Luke 6:12-36 Lesson 116

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

Jesus heals the diseased, and the possessed.

The Sermon on the Plain (6:20).
Four Beatitudes.
Jesus on patience, kindness, mercy, and loving your enemies.

The apostle's Paul, Andrew, and John.

Study Tip:

Find the truth in each passage. Ponder how that truth is relevant to you. Decide how you can apply that truth into your life.

Who was -

Thomas -
One of the original twelve disciples (Matthew 10:2-3), also called Didymus (Greek for twin). Despite saying he was willing to die with Jesus (John 11:16), Thomas fled with everyone else when Christ was arrested (Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50). When the other disciples told Thomas that they had seen the resurrected Jesus, Thomas didn't believe them (John 20:24-25). This is where the term "Doubting Thomas" comes from.  Eight days later Thomas saw Jesus and was invited to place his finger inside His wounds (John 20:26-29). Thomas saw Jesus a second time on the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-2).  After that, he became a faithful servant helping to spread Christianity. Today, the Christians of Malabar,
India regard Thomas as the founder of their church and call themselves the "Thomas Christians."

Judas -
Also called Jude, Juda, or Judas Lebbaeus surnamed Thaddaeus (Matthew 10:3), he was one of the original twelve disciples.  He was the author of "The General Epistle of Jude" (Jude 1:1) and brother to James the less (Acts 1:13).  At first, Judas did not believe Jesus was the Messiah (Mark 6:3), but eventually, he became a follower. Some Bible scholars believe he founded the church in Edessa.  Jesus had two disciples named Judas, this one and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Him (Luke 6:16; John 14:22).

Judas Iscariot -
The son of Simon Iscariot (John 6:71; 12:4; 13:2; 13:26) and another of the original twelve disciples (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:19; Luke 6:16).  Iscariot is Hebrew for "man of Kerioth," a town in southern Judea. Judas is the only one of the twelve disciples who was not a Galilean.  Judas was a thief (John 12:6) who joined Jesus and was put in charge of the group's finances (John 13:29). Jesus predicted that he would be betrayed (Matthew 26:21-25; John 6:70-71; 13:21), and soon after
Judas sold out the Messiah (Mark 14:10; Luke 22:3-4; John 13:2) for "thirty pieces of silver" (Matthew 26:14-16) and then committed suicide (Matthew 27:5) out of remorse. Whenever the Bible names the twelve disciples/apostles, Judas is always listed last (Matthew 10:2-4).

The Gospel According to St. Luke

The King James Bible

Luke 6:12-36
The twelve disciples

12 And 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;

14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,

16 And 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 Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

18 And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.

19 And 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.

21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

22 Blessed 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.

23 Rejoice 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.

24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

26 Woe 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,

28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.

30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

34 And 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.

35 But 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.

36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Margin notes:

"Continued all night in prayer." (6:12) - Before every important day, Jesus took time to pray. After this prayer session, Jesus chose His disciples, the men who would interpret Him and spread Christianity.

"Disciples." (6:13) - Followers, students, devotees, supporters, or persons who believe in a cause or the teachings of a leader. The word disciple is translated from the Greek word mathetes, which means one that learns.  In the Bible, disciples refer to the followers of Jesus (Matthew 5:1; 8:21; 10:1; 11:1; 20:17), John the Baptist (Matthew 9:14) and of the Pharisees (Matthew 22:15-16). Jesus had many disciples, not just twelve (Luke 10:1).

"Apostles." (6:13) - This is the first time Jesus called His followers, apostles. It is from the Greek word "apostello," meaning "to send." An apostle is a person sent as an advocate, a proponent, believer, disciple, ambassador, messenger, devotee, or missionary. It is a person who believes in an idea or cause and persuades others to follow it.  Jesus was the first Christian Apostle (Hebrews 3:1) sent to petition God's cause with mankind. After the crucifixion, the word apostle came to mean any messenger/teacher sent by God to spread the good news of the Gospel.

"Zelotes." (6:15) - Means "Zealot." Judaism had four factions; Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and the Zealots. More than the other factions, the Zealots were strident defenders of the Mosaic Law and refused to yield to Gentile authority. They were opposed to paying Roman taxes (Luke 20:22) and periodically resorted to armed rebellion against Rome. They often conducted terrorist type attacks and assassinated Romans or Jewish leaders who cooperated with the Romans.  In part, it was one of their uprisings in 70 AD that lead to the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of General Titus and the Roman army.

"The company of his disciples." (6:17) - "Many of His followers."

"A great multitude of people." (6:17) - Large crowds of Jews (from Judea and Jerusalem) and Gentiles (from Tyre and Sidon) flocked to see Jesus.

"Sidon." (6:17) - Sometimes called Zidon. Sidon was a seaport city (Ezekiel 27:8) located on the Mediterranean Sea twenty-five miles north of Tyre (south of modern-day Beirut, Lebanon). It stood a one day sail from Caesarea. Mentioned in Joshua 11:8 and 19:28 as a great city, Sidon was inhabited by Gentiles who had a history of oppressing Jews (Judges 10:12). In the Old Testament, Sidon was destroyed because of its pagan worship, but by Jesus' day it was a thriving fishing town with prosperous glass and weaving shops and was famous for its art, commerce, and cedar trees (1 Kings 5:6 and 1 Chronicles 22:4). Today, Sidon is home to about 10,000 people and boasts many ancient ruins.

"Vexed with unclean spirits." (6:18) - "Tormented by demons."

"Virtue out of him." (6:19) - "Power went out of Him."  This was not the first time virtue left Jesus (Mark 5:30), or the last (Luke 8:46).

"Blessed are ye that hunger." (6:21) - This refers to spiritual hunger (Matthew 5:6). At a time when earthly riches were believed to be a heavenly reward and poverty a punishment from God, Jesus shocked everyone by announcing blessings on the poor and the persecuted (6:22). Those who seek fulfillment through fame or fortune will find it is the only prize they will ever receive (6:24), and it will do them little good after death. However, those who seek fulfillment in Christ will find eternal reward (Revelation 7:16-17).

"Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh." (6:21) - A good verse to memorize when bereaved.

"In the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets." (6:23) - "The same as their ancestors did to the prophets." See 2 Chronicles 36:16 and Acts 7:51.

"Consolation." (6:24) - Means "comfort."

"Woe unto you that are full!" (6:25) - Isaiah 65:13.

"Woe unto you that laugh now!" (6:25) - Proof that sinners will be punished after death?

"Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you." (6:27) - Jesus is reinforcing His teaching from Matthew 5:44. He will show us by example in 1 Peter 2:23. See also Proverbs 25:21.

"Give to every man that asketh of thee." (6:30) - See Deuteronomy 15:7-8. Jesus is repeating His message from Matthew 5:42.

"Of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again." (6:30) - "Don't ask him that took your property to return it again."

"As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." (6:31) - The Golden Rule. Jesus is re-emphasizing this teaching from Matthew 7:12. "To practice the Golden Rule, even in small measure, makes us happy, helps us in our business, and in every relation of life. It is the most practical thing in this world. In serving others we serve ourselves. People like to deal with those who believe in and practice the Golden Rule." (Halley's Bible Handbook by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; page 501)

"What thank have ye?" (6:32) - "What blessing have you?"

"Hoping for nothing again."
(6:35) - "Looking for no benefit."

"The children of the Highest." (6:35) - "The children of God."

"Tyre." (6:17) - A seaport city located on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea (thirty-five miles north-west of The Sea of Galilee, forty-seven miles north of Caesarea and twenty-five miles south of Sidon) populated mostly by Gentiles. Tyre dates back to the twenty-eighth century B.C. and was called Tyrus in the Old Testament (Ezekiel 26:2). Described as a beautiful city (Ezekiel 27:4), Tyre was well known for its cedar trees (1 Chronicles 22:4), dye works, glassware, weaving, and other manufactured goods.  Isaiah 23:8 tells us that Tyre was a "crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth." Tyre supplied cedar wood, carpenters, and masons to build the Temple in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:11; 1 Kings 5:2-10; 2 Chronicles 2:3), but the city also had a reputation for wickedness. Its people turned against Israel and sold Hebrews into slavery (Joel 3:6-8). Tyre was destroyed by God in the Old Testament (Isaiah 23:1; Amos 1:9-10; Zechariah 9:3-4). But by Jesus' time, the city had been rebuilt and boasted one of the busiest harbors in the eastern Mediterranean. Ezekiel 27:3 describes Tyre as being "situate at the entry of the sea, a merchant of the people for many isles." Tyre's merchant's shipped goods throughout the Roman empire and made the city wealthy. Today, Tyre is called Sur and inhabited by just a few thousand residents. Tyre is mentioned extensively in Isaiah 23 and Ezekiel 26-28.

"He is kind unto the unthankful." (6:35) - "He is kind to the ungrateful."

Note the similarities between the Sermon on the Plain (beginning with verse 6:20) and The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:29).

New Living Translation

Luke 6:12-36
Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles

12 One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.

13 At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names:

14 Simon (whom he named Peter),
   Andrew (Peter's brother),
   James,
   John,
   Philip,
   Bartholomew,

15 Matthew,
   Thomas,
   James (son of Alphaeus),
   Simon (who was called the zealot),

16 Judas (son of James),
   Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

Crowds Follow Jesus

17 When they came down from the mountain, the disciples stood with Jesus on a large, level area, surrounded by many of his followers and by the crowds. There were people from all over Judea and from Jerusalem and from as far north as the seacoasts of Tyre and Sidon.

18 They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those troubled by evil spirits were healed.

19 Everyone tried to touch him, because healing power went out from him, and he healed everyone.

The Beatitudes

20 Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said,
  "God blesses you who are poor,
      for the Kingdom of God is yours.

21 God blesses you who are hungry now,
      for you will be satisfied.
   God blesses you who weep now,
      for in due time you will laugh.

22 What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man.

23 When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way.

Sorrows Foretold

24 "What sorrow awaits you who are rich,
      for you have your only happiness now.

25 What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now,
      for a time of awful hunger awaits you.
   What sorrow awaits you who laugh now,
      for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow.

26 What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds,
      for their ancestors also praised false prophets.

Love for Enemies

27 "But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.

28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.

29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.

30 Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back.

31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

32 "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them!

33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much!

34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

35 "Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. What are beatitudes?

Putting verses into your own words helps you get more meaning out of them.

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. The word "beatitude" comes from the Latin word meaning "blessing" and distinguishes God's values from our own earthly values. The Beatitudes teach us the difference between false faith and genuine humility and are guidelines on how to conduct ourselves as Christians. Not an easy thing to do. There are four beatitudes listed here; Jesus gave four others in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-12).

Application thought for the day:

Make a mental list of the spiritual lessons taught in this passage and consider how you can apply them into your life.

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible". All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2020 evolke

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Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

The Gospel According to St. Luke

The King James Bible ​

The King James Bible