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Luke 6

And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.

And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?

And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;

How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?

And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.

And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.

But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.

Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?

And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

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.

And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;

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

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

And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

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;

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

And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

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

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.

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.

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

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

Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?

The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

What does Luke 6:18 mean?

Explanation

Luke 6:18 refers to a situation where many people who were troubled by various ailments, including those who were considered to be vexed with unclean spirits, came to Jesus Christ for healing.

The verse not only describes the miraculous healing of physical diseases but also emphasizes the power of Jesus over spiritual afflictions, as those troubled by unclean spirits, or demons, were delivered and made whole.

In the context of the Gospel, this verse illustrates the authority of Jesus over both the natural and supernatural realms, showcasing His divinity and compassion for those suffering.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

This verse comes from the Gospel of Luke, which was written around A.D. 60–80.

The author, traditionally believed to be Luke the physician and companion of the Apostle Paul, intended to provide an orderly and detailed account of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

At the time, diseases were often attributed to demonic forces, especially when they led to abnormal behavior or mental health issues.

The Jewish people of the era believed in the existence of unclean spirits and awaited a Messiah who would have the power to heal and cast out demons, thereby setting people free from their afflictions.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse touches on several important concepts:

Divine Authority: The act of healing and exorcism by Jesus shows His divine authority, which was a crucial aspect of His ministry and served as a sign of the in-breaking of God's kingdom.
Holistic Healing: The verse implies a holistic approach to well-being, where the healing of physical ailments and deliverance from unclean spirits are intertwined.
Understanding of Evil: From a Christian viewpoint, the presence of unclean spirits suggests a reality of evil that is personal and can cause harm to individuals.

Different theological perspectives might emphasize the compassionate ministry of Jesus, the spiritual warfare aspect, or the prefiguration of the ultimate defeat of evil.

Practical Applications

This verse has several applications for modern Christians:

Seeking Wholeness: Christians are encouraged to seek wholeness in Christ, not just physical health, but spiritual well-being.
Faith in God's Power: It reaffirms the belief in God's power to heal and deliver, fostering trust and faith in times of personal struggle.
Ministry to Others: It prompts believers to extend care to those suffering from both physical and spiritual maladies, reflecting the compassion shown by Jesus.

Cross-References

Mark 1:34 - "And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him."
Acts 10:38 - "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."
Matthew 4:24 - "And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the term "ἀκαθάρτοις πνεύμασιν" is used, which is translated as "unclean spirits." The word "ἀκαθάρτοις" (akathartois) signifies something impure or defiled, while "πνεύμασιν" (pneumasin) refers to spirits or breath.

This indicates a spiritual impurity or moral uncleanliness that is contrary to the holiness of God.

The phrase "καὶ ἰάοντο" (kai iaonto), which means "and they were healed," reveals that healing occurred, with the verb "ἰάοντο" (iaonto) suggesting a restoration to a former state of wholeness.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison to other ancient myths and religions, exorcism and healing were not unique to Judaism or Christianity.

Many cultures believed in spirits and had rituals for dealing with them.

However, in the context of other religions, such acts often relied on elaborate rituals or amulets.

In contrast, the healing and exorcism in the New Testament are done in the name and authority of Jesus, without reliance on external objects or complicated ceremonies.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the concept of unclean spirits can be challenging to reconcile. Conditions described as demon possession in ancient texts might today be diagnosed as epilepsy, mental illness, or other health issues with a biological basis.

However, within a scientific framework, the importance of mental well-being and the impact of beliefs and emotions on physical health are recognized, which, to some extent, align with the holistic healing approach implied in the verse.

Commentaries

Many biblical scholars and theologians have reflected on this verse, including:

William Barclay: Barclay notes the draw of Jesus's power and personality that brought afflicted people to Him for healing.
John Gill: Gill acknowledges the omnipotence and kindness of Christ in healing both bodily diseases and demoniacal possessions.
Matthew Henry: Henry emphasizes the readiness of Christ to heal those who come to Him and sees in this a pattern for ministers to be willing to help those in need with the abilities they have.

Commentators generally agree on the demonstration of Jesus's divine power and the importance of seeking him for both physical and spiritual healing.

Luke 6

Luke 6

What does Luke 6:18 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 6:18 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?