Tyndale Open Study Notes

Verse 1

6:1-11 Jesus’ conflicts with the religious leaders continued with two controversies over the Sabbath. The law of Moses required Jews to rest on the Sabbath (Exod 20:8-11; Deut 5:13-14), but the Pharisees had forgotten that the real reason for the Sabbath was to benefit human beings.

6:1 his disciples broke off heads of grain: The law allowed this kind of grazing while walking through someone else’s field (Deut 23:24-25).

Verse 2

6:2 by harvesting grain: The disciples were not accused of stealing grain, but of working on the Sabbath. They were breaking rules established by oral tradition.

Verse 3

6:3 While fleeing from Saul (1 Sam 21), David . . . and his companions took refuge at the sanctuary of Nob. The priest Ahimelech gave them the consecrated Bread of the Presence that only priests were lawfully allowed to eat (Exod 25:30; Lev 24:9). Jesus’ point was that a technical violation of the law is superseded by the higher law of meeting human needs. There might also be a comparison between David and Jesus as God’s chosen and anointed kings of Israel.

Verse 5

6:5 Lord, even over the Sabbath: The saying is a play on words with a double meaning. First, son of man often means “human being,” so Jesus affirmed that the Sabbath was made to serve human beings. Son of Man was also a title for the Messiah (see Dan 7:13-14). Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath because he created it.

Verse 6

6:6-7 watched Jesus closely: Jesus now had a reputation for placing human needs above the Sabbath commands, so the religious leaders hoped to catch him working on the Sabbath. • If he healed the man’s hand: The rabbis of Jesus’ day debated whether offering medical help was justified on the Sabbath; it was generally allowed only in extreme emergencies. The deformed hand was clearly not an emergency.

Verse 8

6:8 Come and stand in front of everyone: Jesus did not shy away from controversy but was willing to confront the Pharisees’ hypocrisy head on.

Verse 9

6:9 Is this a day to save life or to destroy it? Jesus’ question penetrated the religious leaders’ motives. They were plotting against Jesus (an evil act) because he was going to heal someone (a good act).

Verse 12

6:12 he prayed to God all night: See study note on 3:21. Jesus prayed before important events and decisions such as choosing the Twelve, who would carry on his ministry after him.

Verse 13

6:13 Disciples were students and followers; apostles were specially commissioned representatives. • The number twelve symbolically represents the twelve tribes of Israel. The apostles represented the restored people of God.

Verse 14

6:14 Simon (whom he named Peter): Peter means “rock” or “stone” (see Matt 16:18).

Verse 15

6:15 The diversity of Jesus’ apostles is striking. • Matthew, also called Levi, was the tax collector for the Romans (see 5:27; Matt 9:9; 10:3). • Simon (who was called the zealot): Zealot probably meant that he had joined the Zealot movement, a group of Jews actively seeking to overthrow the Roman government.

Verse 16

6:16 Judas (son of James) was probably also called Thaddaeus (Matt 10:3; Mark 3:18). He was a different man than Judas Iscariot or Jude the half brother of Jesus (who wrote the New Testament book of Jude). • Judas Iscariot: Iscariot probably means “from Kerioth,” a village twelve miles south of Hebron.

Verse 17

6:17-49 The central theme of Jesus’ great sermon is that an authentic life of righteousness accompanies repentance and acceptance into God’s Kingdom.

6:17 all over Judea . . . Tyre and Sidon: Tyre and Sidon were coastal cities on the Mediterranean Sea northwest of Galilee. Jesus was gaining wide popularity.

Verse 20

6:20-23 God blesses those who acknowledge their inadequacy and weakness and turn to God for strength. The value system of God’s Kingdom is radically different from the world’s value system, in which power and strength represent success.

6:20-21 poor . . . hungry: Cp. Matt 5:3, 6. This statement likely included physical and spiritual poverty. Poverty and suffering tend to make us more dependent on God. The Old Testament includes many promises that God will feed and comfort his people (Pss 22:26; 107:36-41; 126:1-6; Isa 49:10-13; 51:3; 65:13).

Verse 23

6:23 treated the ancient prophets that same way: See “The Suffering Prophet” Theme Note.

Verse 24

6:24-26 Promises of blessing for the poor and oppressed are balanced in Luke with predictions of sorrow for the rich and powerful. Those who trust in themselves will be humbled, while those who depend on God will be blessed. The Old Testament prophets often pronounced woes against nations and rulers who oppressed God’s people and rejected his sovereignty (e.g., Isa 3:11; 5:8; Jer 50:27; Zech 11:17).

Verse 27

6:27 love your enemies! People were commonly taught in the ancient world to love their family and friends and hate their enemies. Jesus announced a radical new ethic of loving even one’s enemies and overcoming evil through self-sacrificial love for others, not through violence and hatred (cp. Rom 12:14-21).

Verse 30

6:30 when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back: Jesus’ point is that the cycle of hatred and violence that characterizes human nature can only be broken by responding with good, not evil (Rom 12:17). We win the world through self-sacrificial love. Jesus was not promoting injustice, as though believers should let criminals take advantage of the weak. God established governments to punish evildoers (Rom 13:1-5).

Verse 31

6:31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you: While the Golden Rule appears in some form in various religious and philosophical traditions, only in Jesus’ teaching is love for all people, including enemies, the fundamental ethic that governs all behavior.

Verse 34

6:34-36 The law of Moses prohibited charging interest on loans to other Israelites in order to prevent exploitation of the poor (Exod 22:25; Lev 25:35-37; Deut 23:20). Jesus further instructed his followers to lend . . . without expecting to be repaid. By doing good even to those who do evil, we act as children of the Most High and imitate our Father in heaven, who is kind to all people (cp. Rom 5:8).

Verse 37

6:37-42 Do not judge others: Jesus condemned hypocritical judgment that denigrated another person. Those who condemn others will be judged by that same standard. God requires his people to love others by warning them of the dangers of sin (Gal 6:1; Heb 3:13). Exhortation is an act of love; judgment is an act of pride.

Verse 38

6:38 pressed down, shaken together: A generous grain merchant would top off the buyer’s container, press it down, shake it to make more room, and then pour until the grain overflowed into the buyer’s lap.

Verse 41

6:41 a log in your own: Jesus did not say that the speck in our friend’s eye is not our business, but that we must first correct our own faults so that we can see clearly enough to remove the speck. Jesus condemned hypocritical judgment; lovingly holding one another accountable regarding sin is desirable.

Verse 45

6:45 What people take in and treasure determines what will emerge in their lives.

Verse 49

6:49 anyone who hears and doesn’t obey: See Ezek 33:31-33.