61 Now it happened that He was passing through some grainfields on a Sabbath ; and His disciples were picking the heads of grain , rubbing them in their hands , and eating the grain. 2 But some of the Pharisees said , "Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath ?" 3 And Jesus answering them said , "Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry , he and those who were with him, 4 how he entered the house of God , and took and ate the consecrated bread which is not lawful for any to eat except the priests alone , and gave it to his companions e ?" 5 And He was saying to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath ."
6 On another Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching ; and there was a man there whose e right hand was withered . 7 The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath , so that they might find reason to accuse Him. 8 But He knew what they were thinking , and He said to the man with the withered hand , "Get up and come forward e !" And he got up and came forward. 9 And Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath , to save a life or to destroy it?" 10 After looking around at them all , He said to him, "Stretch out your hand !" And he did so; and his hand was restored . 11 But they themselves were filled with rage , and discussed together e what e they might do to Jesus .
12 It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray , and He spent the whole night in prayer to God . 13 And when day came , He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles : 14 Simon , whom He also named Peter , and Andrew his brother ; and James and John ; and Philip and Bartholomew ; 15 and Matthew and Thomas ; James the son of Alphaeus , and Simon who was called the Zealot ; 16 Judas the son of James , and Judas Iscariot , who became a traitor .
17 Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place ; and there was a large crowd of His disciples , and a great throng of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon , 18 who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases ; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured . 19 And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all .
20 And turning His gaze toward His disciples , He began to say , " Blessed are you who are poor , for yours is the kingdom of God . 21 "Blessed are you who hunger now , for you shall be satisfied . Blessed are you who weep now , for you shall laugh .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 6:1-21
Commentary on Luke 6:1-5
(Read Luke 6:1-5)
Christ justifies his disciples in a work of necessity for themselves on the sabbath day, and that was plucking the ears of corn when they were hungry. But we must take heed that we mistake not this liberty for leave to commit sin. Christ will have us to know and remember that it is his day, therefore to be spent in his service, and to his honour.
Commentary on Luke 6:6-11
(Read Luke 6:6-11)
Christ was neither ashamed nor afraid to own the purposes of his grace. He healed the poor man, though he knew that his enemies would take advantage against him for it. Let us not be drawn either from our duty or from our usefulness by any opposition. We may well be amazed, that the sons of men should be so wicked.
Commentary on Luke 6:12-19
(Read Luke 6:12-19)
We often think one half hour a great deal to spend in meditation and secret prayer, but Christ was whole nights engaged in these duties. In serving God, our great care should be not to lose time, but to make the end of one good duty the beginning of another. The twelve apostles are here named; never were men so privileged, yet one of them had a devil, and proved a traitor. Those who have not faithful preaching near them, had better travel far than be without it. It is indeed worth while to go a great way to hear the word of Christ, and to go out of the way of other business for it. They came to be cured by him, and he healed them. There is a fulness of grace in Christ, and healing virtue in him, ready to go out from him, that is enough for all, enough for each. Men regard the diseases of the body as greater evils than those of their souls; but the Scripture teaches us differently.
Commentary on Luke 6:20-26
(Read Luke 6:20-26)
Here begins a discourse of Christ, most of which is also found in Matthew 5. But some think that this was preached at another time and place. All believers that take the precepts of the gospel to themselves, and live by them, may take the promises of the gospel to themselves, and live upon them. Woes are denounced against prosperous sinners as miserable people, though the world envies them. Those are blessed indeed whom Christ blesses, but those must be dreadfully miserable who fall under his woe and curse! What a vast advantage will the saint have over the sinner in the other world! and what a wide difference will there be in their rewards, how much soever the sinner may prosper, and the saint be afflicted here!