- 1And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.
- 2And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
- 3And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;
- 4How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?
- 5And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
- 6And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
- 7And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.
- 8But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.
- 9Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
- 10And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
- 11And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.
- 12And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
- 13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
- 14Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
- 15Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphæus, and Simon called Zelotes,
- 16And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
- 17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judæa and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;
- 18And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.
- 19And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.
- 20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
- 21Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
- 22Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
- 23Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
- 24But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
- 25Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
- 26Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
- 27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
- 28Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
- 29And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
- 30Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
- 31And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
- 32For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
- 33And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
- 34And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
- 35But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
- 36Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
- 37Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
- 38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
- 39And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
- 40The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
- 41And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
- 42Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.
- 43For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
- 44For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
- 45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
- 46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
- 47Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
- 48He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
- 49But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
KING JAMES VERSION
LUKE 6
Read the chapter, follow a linked verse, and continue into related Watchman 33 teaching.
CHAPTER VISUAL
Luke 6 — Merciful as Your Father gathers the chapter’s central movement as Jesus’s identity, authority, mercy, and saving mission are revealed.
About this illustration
The illustration centers jesus teaches disciples and a diverse multitude on a broad Galilean plain while restored people listen. Other events and teachings remain in the chapter text rather than being crowded into one scene.
Scripture basis: Luke 6:1–49King James Version · Standardized 1769 text with Strong’s numbering · Public domain outside the United Kingdom
EXPLORE THE MESSAGE
Related Watchman 33 Resources
Archaeological Evidence
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
Late fourth or fifth century AD
Codex Bezae
Codex Bezae is an exceptional Greek-Latin Gospel and Acts manuscript around AD 400 whose striking readings, facing-page bilingual design, corrections, and damaged leaves document a distinctive stream of early Christian textual transmission.
Luke 6:1–5 · Acts 8:26–40 · Acts 12:1–19
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
Fifth-century Gospel undertext; later overwritten parchment
Codex Guelferbytanus B (GA 026)
Codex Guelferbytanus B (GA 026) is a distinct physical witness to the material transmission and reception of Scripture, identified by its own shelfmark, date, contents, and custodial history.
John 12:1–11 · Luke 6:1–11
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
about AD 200; commonly late second to early third century
P.Oxy. I 1: The First Greek Fragment of the Gospel of Thomas
A Greek papyrus codex leaf from Oxyrhynchus preserves sayings of Jesus later found in Coptic within the Gospel of Thomas. Copied around AD 200, it is the earliest discovered Greek witness to that sayings collection, while its relationship to the canonical Gospels and the composition’s date remain debated.
Matthew 7:3–5 · Matthew 10:26 · Matthew 13:57
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
fourth century AD
P.Oxy. XV 1782: A Greek Papyrus of the Didache
A fourth-century Greek papyrus from Oxyrhynchus preserves portions of Didache 1–3, including teaching about the Two Ways, love of enemies, almsgiving, and moral discipline. It is an early material witness to Christian instruction, not a manuscript of the New Testament.
Matthew 5:39–48 · Matthew 7:12 · Luke 6:27–36
Sermons
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Pastor Dean Odle uses an old family plow to illustrate Jesus’s warning in Luke 9:62 about following Him without looking back. Beginning with Romans 8 and John 10, he argues that discipleship requires continually hearing Christ’s voice, resisting the flesh, and surrendering self-will. He examines the excuses in Luke 14, shares personal accounts of ministry decisions, correction, and restoration, and turns to 1 John 2 and Proverbs 3 to urge trust in God’s direction. The sermon closes with warnings drawn from Lot’s wife and the parable of the talents, calling listeners to examine their faith, abide in Christ, and move forward in obedient, fruitful service.
Christian LivingSalvation and the GospelHoly Spirit and Spiritual GiftsDoctrine and Discernment
View sermon The Offense of the Older Brother
In “The Offense of the Older Brother,” Kelsey examines the part of Jesus’ prodigal-son parable that is often overlooked: the elder son who remained in his father’s house but resented the restoration of his brother. Working primarily from Luke 15, she argues that outward faithfulness can coexist with anger, comparison, self-righteousness, jealousy, and a graceless heart. The older brother’s refusal to celebrate reveals the danger of evaluating another believer’s restoration, blessing, healing, or calling through personal disappointment rather than the Father’s compassion.
Doctrine and DiscernmentChristian LivingChurch and Ministry
View sermon God's Supernatural Preservation of His Holy Scriptures
In “God's Supernatural Preservation of His Holy Scriptures,” Pastor Dean Odle presents a Scripture-centered message about the authority of Scripture, faith, gratitude. Drawing especially from Psalm 92, Psalm 12, Psalm 22, Psalm 16, the teaching emphasizes that Scripture is presented as the standard for doctrine, discernment, and daily obedience. Odle connects that foundation with the conviction that biblical faith trusts God’s character and acts upon His promises.
Doctrine and DiscernmentScripture AloneChristian LivingSpiritual Warfare
View sermon Showing 1–3 of 6 sermons