightway it fell in (Luke 6:49 c), k K And t... [ Continue Reading ]