Introduction: The sixth chapter of the Gospel of Luke has many teachings of Jesus Christ including the famous Sermon on the Mount. This chapter also teaches about Jesus’ calling of the twelve apostles and several miracles performed by Jesus. The outline below provides a verse by verse breakdown of Luke 6, shedding light on the main topics and themes contained in this chapter.
I. Luke 6:1-5 – Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath
In these verses, Jesus and his disciples are criticized by the Pharisees for picking grain on the Sabbath. Jesus responds by reminding them of the time when David and his men ate the consecrated bread in the temple, which was only lawful for priests to eat (1 Samuel 21:1-6). Jesus declares that he is the Lord of the Sabbath, emphasizing that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27).
II. Luke 6:6-11 – Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
On another Sabbath, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand in the synagogue, despite the objections of the Pharisees. Jesus challenges their legalistic veiw of the Sabbath by asking if it is lawful to do good or harm on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:10-13). The Pharisees are unable to answer and become angry, and that is when the plotting against Jesus was kicked off in full swing.
III. Luke 6:12-16 – The Calling of the Twelve Apostles
Jesus spends the night in prayer before choosing the twelve apostles. These verses teach the believers the importance of prayer before making important decisions (Matthew 26:36-46). The apostles are named, and they will become the foundation of the early church, and through them the church has arrived to us (Ephesians 2:20).
IV. Luke 6:17-26 – The Beatitudes and Woes
Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount, teaching the crowds about the blessings that come to those who are poor, hungry, weeping, and persecuted for his sake (Matthew 5:1-12). He also pronounces woes upon those who are rich, full, laughing, and well spoken of, warning that their comfort is temporary (James 5:1-6). As Jesus has said, the meek shall inherit the earth, this world and life is the only heaven some people will ever experience.
V. Luke 6:27-36 – Love Your Enemies
Jesus teaches his followers to love their enemies, do good to those who hate them (which can be very hard to do, by the way), and pray for those who mistreat them (Matthew 5:43-48). He emphasizes the importance of showing mercy and not judging others, as God is merciful and forgiving (Psalm 103:8-14).
VI. Luke 6:37-42 – Judging Others
Jesus warns against judging others and points out the importance of sweeping around your own back door (Matthew 7:1-5). He uses the story of removing the speck from one’s own eye before attempting to remove the plank from another’s eye, highlighting the need for humility and self-awareness.
VII. Luke 6:43-45 – A Tree and Its Fruit
Jesus teaches that a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit (Matthew 12:33-37). He makes the point that the words and actions of a person reveal the true condition of their heart, be careful little mouth what you say.
VIII. Luke 6:46-49 – The Wise and Foolish Builders
Jesus ends his sermon with the parable of the wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24-27). He makes the point the people should put His teachings to practice in their lives, as those who do so will be like a house built on a solid foundation that can withstand storms.
Conclusion: Luke 6 gives us a message of love, mercy, and the importance of living out one’s faith. Jesus challenges the legalistic views of the Sabbath and emphasizes the importance of doing good, even on the Sabbath. He calls on his followers to love their enemies, show mercy, and refrain from judging others. The Sermon on the Mount provides a blueprint for Christian living, with the beatitudes and woes giving us reminders of the blessings that come with following Christ and the dangers of seeking worldly comfort. Jesus ends on a high note with the parable of the wise and foolish builders, urging his followers to put His teachings into practice and build their lives on a solid foundation.
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