The Disciples Pluck Grain on the Sabbath

61 And it came to pass, on the second-first sabbath, as he is going through the corn fields, that his disciples were plucking the ears, and were eating, rubbing with the hands, 2 and certain of the Pharisees said to them, 'Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbaths?' 3 And Jesus answering said unto them, 'Did ye not read even this that David did, when he hungered, himself and those who are with him, 4 how he went into the house of God, and the loaves of the presentation did take, and did eat, and gave also to those with him, which it is not lawful to eat, except only to the priests?' 5 and he said to them,—'The Son of Man is lord also of the sabbath.'

The Man with a Withered Hand

6 And it came to pass also, on another sabbath, that he goeth into the synagogue, and teacheth, and there was there a man, and his right hand was withered, 7 and the scribes and the Pharisees were watching him, if on the sabbath he will heal, that they might find an accusation against him. 8 And he himself had known their reasonings, and said to the man having the withered hand, 'Rise, and stand in the midst;' and he having risen, stood. 9 Then said Jesus unto them, 'I will question you something: Is it lawful on the sabbaths to do good, or to do evil? life to save or to kill?' 10 And having looked round on them all, he said to the man, 'Stretch forth thy hand;' and he did so, and his hand was restored whole as the other; 11 and they were filled with madness, and were speaking with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Jesus Chooses the Twelve

12 And it came to pass in those days, he went forth to the mountain to pray, and was passing the night in the prayer of God, 13 and when it became day, he called near his disciples, and having chosen from them twelve, whom also he named apostles, 14 (Simon, whom also he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15 Matthew and Thomas, James of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, 16 Judas of James, and Judas Iscariot, who also became betrayer;)

Jesus Ministers to a Great Multitude

17 and having come down with them, he stood upon a level spot, and a crowd of his disciples, and a great multitude of the people from all Judea, and Jerusalem, and the maritime Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him, and to be healed of their sicknesses, 18 and those harassed by unclean spirits, and they were healed, 19 and all the multitude were seeking to touch him, because power from him was going forth, and he was healing all.

Blessings and Woes

20 And he, having lifted up his eyes to his disciples, said: 'Happy the poor—because yours is the reign of God. 21 'Happy those hungering now—because ye shall be filled. 'Happy those weeping now—because ye 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!