Luke 6 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
~AD 28-30
Location
Galilee region, including grainfields, synagogue, and a level place near the Sea of Galilee
Audience
Luke writes to Theophilus and primarily Gentile Christians, recounting Jesus's ministry to Jewish crowds, disciples, and religious leaders
Situation
Jesus is in the height of his Galilean ministry, facing escalating conflict with Pharisees and scribes over Sabbath observance and his authority. After two Sabbath controversies, he chooses twelve apostles and delivers the Sermon on the Plain to a large crowd.
Key Background
Sabbath laws were central to Jewish identity and religious practice, with Pharisees having developed detailed oral traditions about what constituted permissible Sabbath activity. Jesus's selection of twelve apostles deliberately echoes the twelve tribes of Israel, signaling the formation of a new covenant community. The sermon's blessings and woes reverse worldly values and present kingdom ethics that would have been countercultural to both Jewish and Greco-Roman audiences.
One day, Jesus was walking through some grain fields, and his were picking heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.
Some of the said, "Why are you doing something that's not allowed on the Sabbath?"
Jesus answered them, "Haven't you read what did when he and his companions were hungry?"
He went into took the that had been for — which only the priests were allowed to eat — and ate it and shared it with his companions."
Then he told them, "The of has the Sabbath."
On another Sabbath, Jesus went into the and was teaching. There was a man there whose right hand was withered.
The and the Pharisees were watching Jesus closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, so they could find something to accuse him of.
But Jesus knew exactly what they were thinking. He said to the man with the withered hand, "Get up and stand in front of everyone." So the man got up and stood there.
Then Jesus said to them, "Let me ask you something: Is it legal on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm? To save a life or to destroy one?"
He looked around at all of them, and then said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." The man did, and his hand was completely restored.
But they were filled with and began talking to each other about what they could do to Jesus.
Around that time, Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he spent the entire night praying to God.
When morning came, he called his followers together and chose twelve of them, whom he also named
Simon (whom he named his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the
Judas son of James, and Judas who later betrayed him.
Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his followers was there, along with a huge number of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the coastal region of and
They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those tormented by were also set free.
The whole crowd was trying to touch him, because was flowing out from him and healing everyone.
Then Jesus looked directly at his followers and said: is for you who are because belongs to you."
Life is good for you who are now, because you will be filled. Life is good for you who are now, because you will laugh.
Life is good for you when people hate you, when they you and insult you and as because of the Son of Man.
Be glad when that happens and for because your reward in heaven is great. Their ancestors treated the the same way.
But how for you who are rich, because you've already received all the comfort you're going to get.
How terrible for you who are well-fed now, because you will go hungry. How terrible for you who are laughing now, because you will mourn and weep.
How terrible for you when everyone speaks well of you, because that's exactly how their ancestors treated the
"But I'm telling you who are listening: your Do good to those who hate you."
to do for those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you.
If someone you on offer the other too. If someone takes your coat, don't hold back your shirt either.
Give to everyone who asks you, and if someone takes what belongs to you, don't demand it back.
Treat other people the way you want them to treat you.
"If you only love the who love you, why should you get any for that? Even who love the who love them."
And if you only do good to those who do good to you, why should you get any credit for that? Even people who don't care about God do that.
And if you only lend to people you expect to get something back from, why should you get any credit for that? Even people who don't care about God lend to each other, expecting to be repaid in full.
Instead, love your enemies, do good to them, and lend without expecting anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be of the Most because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people.
Be just as your Father is
"Don't others, and you won't be judged. Don't condemn others, and you won't be condemned. others, and you will be forgiven."
Give, and it will be given to you — a generous amount, down, and Because the measuring standard you use for others is the one that will be used for you.
He also told them an "Can a blind person guide another blind person? Won't they both fall into a ditch?"
A isn't above their teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.
"Why do you notice the in your brother's eye but don't notice the in your own eye?"
How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the splinter out of your eye,' when you can't even see the plank in your own eye? You First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you'll be able to see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother's eye.
"No good tree produces fruit, and no tree produces good fruit."
Every tree is known by its own fruit. People don't pick from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.
A good person produces good things from the good up in their and an evil person produces evil things from the evil up in their Because your mouth speaks from whatever fills your
"Why do you call me but don't do what I say?"
Let me show you what everyone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and puts them into practice.
They're like someone building a house who dug deep and laid the on solid When a flood came and the river slammed against that house, it couldn't shake it, because it was built well.
But anyone who hears my words and doesn't put them into practice is like someone who built a house on the ground without any foundation. The moment the river slammed against it, it immediately, and the of that house was total.