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Luke Chapter Six

 

I. Content of the Chapter

 

The Teachings of the Savior the Son of Man and He Chose and Established the Twelve Apostles

I. The conflict on keeping the Sabbath (v.1-11).

II. He chose and established the twelve apostles (v.12-16).

III. Teachings in the plain:

A. The place and situation of the teachings (v.17-19).

B. Concerning the four blessings and four woes (v.20-26).

C. Concerning the way to deal with men (v.27-42).                                    

D. Two kinds of trees and two kinds of foundations (v.43-49).

 

II. Verse by Verse commentary

 

Luke. 6:1 “Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first that He went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands.

   YLT: “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,”

   The Background: “Sabbath” is the seventh day of a week. It is the present Saturday. It is from the sunset on Friday to the sunset the next day. God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it (Gen. 2:3). The children of Israel were not allowed to do any work in order to remember that God had finished His work of creation (Exod. 20:8-11).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Men are not filled and therefore they do not have rest. If men want to have rest, they have to enjoy Christ as their bread of life (John. 6:35).

2) “Grain” is the type of Christ. Christ becomes our enjoyment after He had gone through tribulations and sufferings for us (“plucked”).

3) Only the hungry will be filled with the good things (See 1:53). Only when we have spiritual hunger can we be filled by the Lord.

4) Christ is the first grain of wheat and we who have received grace are the much fruit (John. 12:24), therefore the assembly is “the grainfields”. If the assembly only pays attention to regulations and ceremonies, probably everyone will suffer hunger. Christ is the most important one in the assembly. We should follow the Lord according to His guidance.  

 

Luke. 6:2 “And some of the Pharisees said to them, Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?’”

   YLT: “and certain of the Pharisees said to them, ‘Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbaths?’”

   The Background: The Pharisees stressed on keeping the Sabbath so strictly that they even found fault with others. They added many unnecessary and overelaborate formalities which were not written in the Law of Moses to the Sabbath and forced others to keep. According to the Law of Moses, they may plunk ears with their hands and eat (Deut. 23:25). However, it was not expressly stipulated in writing that whether it was permitted to do it on the Sabbath. It was stated that the Pharisees opposed that the disciples of the Lord should not rub the ears in their hands instead of plunking the ears because rubbing the ears was accounted as doing work and this profaned the regulations of the Sabbath.

   Spiritual Meaning: “the Pharisees” symbolizes the religious believers who kept the regulations of the Bible. They stressed on the regulations that do not handle, do not taste and do not touch (Col. 2:21) but neglected the real purpose that God gave them these regulations.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) To the hungry disciples, the regulation “don’t do any work on the Sabbath” was a burden. Even if they had kept the form of the Sabbath, the reality of the Sabbath was lost.

2) The Pharisees only emphasized on whether men kept the regulations of the Sabbath and neglected whether men had rest on the Sabbath. Today Christians who pay attention to the appearance are still more than those who stress on the inner reality.

3) The Pharisees queried the Lord Jesus for regulations------whenever men stress on the appearance, they have already stood in the position that is against the Lord.

 

Luke. 6:3 “But Jesus answering them said, Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:

   YLT: “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,”

   Spiritual Meaning: “David” is the type of Christ. “Those who were with him” are the type of the disciples.

  “David” was the key person from the age of priests to the age of kings in the history of the Old Testament. By this the Lord shows that He is the “true David”. He the true David has come and the age has been changed.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) When reading the Bible, we should pay attention to the epochal character of the things illustrated in the Bible. For example, believers in the New Testament do not need to keep the law of sacrifice and the costume of the priests (many ways in the Roman Catholic Church bring the Old Testament into the New Testament).

2) In the beginning of the New Testament, spiritual gifts such as “tongue-speaking” and “divine healing” were in vogue. However in the last phase of the age of the Apostles, these were rarely recorded. It shows that these spiritual gifts were for the dispensational need. If believers in last time return to seek these Charismatic gifts, we overlook the epochal character of spiritual things. (Editorial Note: this doesn’t mean that there are no spiritual gifts today. It means that we do not need to seek for Charismatic gifts urgently because spiritual gifts are divided to each in particular as the Holy Spirit will; See 1Cor. 12:11).

 

Luke. 6:4 “how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?’”

   YLT: “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?’”

The Background: according to the regulations of the Law of Moses, only the priests could eat “the showbread” in the temple of God (Exod. 29:32-33). When David fled from the smiting of Saul, he and his followers ate the showbread (1Sam. 21:1-6).

   Spiritual Meaning: David and his followers ate the showbread and they had not been condemned by God because David had changed the age from the age of priests to the age of kings.

  This verse shows that the Lord “the true David” had come and the age was changed from the age of the law of the Old Testament to the age of the grace of the New Testament. In the age of the New Testament men do not need to keep the Sabbath.

  “The showbread” typifies that Christ is our enjoyment of life.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The regulations and ceremonies in the Old Testament have the character of the transition of ages. They are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ (Col. 2:17). Believers in the New Testament do not need to obey the regulations and ceremonies since we have already obtained Christ.

2) On the premise that we do not commit sins or offend against morality, believers should have expedient measures if they are needed in following and serving the Lord.

3) What’s important in the conducts of believers is never leaving the Lord all the time (following the Lord). As long as we walk with the Lord in His presence, nothing could bind us.

4) The true Sabbath is not obeying the dead regulations but living under the full provision of Christ------if we are fully filled, we will naturally have rest.

 

Luke. 6:5 “And He said to them, The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.’”

   YLT: “and he said to them, `The Son of Man is lord also of the sabbath.’”

   Literal Meaning: the Lord Jesus is “Lord of the Sabbath”, indicating that He has the right to manage the Sabbath and He is the one who gives men rest. He loves to give men rest and He does not like men to be restrained by the regulations of the Sabbath.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The Sabbath is giving men rest instead of making them be restricted.

2) The ceremonies and regulations of the Old Testament is to bring us to know the coming Christ (See Col. 2:16-17; Gal. 3:23-24) rather than bring men restriction and burdens.

3) Since the Lord is “Lord of the Sabbath”, the standard is His words. Whether something is permitted to do or not on the Sabbath depends on Him.

4) Those that work for the lord of the Sabbath is not under the law of the Sabbath.

5) Christ is Lord of the Sabbath. When we have Him, we have the true rest. Everyday is the Sabbath, as it were. And therefore we do not need to keep the regulations of the Sabbath.

6) Today the problem is whether men receive the Lord instead of whether it is the Sabbath.

 

Luke. 6:6 “Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered.

   YLT: “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,”

   Meaning of Words: withered”: to desiccate, to shrivel, to dry up;

Literal Meaning: “a man was there whose right hand was withered.” the word “withered” was in the perfect tense, indicating that that hand was not born withered, but was caused by injury or illness later.

Spiritual Meaning: “synagogue” symbolizes all the religions represented by the Judaism.

“A man was there whose right hand was withered”, “hand” stands for service. “Withered” denotes the lack of the vigor of life. It is like a picture, showing that though men in religion want to do something for God, they can actually do nothing for God.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) If our service (hand) is done according to reasons and doctrines rather than the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it is the “withered” service.

2) If the assembly lacks the provision of life, there will be lack of the power of service. If the local assembly where you are lacks members of service (“whose hand was withered”), there must be something wrong in the provision of life. Therefore we should solve the problem from its root by------to supply more positive provisions.

3) Christians should often pray in every place, lifting up pious “hands” (1Tim. 2:8). However, if one is weak in spirit, he must lack prayers and he even cannot or is unwilling to pray.

 

Luke. 6:7 “So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him.

   YLT: “and the scribes and the Pharisees were watching him, if on the sabbath he will heal, that they might find an accusation against him.”

Meaning of Words: watched…closely”: inspect alongside, note scrupulously; “heal”: wait upon menially, relieve, cure; “find an accusation”: reprove, plain;

The Background: according to the teachings of the Jewish rabbis, unless one was nearly to die, “healing” was forbidden on the Sabbath. Because they believed that healing the sick person went against the regulation of “no working” on the Sabbath. In the eyes of the scribes and the Pharisees, the one whose hand was withered (See v.6) was not in danger and therefore men should not heal him on the Sabbath.

Literal Meaning: “whether He would heal on the Sabbath” it indicated that the Pharisees did not doubt that whether the Lord Jesus “could heal Him or not”, but that whether He “would do it on the Sabbath or not”.

Spiritual Meaning: “whether He would heal on the Sabbath” the Sabbath was established for men to have rest. However, here there was a man who was sick, but he was not allowed to be healed on the Sabbath, indicating that those who were in religion had the formality of the Sabbath only and lacked the reality of the Sabbath.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The biggest defect of the dogmatists is that they only have reasons and lacks sympathy in their hearts. Therefore they pay more attention to keeping the regulations than sympathizing with others.

2) Keeping the Sabbath is to maintain the traditional regulations and healing is to supply the practical need. When we encounter the actual needs in the assembly, shall we still stick to the traditional ways?

 

Luke. 6:8 “But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, Arise and stand here. And he arose and stood.

   YLT: “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.”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) If that man was not willing to do according to the Lord’s words (“arise and stand here”), he could not be healed by the Lord. The condition for us to receive grace is that we shall be willing to arise and receive the Lord’s words.

2) The obedience to the Lord’s first-step words will lead us into the second-step greater words.

 

Luke. 6:9 “Then Jesus said to them, I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?’”

   YLT: “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?’”

   Meaning of Words: “life”: soul.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The Sabbath was made on account of man, not man on account of the Sabbath. The Lord values men above all.

2) The real servant of the Lord works without being restricted by regulations. If we really work for Christ, we “do good”. Though sometimes it seems to “violate the regulations” apparently, it brings real provision to those who have been served actually.

3) The Lord went against the laws of the Sabbaths in order to save life, showing that He came to deliver men from the restriction of the religious customs.

4) He who wants to do good and save life has to catch the opportunity. If one misses the opportunity to do good, he does evil equally. If one misses the chance to save life, he kills others equally.

5) If we look on indifferently when others need our help, we just have hurt them. If we stretch our hands to help them, we just save them.

6) The principle of catching the opportunity could also be applied to words. Men’s difficulty in words is that------men like to say what they should not say, but dare not to say what they should say. The faithful workers of the Lord should not shrink from announcing all what they should announce (See Acts20:27).

 

Luke. 6:10 “And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, Stretch out your hand. And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.

   YLT: “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;”

   Meaning of Words: “looked around”: look all round; “was restored”: reconstitute.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The man whose hand was withered listened to the Lord’s word first------“he stretched it out”------and then his hand “was restored”. This is the principle of faith. If we follow the Lord through faith, we should also act according to the commandments of the Lord first and then see the gracious provision of the Lord.

2) The words which the Lord has spoken unto us are spirit and are life (John. 6:63). If we receive, trust and obey the Lord’s words, we will obtain the healing of life.

3) Nothing shall be impossible with God (See 1:37). When the Lord gives men the word of commandment, He will assuredly give men the power to obey His words.

4) The man with a withered hand was unwilling to stretch his hand out before men------men did not like to show their shortcomings to others------however the moment the Lord’s words was manifested (“stretch out your hand”), his hand was restored.

5) “His hand was restored as whole as the other”, showing that the healing of the Lord was perfect. The Lord’s work in us will enable us to be restored to be in line with the will of God.

 

Luke. 6:11 “But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

   YLT: “and they were filled with madness, and were speaking with one another what they might do to Jesus.”

   Meaning of Words: “discussed”: advise, commune, counsel.

   Literal Meaning: it shows that they had put the incidental before the fundamental and emphasized the “customs” more than “men”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Unexpectedly, the Pharisees wanted to kill the holy one of God indeed in order to maintain the regulations of the law. Many Christians who are fervent in doctrines often get into a fight in order to maintain the doctrines.

2) Religious believers are only fervent in the words and letters of the law and neglect the truth and reality of the law, so that they even regard killing as serving God (John. 16:2).

3) In the history of the Christianity, there were also many believers who struggled for reasons or letters and even killed those who were different from them by the political power.

 

Luke. 6:12 “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

   YLT: “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,”

   Literal Meaning: “continued all night in prayer to God.” “in prayer to God” is “in the prayer of God” in the original.

  Every time before the Lord Jesus decided on the important things, He must spend much time before God in seeking His will. This time He “continued all night in prayer to God” so as to choose the twelve apostles (See v.13).

   Spiritual Meaning: “He went out to the mountain to pray” “to the mountain” symbolizes to enter the heavenly condition; “to pray” indicates to have communion with God.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) We have to pray well before we do any work. No matter how great and urgent the things are, we have to pray enough and then make the arrangements and actions of service.

2) It is the most dangerous in working for the Lord to make decisions presumptuously, act recklessly, impetuously and arbitrarily instead of inquiring the Lord.

3) The Lord departed from the multitudes and prayed to God and He prayed all night. We should also find a quiet place to pray frequently for long time.

 

Luke. 6:13 “And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:

   YLT: “and when it became day, he called near his disciples, and having chosen from them twelve, whom also he named apostles,”

   Meaning of Words: “disciples”: student, pupil; “apostles”: messenger, poster, he that is sent.

   Literal Meaning: “He called His disciples to Himself” “disciples” indicate those who set their mind on following the Lord were willing to be strictly trained and chastened by the Lord.

  “He also named apostles.” “Apostles” are those who have been sent to execute the special missions.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) That we have become the Lord’s believers is totally lies in the Lord’s selection and calling-----it is the Lord that has chosen us according to His will, not that we choose the Lord.

2) Since the Lord’s calling is out of his own active intention, He will certainly take the full responsibility for His own selection. Since He has already chosen us, he will surely assume the responsibility to perfect us till the end.

3) All those who had been selected and called by the Lord will be willing to answer the Lord’s calling voluntarily and come to the Lord.

4) The Lord’s disciples should not hope to live a life of ease. Only those who are willing to be regulated strictly by the Lord will become useful vessels in the hand of the Lord.

5) “Twelve” is a number of forever and perfectness. The Lord Jesus will make the twelve disciples into a full testimony and example and treat them as the fountains of God’s building in the eternal age (See Rev. 21:14).

 

Luke. 6:14 “Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;

   YLT: “(Simon, whom also he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,”

   Meaning of Words: “Simon”: listen to; “Peter”: stone; “Andrew”: man, mighty one, overcomer, strong, masculine; “Zebedee”: God’s portion; “James”: usurper, to seize; “John”: God’s gift; “Philip”: affectionate, fond of horses; “Bartholomew”: son of Tholomew, son of wars.

   Literal Meaning: “Bartholomew” It is generally acknowledged that Bartholomew was another name of “Nathanael” (John. 1:45).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Workers of the Lord have to “listen to” (the meaning of “Simon”) the Lord’s words, surrender themselves as the making of the Lord’s building------stone (the meaning of “Peter”, See 1Pet. 2:5).

2) Among the twelve apostles, there are few records about their history in the Bible except Peter’s history in Acts. This shows that the Lord values how the Holy Spirit works through them instead of their works.

3) We have to be “strong” (the meaning of “Andrew”) to work for the Lord.

4) The Lord’s worker is the one who is able to seize (the meaning of “James”) God’s gifts (the meaning of “John”).

5) Bartholomew was known as Nathanael. The Lord’s workers should deeply love (the meaning of “Philip”) God’s gifts (the meaning of “Nathanael”).

 

Luke. 6:15 “Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot;

   YLT: “Matthew and Thomas, James of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,”

   Meaning of Words: “Matthew”: God’s gifts; “Thomas”: the twin; “Alphaeus”: interchange; “James”: usurper; “Simon the Canaite”: listen to earnestly.

   Literal Meaning: “Matthew” was the tax collector named Levi that was mentioned in this book (See 5:27; Matt. 9:9).

  “The Canaite” was a Jewish revolutionary organization which resisted the rule of the Roman Government over Palestine by force.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Since the workers of the Lord have received “God’s gifts” (the meaning of “Matthew”) from the Lord, they have to “seize” (the meaning of “James”) and use the gifts (See Matt. 25:14-21) and then the gifts of God will change (the meaning of “Alphaeus”) into the “doubling” (the meaning of “Thomas”) grace.

2) The most important thing is to “earnestly listen to” (the meaning of “Simon the Canaite”) the Lord from one’s heart.

 

Luke. 6:16 “Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

   YLT: “Judas of James, and Judas Iscariot, who also became betrayer;)”

   Meaning of Words: “James”: usurper, to seize; “Judas”: worship; “a traitor”: bring out; “Iscariot”: the one who is with purse, the one who is good at trading (in Aramaic).

   Literal Meaning: “Judas the son of James” He was also named Thaddaeus (See Matt. 10:3; Mark. 3:18).

  “Canaite” was a city of the tribe of Ephraim, near to Samaria.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The behavior of “worship” (the meaning of “Judas”) was superficial. Those who pretended to be the Lord’s workers in appearance may betray the Lord.

2) Judas who betrayed the Lord was unexpectedly listed in the twelve apostles. It indicates that the Lord cope with someone concerning the will of God regardless of His own advantages and disadvantages.

3) The Lord Jesus chose Judas who betrayed the Lord as one of the twelve apostles after the prayer all night (See v.12). He fully understood the will of God the Father and disregarded His own gain or loss. This shows that:

   a) The arrangements and actions to serve God should be decided according to the guidance that is given through prayers instead of things or conventions.

   b) In the spiritual way and service, if we have fully understood the will of God through prayers, we should go ahead bravely and recklessly. 

 

Luke. 6:17 “And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,

   YLT: “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,”

   Literal Meaning: “He came down with them and stood on a level place”. The Lord’s teachings recorded from v.20 to v.49 were spoken on the plain and therefore they were called “the sermon on the plain” as a differentiation to “the sermon on the mount” from the fifth to seventh chapter in the book of Matthew. The contents of these were quiet similar and therefore some Bible exegetes explained that “a level place” as “a piece of highland” and the so-called “sermon on the plain” was the abstract of “the sermon on the mount”. However, others believed that the teachings of the Lord Jesus may not be different totally in different times and when the contents of the teachings were the similar, it cannot be proved that the teachings were spoken in the same occasion.

 

Luke. 6:18 “as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed.

   YLT: “and those harassed by unclean spirits, and they were healed,”

   Meaning of Words: “torment”: torture, harass.

 

Luke. 6:19 “And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

   YLT: “and all the multitude were seeking to touch him, because power from him was going forth, and he was healing all.”

   Literal Meaning: “power went out from Him and healed them all” In the original, the word “power” occurred fifteen times in this book (1:17, 35; 4:14, 36; 5:17; 6:19; 8:46; 9:1; 10:13, 19; 19:37; 21:26, 27; 22:69; 24:49).

   Enlightenment in the Word: Power is the expression of being filled with the Holy Spirit and prayer is the way to be filled by the Holy Spirit.

 

Luke. 6:20 “Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.

   YLT: “And he, having lifted up his eyes to his disciples, said: ‘Happy the poor because yours is the reign of God.”

   Meaning of Words: “blessed”: happy, exultant, praise.

   Literal Meaning: “He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples” It shows that the following teachings were said toward the disciples.

  “You poor” “Poor” does not indicate the material poverty but the spiritual poverty. Anyone who feels poor in the spirit (Matt. 5:3) and cannot be satisfied with anything of this life and therefore turns to seek God and things of God is “the poor”.

  “Blessed”: the joy welling from inner heart. One feels greatly happy and fortunate.

  “Yours is the kingdom of God.” The present tense of the verb “is” shows that they who abandon the vanity of the earthliness and turn to seek for heavenly things could live in the region of the kingdom of God and experience the reality of the kingdom of God now.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) It is not those who “repute themselves to be something” but those who “repute themselves to be nothing” that enter into the kingdom of God. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (1Pet. 5:5).

2) In the kingdom of God, the lord is God instead of us. Therefore, what we should do is only to receive from God rather than give to Him.

3) A man of natural talent may be the worst Christian. A man of talent may consider what he can do for the Lord rather than let the Lord do.

4) God selects the one that considers himself as poor and talentless. God would not use one who considers that he is useful to God.

5) The center of those who serve God should be God instead of “themselves”. We should stand on the side of God and should not ask God to stand on our side.

6) The blessed ones whose is the kingdom of God have abandoned worldly possessions and completely dealt with the desire of possession in their hearts. They are “the poor in spirit”.

7) Those who are truly “poor in spirit” are not under the power of possessions. They have broken off the yokes which are put upon them by the tyrant------the possessions. 

8) The poor in spirit know that they are in need. Therefore, they are not proud or righteous in their own eyes. At the same time, for they are in need they will seek for God and draw near to God.

9) Those who gain the kingdom of God gain everything and so that they have no desire to gain anything else.

10) No matter how great we achieve in spiritual things, we should, like Paul, not count ourselves to have apprehended and should stretch out to the things which are ahead (Pill. 3:12-13).

11) Only those who are willing to empty themselves constantly will feel poor in spirit. We should empty our past ideas, knowledge and opinions and seek to be filled by the Lord Himself.

12) Believers should cooperate with the Holy Spirit every day: letting the Holy Spirit dig out stones in our hearts (sin) and make our hearts humble and contrite (Luke. 13:8). In this way, after the seed of God is sown into our heart, it will grow up freely and fully.

 

Luke. 6:21 “Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh.

   YLT: “`Happy those hungering now because ye shall be filled. ‘Happy those weeping now because ye shall laugh.”

   Meaning of Words: “weep”: cry grievously.

   Literal Meaning: “you who hunger” The “hunger” does not indicate the physical hunger but the spiritual hunger. Anyone who is eager in spirit and seeks God and the things of God as his satisfaction is “the one who hungers”.

  “You shall be filled” It indicates that one is filled in his spirit and he does not feel regretful.

  “You who hunger now” One does not “weep” for his own poor state. He weeps because he touches the feelings of God, including the failure of himself, the coldness and falling of the saints, the desolation of the assembly, the evilness and corruption of the world, the hardening and unbelief of men. This kind of men are those “who weep now”.

  “You shall laugh” It indicates that one rejoices because of God’s encouragement. 

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) All the spiritual improvement depends on our “hunger”. Those who do not feel hungry won’t be filled by God (See 1:53).

2) “Those who hunger” must have good spiritual appetite. If men have such kind of spiritual appetite, they will be filled again and again because of God’s reward (Ruth. 2:12).

3) Those who have not mourned will not know what the joy in the Holy Spirit is (Rom. 14:17). Only those who have experienced the joy in the Holy Spirit can appreciate it. 

4) Today though we are mournful, we are still able to rejoice in the Lord (Pill. 3:1). Moreover, in future God will wipe away all tears from our eyes and grief shall not exist any more, nor cry shall exist (Rev. 21:4).

5) When the Holy Spirit works in men’s hearts, He shines, judges and demonstrates. When believers mourn for sins, the Holy Spirit gets a chance to work deeply in them and deliver them out of things that are condemned by God.

 

Luke. 6:22 “Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake.

   YLT: “`Happy are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you, and shall reproach, and shall cast forth your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake”

   Literal Meaning: “when men hate you… for the Son of Man’s sake” They are hated by men not for the sake of their own failings or the other reasons but for the sake of the Son of Man (i.e. the Lord Jesus).

  “They exclude you” It indicates that men mark them out of their circle (boundary), that is to reject them out of their circle and do not contact with them.

  “And revile you” this is greater then “excluding you”. They do not acknowledge them and even slander their fame in order to make the people also despise them.

  “And cast out your name as evil” They reject both them and their name.

  “As evil” indicates “to treat as evil ones”. This “evil” in the original indicates “those who are not only evil and but also able to make others evil”. In other words, they are treaded as pestilent men.

  “Blessed are you.” It is the present tense. The one is blessed just at the time he is reviled and humiliated instead of the future.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) If it is not for the sake of “the Son of Man”, all the sacrifices and sufferings are of no value.

2) The world hates us because it has hated the Lord before us; If they have persecuted the Lord, they will also persecute us (John. 15:18-20).

3) If we indeed believe in the Lord, we will be persecuted. Being persecuted for the Lord is essential for citizens of the kingdom of God. If one has never been persecuted, probably he does not truly believe in the Lord.

4) Lies and slanders are common ways used to persecute Christians. The world is unable to find any fault of the true believers so that they make fabrications. From the other point of view, if we lie, actually we are persecuting others in disguised form.

5) In the assembly, many believers who truly love the Lord are always hated, excluded, slandered and excommunicated by the leaders of the assembly and they are treated as pestilent ones and leaven.

6) Many people are weak when they are not faced with persecutions. However, they are very strong contrarily when persecutions come to them. Because the life in them manifests its feature that is to willingly stand for the Lord.

 

Luke. 6:23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.

   YLT: “rejoice in that day, and leap, for lo, your reward [is] great in the heaven, for according to these things were their fathers doing to the prophets.”

Literal Meaning: “your reward is great in heaven” “great” shows that the reward is great and numerous so that it cannot be described by words.

  “In like manner their fathers did to the prophets.” It indicates the elders dealt with the prophets in the same manner that is recorded in v.22. This shows that we are exalted highly that we are even numbered with the prophets and we are counted worthy to be dishonored for the name of the Lord (See Acts. 5:41).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) We should rejoice and leap for joy just at the time we are reviled and slandered by others for the Lord’s sake instead of the future.

2) The Lord meant that we should turn our eyes to “behold” (this word exists in the original) from the earth to the heaven, from the difficulties to the reward, from the present loss to the gain in future when we are hated by men.

3) Concerning the way of a Christian, if there are persecutions, they are blessings because there are heavenly rewards. It is abnormal if everything goes smoothly and prosperously.

4) When Christians are persecuted or slandered by others, we should not sigh or remain silent, we should “rejoice and leap for joy”.

5) The sufferings of this present time are not worthy with the coming glory to be revealed to us (Rom. 8:18).

6) If we are willing to receive the reward that the prophets had received, we have to pay what the prophets had paid and suffer what the prophets had suffered (Matt. 23:34, 37).

7) If there is little persecution, there will be little joy. If there is great persecution, there will be great joy. Those who do not have this experience will never comprehend this kind of joy.

8) “The prophets” are those who understand and spread the truth. The one who is willing to pay price for the truth will surely have the great reward in heaven. 

 

Luke. 6:24But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation.

   YLT: “`But wo to you the rich, because ye have got your comfort.”

   Literal Meaning: the four “woe”s from v.24 to v.26 are the reverse side of the four “blessings” from v. 20 to v.23.

  “But woe to you who are rich” “who are rich” are those who are satisfied with the earthly wealth and have no desire to seek for the spiritual wealth.

  “You have received your consolation” “having received” is the commercial term in the original and it is used to confess that the funds have been received completely and therefore it means that “you have fully received”.

 

Luke. 6:25 “Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep.

   YLT: “`Wo to you who have been filled because ye shall hunger. ‘Wo to you who are laughing now because ye shall mourn and weep.”

   Literal Meaning: “Woe to you who are full” “who are full” are those who are filled with the things of this life and have no desire to seek the enjoyment of the coming.

  “Woe to you who laugh now” “who laugh” are those who only care about the enjoyment in the soul and do not seek the joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17).

 

Luke. 6:26 “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets.

   YLT: “`Wo to you when all men shall speak well of you for according to these things were their fathers doing to false prophets.”

   Literal Meaning: “when all men speak well of you” They walk in order to please men rather than please God (Gal. 1:10). Though they are praised by all because of this, they lose the praise of God.

  “For so did their fathers to the false prophets” It is the actual condition of the circle of the religion that they treat the true prophets evilly and deal with the false prophets well (See v.23).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Undoubtedly, the one who speaks for God should not displease others without reason. However, he should not shun to speak because of the fear of men’s displeasure (See Acts. 20:27).

2) The feature of the false prophets is that they cover themselves up with peace in order to please the multitudes (Ezek. 13:8-16). The ministers who please men with fine-sounding words and make the will of God blurry will certainly be punished by God.

 

Luke. 6:27But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

   YLT: “`But I say to you who are hearing, Love your enemies, do good to those hating you,”

   Literal Meaning: “love your enemies” “enemies” are those who are hostile to us and against us. “Love” in the original is the divine love (agapao), showing that this love is of the life of God instead of men’s natural life.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) It is very rare that one does not hate his enemies, however, he still has not reached the demand of the Lord. The Lord not only asks us not to hate enemies but also asks us to “love” our enemies.

2) There is a secret weapon in the spiritual arsenal------the weapon of love; love is all-conquering and love overruns all fortifications. However, it is not our natural love but the love given by God.

3) Love is able to convert enemies into friends and hatred is able to convert friends into enemies.

4) The enemies are not strangers but those of our own in the house of God. If we love our enemies, there won’t be enemies.

 

Luke. 6:28 “bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.

   YLT: “bless those cursing you, and pray for those accusing you falsely;”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The common reaction of the world is that they curse those who curse them and they spitefully use those who accuse them falsely. The reaction of the noble ones is that they bear patiently and keep silent. The reaction of Christians is that they bless those who curse them (Rom. 12:14) and pray for those who spitefully use them.

2) When Christians are persecuted, the most effective countermeasure is to pray. Through prayer we could ask God to work to change the conditions so that we could lead a quiet and peaceful life (1Tim. 2:1-2).

 

Luke. 6:29 “To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.

   YLT: “and to him smiting thee upon the cheek, give also the other, and from him taking away from thee the mantle, also the coat thou mayest not keep back.”

   Literal Meaning: “who strikes you on the one cheek” It indicates others’ wrongfully evil treatment.

  “Offer the other also” Only when the one who is struck does not hate the other at all can he offer the other cheek also. It is impossible for our endurance or self-cultivation to do it. It must be the life of God that could do it.

  “Who takes away your cloak” It indicates others’ wrongfully evil exploitation.

  “Do not withhold your tunic either.” “Tunic” is the belonging next to the skin of a man and it is the most reasonable enjoyment to a man (even the poor have the tunic). When we are dispossessed of our wealth by others unfairly, we do not repossess the wealth and even are willing to sacrifice ourselves in order to benefit others.

   Spiritual Meaning: “striking on one cheek” symbolizes humiliation. We should be unconventional so that glory, dishonor, evil report and good report (2Cor. 6:8) would never affect us.

  “Taking away the cloak” symbolizes losing one’s privacy. We have become a spectacle to the world, both too angels and men for the sake of the Lord (1Cor. 4:9). We are willing to lose the right of privacy about our life.

  Controversial Clarification: note that in this verse the Lord did not teach us the nonresistance. Neither did He teach us that there’s no need to guard against evil works of the evil. The Lord taught us to know God’s life in us. He also taught us that when something crops up, we should react by God’s life instead of our natural life. At the same time, the words in this verse were said to Christians, therefore we should never tell these to unbelievers, lest we may receive unnecessary humiliation. It is unprofitable both to us and others (See Matt. 7:6).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The world argues that which one fought earlier. The behavior of the other who fought later is the justice self-defense. However, Christians do not fight at first and are even unwilling to hit back.

2) When one strikes us “on the one cheek”, it is the Lord that uses men’s hands to increase our tolerance and make us grow up. Therefore, our best reaction is to “offer the other also” in order to fulfill what the Lord does by men’s hands.

3) “The one cheek”: the Lord deals with us. “The other”: we, standing on the side of the Lord, deal with us. The spiritual increase lies in agreeing to be dealt with gladly through the cross of the Lord.

4) If we know that the “hand” of man is the “tool” used by the Lord, we won’t fell angry or uncomfortable when being “struck” and we will be glad contrarily. 

5) It is absolutely wrongful for others to take away our tunic. It is absolutely wrongful to give others our cloak. Christians do not walk according to the reasons.

6) Christians do not reason according to correctness or wrongness. The Christian who reasons lives in his brain (soul) instead of life (spirit).

 

Luke. 6:30 “Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.

   YLT: “`And to every one who is asking of thee, be giving; and from him who is taking away thy goods, be not asking again;”

   Literal Meaning: “give to everyone who asks of you” Here it did not mean the benefaction without discernment. It meant that we should stand aloof so that our hearts won’t be occupied by treasure because treasure will most probably occupy men’s hearts (Matt. 6:21).

  “And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.” “Take away” is to rob with violence. The Lord did not mean to let us encourage the actions of violence and allow others to commit a crime. He meant that we should not act with violence to those who treat us with violence or take away the things of those who rob us.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Your treasure is not of you. God has entrusted you to manage your treasure.

         2) When someone comes to ask you for help, you should regard him as a messenger from God to test your intention.

 

Luke. 6:31 “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

   YLT: “and as ye wish that men may do to you, do ye also to them in like manner;”

Literal Meaning: if we consider others in their positions, it is the principle of citizens of the kingdom of God to deal with others. You should deal with others according to the way how you want them to do to you instead of the way how they do to you.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Confucius said that “do not do to others what you would not have them do to you” And in other religions, there were similar teachings. “Do not do…” is the negative philosophic word. However what the Lord taught is positive. He asked us to “do this” positively. It is the difference of Christianity compared with all the other religions and philosophy.

2) How Christians treat others is according to supreme principle instead of the fact.

3) It is not to control oneself so that he won’t harm others but to benefit others. It is not merely that you do not seize from others. You should give. It is not merely that you should not murder. You should also love others.

4) If you want to be dealt with kindly and be concerned about, you have to deal with others with the same attitude. It is the golden rule of love.

 

Luke. 6:32But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

   YLT: “and if ye love those loving you, what grace have ye? for also the sinful love those loving them;”

   Literal Meaning: “what credit is that to you?” “Credit” means “grace” in the original and it indicates God’s graciousness and reward.

  “For even sinners love those who love them” It shows that the love of the world is “reciprocal” and men love those who love them.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The love of Christians should be different from the love of the world. If we only love those who love us, we are thoroughly the same with the world and therefore we could not gain the reward of God.

2) We could love those who love us by the natural life. We have to rely on the life of God to love those who hate us (See v.27).

 

Luke. 6:33 “And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

   YLT: “and if ye do good to those doing good to you, what grace have ye? for also the sinful do the same;”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The deeds of Christians should differ from that of sinners. If we do what sinners do, how should God reward us instead of sinners?

2) The best way for Christians to deal with the evil of others is to do good to those who do evil to us, i.e. to overcome evil with good (See Rom. 12:20-21).

 

Luke. 6:34And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.”

   YLT: “and if ye lend [to those] of whom ye hope to receive back, what grace have ye? for also the sinful lend to sinners that they may receive again as much.”

 

Luke. 6:35 “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

   YLT: “`But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again, and your reward will be great, and ye shall be sons of the Highest, because He is kind unto the ungracious and evil;”

   Meaning of Words: “love” the divine love (agapao in the original).

   Literal Meaning: “love your enemies” The feelings of believers should exceed the natural love and hatred. On one hand, we should abhor evil and cleave to good (Rom. 12:9) and not be fellow-partakers with the evil (Eph. 5:7). However, on the other, we should love the souls of sinners with mercy.

  “Hoping for nothing in return” it means “do not treat it as a loss at all”.

  “And you will be sons of the Most High” “The Most High” is God. This shows that it is the corresponding expression of the life and disposition of the Son of God to love enemies and lend, hoping nothing in return.

  “For He is kind to the unthankful and evil” God makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust (Matt. 5:45). He deals with the world with justice and He does not discriminate men because of their unthankfulness and evil.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Men’s love (phileo in the original) is conditional and dominated by circumstances. Men only love the lovable. God’s love (agapao in original) is unconditional and therefore God loves the unlovable.

2) Since God grants us whatever is requested and we are dealt kindly with by God, we should do good to others like this and be the channels of God’s grace towards each other to spread God’s grace.

3) We could not love enemies or lend to others, hoping for noting in return, by us. However, we are the sons of God and God’s life is in us and therefore we could do what everyman cannot do.

4) God gives men what they do not deserve and He gives them more than what they expect. As long as we let God live out of us, we will give men what they do not deserve.

 

Luke. 6:36 “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

   YLT: “be ye therefore merciful, as also your Father is merciful.”

   Literal Meaning: “just as your Father also is merciful.” “Merciful” means to show sympathy and kindness towards men; “your Father” indicates the Father in heaven. God does not punish us according to what we deserve and this is His mercy. In like manner, when others do evil to us, we could revenge originally, however, we choose to forgive others and do good to men.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “Just as your Father also is merciful.” This sentence implies us that as long as we rely on the heavenly life of God, we could be merciful just as the Father is merciful.

2) Since God deals with us with his merciful bowel as a father, we should also deal with others with God’s bowel.

 

Luke. 6:37Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

  YLT: “`And judge not, and ye may not be judged; condemn not, and ye may not be condemned; release, and ye shall be released.”

   Meaning of Words: “judge”: condemn, distinguish and decide; “condemn”: to adjust against, pronounce guilty; “forgive”: loose, let go.

  Literal Meaning: “judge not” “judge” means to pick on others’ disadvantages and condemn others’ sins. The Lord here did not mean that we should not discern cautiously according to facts or judge of and approve the things that are more excellent (Pill. 1:9-10). The Lord meant that we should not put our subjective feelings, bias and etc into objective facts and judge others with malice.

  “And you shall not be judged.” “Be judged” is the obverse of “judge”. Here, the one is judged “by God” more than “by men” (See 1Cor. 4:3-4).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “Love” never does two things------“love” neither “judges” nor “condemns” others.

2) “Judge” means that I, standing on the side of my words, speak with my subjective opinions instead of the objective opinions. Those who judge others certainly have not been divorced from selves.

3) The principle of God’s instruction to His sons and daughters is: others will treat you by the way that you treat others.

4) The principle for believers’ walking is to be strict with themselves and lenient towards others. The more progress a believer makes in spirit, the more will he judge himself and the less will he judge others.

5) In the age of grace, what we need is not judicial judgment but provision of life. We testify Christ not by the correction of outward behaviors but by the inner manifestation of life.

6) If believers, concentrating on details and forgetting the main purpose, only seek for the increase of spiritual knowledge instead of the growth of spiritual life, the spiritual intelligence will make them become judgers who use spiritual knowledge to condemn others.   

7) Those who love to judge others live on the principle of the law instead of the reality of life. The more deeply we live in the reality of life, the more easily we are divorced from the spirit of judgment.

8) We have to live in the light of the Lord if we do not want to judge others. Only those who are full of the light of the Lord are able to not judge others.

9) The reason why one judges others is that he does not know his own corruption. The more one knows himself, the less he dares to criticize others and the more lenient he is towards others.

10) Judgment without mercy to him that has shown no mercy (James. 2:13).

11) Believers should not criticize or condemn others randomly. Your attitude towards others affect God’s attitude towards you. 

12) Even though our intention is for God, our behavior may be unworthy of God. Therefore we should ask God to forgive us and then we could approach with boldness to Him and pray to God (Heb. 4:16).

13) If we want God to forgive us our trespasses, we have to forgive men their trespasses at first. Only those who are able to forgive others could be worthy to pray for God.

 

Luke. 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.’”

   YLT: “`Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed, and shaken, and running over, they shall give into your bosom; for with that measure with which ye measure, it shall be measured to you again.’”

   The Background: “be put into your bosom” the cloaks that the Jews wore in the ancient times were very large. There was a fold above the waist and it could be used as a big pocket (bag) to hold the barley of large quantity (See Ruth. 3:15).

   Literal Meaning: “good measure” it shows that what God gives to us must not be less than what we give to others. God never treats men unfairly.

  “Pressed down, shaken together.” It shows that it is solid without any vacant space. What God gives to us is very.

  “Running over” shows that it exceeds abundantly above all that we ask or think (See Eph. 3:20).

  “For with the same measure that you use” “measure” originally indicates the utensil (such as the Chinese peck) that is used to measure food. Here it is used to describe their attitude towards each other.

  “It will be measured back to you.” It indicates God’s reward is determined by how we treat others.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “Give, and it will be given to you.” It is the principle how we receive God’s grace: we have to deal with others kindly first and then we could hope for God’s grace.

2) If God’s children are poor in material or spirit, they certainly have not obeyed the law that is established by God------they have not given first.

3) The secret for believers to be abundant is to “give”. If one wants to be abundant, he should give and he should keep if he wants to be poor.

4) The principle of the world’s financial operation is to keep expenditures within the limits of income and the principle of Christians’ financial operation is to “gain as you give”. If something is wrong with the income of believers, something must be wrong with their expenditure.

5) Our God is the God of generosity and He is never stingy. His reward towards us always exceeds what we have given to others.

6) “For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” The more one gives, the more he will receive. The less one gives, the less he will receive. This is an unchangeable principle. With a great measure with which you mete, it shall be measured to you greatly.

 

Luke. 6:39 “And He spoke a parable to them: Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?

   YLT: “And he spake a simile to them, `Is blind able to lead blind? shall they not both fall into a pit?”

Literal Meaning: Can the blind lead the blind?” The former blind indicates the scribes and Pharisees and the latter blind is the ignorant people (See Rom. 2:19). Their thoughts all have been blinded by the god of this world, so that they cannot see the light of the glad tidings of the glory of Christ (See 2Cor. 4:3-4).

  Will they not both fall into the ditch?” Good teachers will bring up good students and vise verse. If one follows the wrong teacher, he has no prospects in the spiritual way.

     Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Anyone who is unable to discern what is of men or of God is spiritually blind.

2) “The blind lead the blind”. Ignorant ones like to be teachers of others. Those who do not understand the will of God like to spread God’s will to others.

3) Those who have not received revelations do work without revelations and consequently the leader and those who are led all fall into hopeless straits and despair (“fall into a ditch”).

 

Luke. 6:40 “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

   YLT: “A disciple is not above his teacher, but every one perfected shall be as his teacher.”

   Literal Meaning: there were two explanations about “a disciple is not above his teacher”:

  A) If we see it according to v.39, “his teacher” indicates the one who led the blind and “a disciple” indicates the blind who was led. Therefore this verse shows that if a believer follows the wrong teaching, he won’t be right in future.

  B) If we compare it with the other Gospels, “his teacher” indicates the Lord Jesus and “a disciple” indicates believers and this sentence means that “if the teacher was persecuted and slandered by men, should not rather his disciples?” (See Matt. 10:24-25). This verse shows that we, the disciples of the Lord, should not be persecuted or slandered by men more than how they have done towards the Lord.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) We are pupils of the Lord and we should learn from Him. We are slaves of the Lord and we should obey Him in everything.

2) The Lord’s steps are the example for those who serve the Lord to follow. It is inevitable for those who serve the Lord to walk in the way of cross.

3) No matter how many sufferings a Christian undergoes, at most he experiences the same as the Lord. The Lord knows our tribulations on earth and this encourages us.

4) Since men abuse and blaspheme our Lord, we should not hope that others may treat us kindly. Every time we are misunderstood, persecuted or despised by others, we should remember how the Lord was treated by men.

5) It is impossible that our Lord here received the cross but we receive crowns. We should not hope to have different destinies and future with the Lord. Anyone who seeks men’s glory is unable to be the true disciple of the Lord.

6) If the way that the world treats us is different from that to our Lord, probably something is wrong with us------there must be some problems in our relations with the Lord.

 

Luke. 6:41 “And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?

   YLT: “`And why dost thou behold the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, and the beam that [is] in thine own eye dost not consider?”

   Meaning of Words: “speck”: twig from wood; “plank”: a stick of timber.

   Literal Meaning: “why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye” “speck” originally means the twig from wood. Here it means the small fault.

  “But do not perceive the plank in your own eye?” “Plank” originally means plank used in buildings. Here it means the big fault.

“Speck” would hurt men but “plank” would press men to death.

  The thirty-seventh verse indicates the consequence of judgment and this verse shows the inappropriateness of judging. The general judgers only see others’ small faults and have not seen their own bigger faults.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Anyone that is unable to see his own shortcomings is not qualified to criticize others’ shortcomings.

2) Every time we criticize others, we should keep in mind that we may have bigger faults.

3) The unclean ones would see the uncleanness of others easily. The holy ones find it difficult to find others’ faults.

4) Our opinions towards faults are always not exact. Those who are righteous in their own eyes always put the trivial above the important (Matt. 18:9-14). The more faults one commits, the more he loves to find fault with others.

5) The greatest problem in our contacting with others is the lack of love. Those who love to criticize others are lacking the mostly wanting love in themselves.

6) If we have more love in us, we won’t anxiously criticize others for the things that they have and we do not have and we will show more mercy and kindness when judging others.

 

Luke. 6:42 “Or how can you say to your brother, Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye.

   YLT: “or how art thou able to say to thy brother, Brother, suffer, I may take out the mote that [is] in thine eye thyself the beam in thine own eye not beholding? Hypocrite, take first the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou shalt see clearly to take out the mote that [is] in thy brother’s eye.”

   Literal Meaning: “when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye?” “Plank” not only indicates one’s serious fault but also implies that one has prejudice against others and therefore his sight has been blinded to see the truth.

  “How can you say to your brother” It shows that he is unable to judge justly.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Believers should examine themselves before they criticize others.

2) The more one knows himself, the less he dares to condemn others.

3) The spiritual sight is to deal with oneself.

4) Firstly, we have to get rid of the evil intention of censoriousness and kick the impious and bad habit of finding fault with others, and then we may clearly see the fact.

5) Others would use the same standard by which we treat others to treat us.

6) What we should see clearly is how to remove the speck instead of the speck itself. When we want to remove the speck from brother’s eye, seeing the speck clearly is not important, what’s important is to be looked lovely in brother’s eyes and naturally the speck will be removed.

7) Firstly we have to be dealt with by the Lord and then may help to deal with others. Our personal experience would be of real help to others. The cross always begins from us.

 

Luke. 6:43For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.

   YLT: “`For there is not a good tree making bad fruit, nor a bad tree making good fruit;”

   Literal Meaning: this verse is the judgment that God has made towards two kinds of life------after their kind (Gen. 1:11). Fruit that is borne from holy life (“good tree”) is totally different from the fruit from natural life (“bad tree”) (Gal. 5:19-23). A certain kind of life would bear that kind of fruit (Rom. 6:21-22, 7:4-5). If we live and work by the life of God (“good tree”), we will naturally bear spiritual “good fruit”. Otherwise, what men see from us will assuredly be “bad fruit” borne from the corruptive flesh (“bad tree”).

  Some Bible exegetes held that “tree” meant the teaching, “good tree” meant the correct teaching and “bad tree” meant the teachings of false prophets. The correct teaching would generate correct character (“fruit”) in listeners and the wrong teaching would make listeners have wrong character (“fruit”).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) A certain kind of life would bear that kind of performance and achievements of work.

2) In order to seek spiritual things, one has to be cautious to choose the leader. If we follow the wrong leader such as the false prophet, we will suffer losses in future.

3) Our problem does not lie in whether it is good or not outwardly, but lies in by which kind of life we do things. If we do by the life of Christ, we will bear good fruit. If we do by natural life, we will assuredly bear bad fruit even the thing we do is good.

4) Though the outward appearance could be imitated, the inward life could never be imitated. The Holy life will inevitably lead men to concentrate on God Himself and love heavenly things. The natural life will inevitably lead men to look at themselves and care about earthly things.

 

Luke. 6:44 “For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.

   YLT: “for each tree from its own fruit is known, for not from thorns do they gather figs, nor from a bramble do they crop a grape.”

   Literal Meaning: “For every tree is known by its own fruit.” “Fruit” is the fleshly behavior generated by men’s nature. We judge people not only by their appearance and their words (John. 7:24), but also by proving their fruit of life and service behind men.

   Spiritual Meaning: For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.” The land yield “thorns” and “thistles’ by God’s curse after men’s fall (Gen. 3:18). Therefore they symbolize men’s natural flesh. “Grapes” and “figs” are the representation of the products in the land of Canaan (Hab. 3:17). They symbolize the manifestations of the spiritual life in all aspects. Therefore, this verse spiritually means that it is impossible to bear spiritual fruit of life from the natural flesh.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “Fruit” is the manifestation of internal life. We could know the nature of life through fruit. It is inaccurate to see spiritual things by appearance and it is accurate to see by outcome.

2) Words of the Lord show that the fruit in this verse comes from the teachings (the prophets) in the former verse. Only correct teachings could bear correct fruit.

 

Luke. 6:45 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

   YLT: “`The good man out of the good treasure of his heart doth bring forth that which [is] good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart doth bring forth that which [is] evil; for out of the abounding of the heart doth his mouth speak.”

   Literal Meaning: the two “treasure” in the original is like the way to receive and store the strongbox of the bank. If we receive and keep some thoughts in our hearts, we will speak them out through our lips.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Please search me, the Lord and let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight (See Ps. 19:14).

2) If we want to rule our mouths, we have to rule our hearts first (Prov. 25:28).

3) From one’s words, we could know the person because words greatly reflect one’s heart.

4) Out of heart are the issues of life (Prov. 4:23) and therefore we should deal with our inner intentions first and then we will have the natural and mature outward behavior and life. 

 

Luke. 6:46But why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and not do the things which I say?

   YLT: “`And why do ye call me, Lord, Lord, and do not what I say?”

   Literal Meaning: “why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’” For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1Sam. 16:7). He is the one who searches the minds and hearts (Rev. 2:23). He knew that many people drew near to Him with their mouth, but their heart was far from Him (Matt. 15:8). Certainly the hypocritical do not have any portion of the kingdom of heaven.

  “And not do the things which I say?” The one who does not keep the word of the Lord and do as he pleases does not obey the authority of the Lord.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Following the Lord lies in not only their oral words (“Lord, Lord”) but also their actual deeds (“do the things which the Lord says”).

2) Many believers always say “thank the Lord” and “praise the Lord” with their mouth, however, in daily life, they make decisions according to their own opinions in all things and overlook the word of the Lord.

3) The Lord abandons all the works of men unless they obey His word.

 

Luke. 6:47 “Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:

   YLT: “Every one who is coming unto me, and is hearing my words, and is doing them, I will shew you to whom he is like;”

   Literal Meaning: “whoever comes to Me” the word of the Lord is the rock and ground of the life and work of God’s people. If we hear the Lord’s sayings and do them, we do build our whole life upon the ground of the words of the Lord.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The doctrines and teachings of Christianity are not for men to tell and hear (Acts. 17:20-21) but for those who hear to put them into practice.

2) It is good that men have intelligence to understand the Lord’s sayings. What’s more important for men is to keep and do the Lord’ sayings.

 

Luke. 6:48 “He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.

   YLT: “he is like to a man building a house, who did dig, and deepen, and laid a foundation upon the rock, and a flood having come, the stream broke forth on that house, and was not able to shake it, for it had been founded upon the rock.”

   Spiritual Meaning: “dug deep” indicates to dig out the sand on the surface layer. Man is formed of the dust of the ground (Gen. 2:7) and therefore “sand” typifies the natural love, opinions and ways.

  “It was founded on the rock.” “Rock” typifies the Lord’s will that has been revealed in His words.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Words of God are settled, as rock, in the heavens (Ps. 119:89). Only on the basis of the words of the Lord could we have solid building.

2) The assembly (“house”) must be built “upon this rock” (Matt. 16:18). Only Christ Himself is the foundation to build the assembly (1Cor. 3:11).

3) If the life and work of God’s people is founded upon the Lord’s word, they will withstand the tests of circumstances from all aspects and they won’t be offended because of the tribulation and persecution (Matt. 13:21).

4) Today if we walk according to the Lord’s principle on the earth, we won’t be conquered by any trial and in that day we won’t be conquered by the trial of judgment.

5) If believers behave upon the foundation of the Lord’s words, their character and morals will certainly withstand the severe tests (“the stream beat vehemently against”).

6) As long as one digs out all the earthly things, through the deep work of the cross, ------“who dug deep” and regards Christ as the only foundation------“laid the foundation on the rock”, he could have solid building and he could withstand every strike and test------“the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it”.

 

Luke. 6:49 “But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.’”

   YLT: “`And he who heard and did not, is like to a man having builded a house upon the earth, without a foundation, against which the stream brake forth, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house became great.’”

   The Background: in the land of Judah, it is usually very dry in summer and there is heavy rain in winter. Usually, men build their house in summer. However, the foolish men build their house on the sand for they have forgotten that there is heavy rain in winter.

   Literal Meaning: if we are hearers and not doers (James. 1:23), we do follow our own inclinations and do what is right in our own eyes. If our life and work are built upon the foundation of men’s will, they won’t withstand tests in all kinds of circumstances. They will fall and suffer losses. The losses are certainly very great. We may suffer losses not only in this age but also in the coming (1Cor. 3:15).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) In men’s eyes, whether one is wise or foolish depends on his ability to work, however, in the eyes of God, whether one is wise or foolish depends on his reaction towards the Lord’s words.

2) If we build our life on the basis of anything besides the Lord Himself, even the best things such as the Law of God and the virtue of men, we do build on the sand and the building cannot withstand trials.

3) If any man is a hearer and not a doer, the result is very serious (“and the ruin of that house was great”).

4) If our life is built on the basis of ways and opinions besides the Lord, it will not withstand any trial and will suffer greater loss in future.

5) If we turn away from the dig of the cross and build on the foundation of the earthly things------“who built a house on the earth”, certainly we won’t withstand any strike and suffer the dreadful situation------“it fell…and the ruin of that house was great”.

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

 

The Savior the Son of Man is the Reality of the Sabbath

I. The Lord’s disciples plucked the heads of gain and ate them (v.1)------men could have the true rest when they are filled.

II. The Pharisees were not allowed to do things on the Sabbath (v.2)------if men do not have the Lord, the teachings and regulations will become their restrictions.

III. Those who were with David ate the showbread (v.3-4)------if one follows the Lord, he is not restricted by doctrines and regulations.

IV. The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath (v.5)------the Lord is above all the doctrines and regulations.

V. On the Sabbath a man whose right hand was withered was on the synagogue (v.6)------the religion which stressed on the doctrines and regulations does not have rest because it lacks the provision of life.

VI. The Pharisees watched closely whether the Lord would heal on the Sabbath (v.7)------the religionists only care about the doctrines and regulations and do not take to heart whether men have rest.

VII. The Lord asked them whether it was lawful on the Sabbath to save life or destroy (v.8-9)------the Lord stresses on men’s need more than the doctrines and regulations.

VIII. The Lord healed the one whose right hand was withered (v.10)------the Lord brings men the true rest.

 

The Spiritual Teachings from the Original Meanings of the Names of the Apostles (v.14-16)

I. Workers of the Lord have to “listen to” (the meaning of “Simon”) the word of the Lord and surrender themselves as the making of the Lord’s building------stone (the meaning of “Peter”, See 1Pet. 2:5).

II. We must be strong (the meaning of “Andrew”) to work for the Lord.

III. The Lord’s worker is the one who is able to seize (the meaning of “James”) God’s gifts (the meaning of “John”).

IV. Bartholomew was known as Nathanael. The Lord’s workers should deeply love (the meaning of “Philip”) God’s gifts (the meaning of “Nathanael”).

V. Since the workers of the Lord have received “the gifts of God” (the meaning of “Matthew”) from the Lord, they have to “seize” (the meaning of “James”) and use the gifts (See Matt. 25:14-21) and then the gifts of God will “change” (the meaning of “Alphaeus”) into the doubling (the meaning of “Thomas”) grace.

VI. The most important thing is to “earnestly listen to” (the meaning of “Simon the Canaite”) the Lord from one’s heart.

VII. The behavior of “worship” (the meaning of “Judas”) was superficial. Those who pretend to be workers of the Lord in appearance may betray the Lord.

 

The Blessings and Woes of Christians

I. Blessed are you poor in spirit (v.20)------woe to you who are rich in this life (v.24).

II. Blessed are you who hunger in spirit now (v.21a)------woe to you who are full in soul (v.25a). 

III. Blessed are you who weep for the spiritual conditions (v.21b)------woe to you who are laugh for the worldly conditions (v.25b).

IV. Blessed are you who are rejected by men for the sake of the Lord (v.22-23)------woe to you when all men speak well of you (v.26).

 

The Principles for Christians to Deal with Men

I. Love your enemies (v.27, 32, 35).

II. Do good to those who do evil (v.27, 33, 35).                                      

III. Bless others and pray for them (v.28).

IV. Bear the humiliation (v. 29).

V. Give to everyone who asks you and lend, hoping for nothing in return (v.30, 34-35).

VI. Do not act with violence to those who treat us with violence (v.30b).

VII. Just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise (v.31).

VIII. Be sons of the Most High and be merciful just as God the Father (v.35-36).

IX. Do not judge or condemn others and forgive others (v.37).

X. With the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you (v.38).

XI. Do not be the master of many people (v.39-40).

XII. First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye (v.41-42).

 

How to Be the Sons of the Most High

I. We should love the enemies with the love of God (v.27, 35).

II. We should be kind to the unthankful and evil like God (v.27-35).

III. We should be as merciful as God (v.36).

IV. We should give generously like God (v.38).

V. We should learn from the Lord (v.39-40).

VI. We should deal with ourselves first and then we are able to help others (v. 41-42).

VII. We should live by God’s life and bear the fruit of God’s life (v.43-45).

VIII. We should do the word of the Lord and lay the foundation on the rock (v.46-49).

 

The Standards for Christians to Walk

I. He should walk by the life of the Spirit instead of the natural life (v.43-44).

II. He should deal with his own intention and then there will be the normally outward manifestations (v.45).

III. He should not be the one who honors the Lord with mouth but does not do the word of the Lord (v.46).

IV. He hears the Lord’s sayings and does them is like a man building a house who laid the foundation on the rock (v.47-48).

V. He who heard the word of the Lord and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, and immediately it fell (v.49).

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

   Translated by Sharon Ren