Bible Commentaries
Luke 6

Verses 1-49

CHAPTER 6

1. The Son of Man the Lord of the Sabbath. (Luke 6:1-5 )

2. The Man with the Withered Hand Healed. (Luke 6:6-11 )

3. The Twelve Apostles Chosen. (Luke 6:12-19 )

4. Blessing and Woe. (Luke 6:20-26 )

5. Good for Evil. (Luke 6:27-31 )

6. Instructions to Disciples. (Luke 6:32-38 )

7. Warnings. (Luke 6:39-45 .)

Luke 6:1-11

The opening verses of the chapter are nearly alike in the three Gospels. The arrangement in Matthew is different. It is used there to bring out the consummation Of the rejection of the King. (Matthew 12:1-8 ). Then He healed the man with the withered hand. The healing was done in their midst; it was a miracle done before their eyes. How different from the pretended healings of Christian Science and other Cults. They were filled with madness and began their plotting.

Luke 6:12-19

Before He chose the twelve Apostles He spent the whole night in prayer. It was “in those days,” the days when they were rejecting Him. The refuge of the perfect Man was then in God. He sought His presence and cast Himself upon Him for guidance. The Gospel of Luke has much to say about the prayers of the Lord Jesus. His prayers are the expression of dependence of His perfect humanity. Among the twelve is Judas the traitor. He was called to be an apostle that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. The Lord knew him from the beginning. He was not a believer in the Deity of our Lord; Judas never called Him, Lord. A very old commentary gives the following suggestion: “Judas is chosen that the Lord might have an enemy among His attendants, for that man is perfect who has no cause to shrink from observation of a wicked man, conversant with all his ways.”--Anselim, who lived from 1033-1109.

Luke 6:20-45

Certain parts of the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew it occupies the most prominent place, for in the Gospel of the King it is the great proclamation He utters in the beginning of His ministry. See the Study pamphlet on Matthew. Luke reports only a part of the great discourse. A comparison will show that Luke gives a number of additions, which are all in line with the purpose of the Gospel. There is no allusion made as in the Gospel of Matthew to the Law, nor is there given in Luke the expansion of the Law. The instructions concerning alms and prayer are likewise omitted. In Luke’s Gospel the words are reported which touch upon the wants of the disciples as men, who are in the world. Their separation from the world, their conduct, besides warnings are fully given. In Matthew we read, “Be ye therefore perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Luke changes by divine guidance the word perfect to “merciful.” The correct rendering is “Become ye merciful.” The Son of Man came to this earth in mercy to meet man; the disciple is to manifest the same mercy. The word “perfect” given by Matthew is the larger description; it includes “mercifulness,” which Luke is led by the Spirit of God to emphasize.