6:1 {On a sabbath} (en sabbatōi). This is the second sabbath on
which Jesus is noted by Luke. The first was Lu 4:31-41. There
was another in Joh 5:1-47. There is Western and Syrian
(Byzantine) evidence for a very curious reading here which calls
this sabbath "secondfirst" (deuteroprōtōi). It is undoubtedly
spurious, though Westcott and Hort print it in the margin. A
possible explanation is that a scribe wrote "first" (prōtōi) on
the margin because of the sabbath miracle in Lu 6:6-11. Then
another scribe recalled Lu 4:31 where a sabbath is mentioned
and wrote "second" (deuterōi) also on the margin. Finally a
third scribe combined the two in the word deuteroprōtōi that is
not found elsewhere. If it were genuine, we should not know what
it means.
6:3 {Not even this} (oude touto). This small point only in
Luke.
6:4 {Did take} (labōn). Second aorist active participle of lambanō. Not in Mark and Matthew. See Mt 12:1-8; Mr 2:23-28
for discussion of details about the shewbread and the five
arguments in defence of his conduct on the sabbath (example of
David, work of the priests on the sabbath, prophecy of Ho 6:6,
purpose of the sabbath for man, the Son of Man lord of the
sabbath). It was an overwhelming and crushing reply to these
pettifogging ceremonialists to which they could not reply, but
which increased their anger. Codex D transfers verse 5 to after
verse 10 and puts here the following: "On the same day
beholding one working on the sabbath he said to him: Man, if you
know what you are doing, happy are you; but if you do not know,
cursed are you and a transgressor of the law."
6:6 {On another sabbath} (en heterōi sabbatōi). This was a
second (heteron, as it often means), but not necessarily the
next, sabbath. This incident is given by all three synoptics (Mr
3:1-6; Mt 12:9-14; Lu 6:6-11). See Matt. and Mark for details.
Only Luke notes that it was on a sabbath. Was this because Luke
as a physician had to meet this problem in his own practise?
{Right hand} (hē dexia). This alone in Luke, the physician's
eye for particulars.
6:7 {The scribes and the Pharisees} (hoi grammateis kai hoi
Pharisaioi). Only Luke here though Pharisees named in Mt 12:14
and Pharisees and Herodians in Mr 3:6.
6:8 {But he knew their thoughts} (autos de ēidei tous
dialogismous autōn). In Luke alone. Imperfect in sense, second
past perfect in form ēidei from oida. Jesus, in contrast to
these spies (Plummer), read their intellectual processes like an
open book.
6:9 {I ask you} (eperōtō humās). They had questions in their
hearts about Jesus. He now asks in addition (ep') an open
question that brings the whole issue into the open.
6:10 {He looked round about on them all} (periblepsamenos).
First aorist middle participle as in Mr 3:5, the middle voice
giving a personal touch to it all. Mark adds "with anger" which
Luke here does not put in. All three Gospels have the identical
command: {Stretch forth thy hand} (exteinon tēn cheira sou).
First aorist active imperative.
6:11 {They were filled with madness} (eplēsthēsan anoias) First
aorist passive (effective) with genitive: In 5:26 we saw the
people filled with fear. Here is rage that is kin to insanity,
for anoias is lack of sense (a privative and nous, mind).
An old word, but only here and 2Ti 3:9 in the N.T.
6:12 {He went out into the mountains to pray} (exelthein auton
eis to oros proseuxasthai). Note ex- where Mr 3:13 has
{goeth up} (anabainei). Luke alone has "to pray" as he so often
notes the habit of prayer in Jesus.
6:13 {When it was day} (hote egeneto hēmera). When day came,
after the long night of prayer.
6:16 {Which was the traitor} (hos egeneto prodotēs). Who became
traitor, more exactly, egeneto, not ēn. He gave no signs of
treachery when chosen.
6:17 {He came down with them} (katabas met' autōn). Second
aorist active participle of katabainō, common verb. This was
the night of prayer up in the mountain (Mr 31:3; Lu 6:12) and
the choice of the Twelve next morning. The going up into the
mountain of Mt 5:1 may simply be a summary statement with no
mention of what Luke has explained or may be a reference to the
elevation, where he "sat down" (Mt 5:1), above the plain or
"level place" (epi topou pedinou) on the mountain side where
Jesus "stood" or "stopped" (estē). It may be a level place
towards the foot of the mountain. He stopped his descent at this
level place and then found a slight elevation on the mountain
side and began to speak. There is not the slightest reason for
making Matthew locate this sermon on the mountain and Luke in the
valley as if the places, audiences, and topics were different.
For the unity of the sermon see discussion on ¯Mt 5:1f. The
reports in Matthew and Luke begin alike, cover the same general
ground and end alike. The report in Matthew is longer chiefly
because in Chapter 5, he gives the argument showing the contrast
between Christ's conception of righteousness and that of the
Jewish rabbis. Undoubtedly, Jesus repeated many of the crisp
sayings here at other times as in Luke 12, but it is quite
gratuitous to argue that Matthew and Luke have made up this
sermon out of isolated sayings of Christ at various times. Both
Matthew and Luke give too much that is local of place and
audience for that idea. Mt 5:1 speaks of "the multitudes" and
"his disciples." Lu 6:17 notes "a great multitude of his
disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judea and
Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon." They agree in
the presence of disciples and crowds besides the disciples from
whom the twelve apostles were chosen. It is important to note how
already people were coming from "the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon"
"to hear him and to be healed (iathēnai, first aorist passive
of iaomai) of their diseases."
6:18 {With unclean spirits} (apo pneumatōn akathartōn) . In an
amphibolous position for it can be construed with "troubled,"
(present passive participle enochloumenoi) or with "were
healed" (imperfect passive, etherapeuonto). The healings were
repeated as often as they came. Note here both verbs, iaomai
and therapeuō, used of the miraculous cures of Jesus. Therapeuō is the verb more commonly employed of regular
professional cures, but no such distinction is made here.
6:19 {Sought to touch him} (ezētoun haptesthai autou).
Imperfect active. One can see the surging, eager crowd pressing
up to Jesus. Probably some of them felt that there was a sort of
virtue or magic in touching his garments like the poor woman in
Lu 8:43f. (Mr 5:23; Mt 9:21).
6:20 {And he lifted up his eyes} (kai autos eparas tous
opthalmous autou). First aorist active participle from epairō.
Note also Luke's favourite use of kai autos in beginning a
paragraph. Vivid detail alone in Luke. Jesus looked the vast
audience full in the face. Mt 5:2 mentions that "he opened his
mouth and taught them" (began to teach them, inchoative
imperfect, edidasken). He spoke out so that the great crowd
could hear. Some preachers do not open their mouths and do not
look up at the people, but down at the manuscript and drawl along
while the people lose interest and even go to sleep or slip out.
{Ye poor} (hoi ptōchoi).
6:21 {Now} (nun). Luke adds this adverb here and in the next
sentence after "weep." This sharpens the contrast between present
sufferings and the future blessings.
6:22 {When they shall separate you} (hotan aphorisōsin humās).
First aorist active subjunctive, from aphorizō, common verb for
marking off a boundary. So either in good sense or bad sense as
here. The reference is to excommunication from the congregation
as well as from social intercourse.
6:23 {Leap for joy} (skirtēsate). Old verb and in LXX, but only
in Luke in the N.T. (here and 1:41,44). It answers to Matthew's
(Mt 5:12) "be exceeding glad."
6:24 {But woe unto you that are rich} (Plēn ouai humin tois
plousiois). Sharp contrast (plēn). As a matter of fact the
rich Pharisees and Sadducees were the chief opposers of Christ as
of the early disciples later (Jas 5:1-6).
6:25 {Now} (nun). Here twice as in verse 21 in contrast with
future punishment. The joys and sorrows in these two verses are
turned round, measure for measure reversed. The Rich Man and
Lazarus (Lu 16:19-31) illustrate these contrasts in the present
and the future.
6:26 {In the same manner did their fathers} (ta auta epoioun hoi
pateres autōn). Literally, their fathers did the same things to
the false prophets. That is they spoke well (kalōs), finely of
false prophets. Praise is sweet to the preacher but all sorts of
preachers get it.
6:27 {But I say unto you that hear} (Alla humin legō tois
akouousin). There is a contrast in this use of alla like that
in Mt 5:44. This is the only one of the many examples given by
Mt 5 of the sharp antithesis between what the rabbis taught and
what Jesus said. Perhaps that contrast is referred to by Luke. If
necessary, alla could be coordinating or paratactic conjunction
as in 2Co 7:11 rather than adversative as apparently here. See
Mt 5:43f. Love of enemies is in the O.T., but Jesus ennobles
the word, agapaō, and uses it of love for one's enemies.
6:28 {That despitefully use you} (tōn epēreazontōn humās). This
old verb occurs here only in the N.T. and in 1Pe 3:16, not
being genuine in Mt 5:44.
6:29 {On the cheek} (epi tēn siagona). Mt 5:39 has "right."
Old word meaning jaw or jawbone, but in the N.T. only here and
Mt 5:39, which see for discussion. It seems an act of violence
rather than contempt. Sticklers for extreme literalism find
trouble with the conduct of Jesus in Joh 18:22f. where Jesus,
on receiving a slap in the face, protested against it.
6:30 {Ask them not again} (mē apaitei). Here the present active
imperative in a prohibition, do not have the habit of asking
back. This common verb only here in the N.T., for aitousin is
the correct text in Lu 12:20. The literary flavour of Luke's
"Koinē" style is seen in his frequent use of words common in the
literary Greek, but appearing nowhere else in the N.T.
6:31 {As ye would} (kathōs thelete). In Mt 7:12 the Golden
Rule begins: Panta hosa ean thelēte. Luke has "likewise"
(homoiōs) where Matthew has houtōs. See on Matthew for
discussion of the saying.
6:32 {What thank have ye?} (poia h–min charis estin;). What
grace or gratitude is there to you? Mt 5:46 has misthon
(reward).
6:33 {Do good} (agathopoiēte). Third-class condition, ean and
present subjunctive. This verb not in old Greek, but in LXX.
{Even sinners} (kai hoi hamartōloi). Even the sinners, the
article distinguishing the class. Mt 5:46 has "even the
publicans" and 5:47 "even the Gentiles." That completes the
list of the outcasts for "sinners" includes "harlots" and all the
rest.
6:34 {If ye lend} (ean danisēte). Third-class condition, first
aorist active subjunctive from danizō (old form daneizō) to
lend for interest in a business transaction (here in active to
lend and Mt 5:42 middle to borrow and nowhere else in N.T.),
whereas kichrēmi (only Lu 11:5 in N.T.) means to loan as a
friendly act.
6:35 {But} (plēn). Plain adversative like plēn in verse 24.
Never despairing (mēden apelpizontes). Mēden is read by A B L
Bohairic and is the reading of Westcott and Hort. The reading mēdena is translated "despairing of no man." The Authorized
Version has it "hoping for nothing again," a meaning for apelpizō with no parallel elsewhere. Field ("Otium Nor." iii.
40) insists that all the same the context demands this meaning
because of apelpizein in verse 34, but the correct reading
there is elpizein, not apelpizein. Here Field's argument
falls to the ground. The word occurs in Polybius, Diodorus, LXX
with the sense of despairing and that is the meaning here. D and
Old Latin documents have "nihil desperantes", but the Vulgate has
"nihil inde sperantes" (hoping for nothing thence) and this false
rendering has wrought great havoc in Europe. "On the strength of
it Popes and councils have repeatedly condemned the taking of any
interest whatever for loans. As loans could not be had without
interest, and Christians were forbidden to take it, money lending
passed into the hands of the Jews, and added greatly to the
unnatural detestation in which Jews were held" (Plummer). By
"never despairing" or "giving up nothing in despair" Jesus means
that we are not to despair about getting the money back. We are
to help the apparently hopeless cases. Medical writers use the
word for desperate or hopeless cases.
6:36 {Even as your Father} (kathōs ho patēr humōn). In Mt
5:48 we have hōs ho patēr humōn. In both the perfection of the
Father is placed as the goal before his children. In neither case
is it said that they have reached it.
6:37 {And judge not} (kai mē krinete). Mē and the present
active imperative, forbidding the habit of criticism. The common
verb krinō, to separate, we have in our English words critic,
criticism, criticize, discriminate. Jesus does not mean that we
are not to form opinions, but not to form them rashly, unfairly,
like our prejudice.
6:38 {Pressed down} (pepiesmenon). Perfect passive participle
from piezō, old verb, but here alone in the N.T., though the
Doric form piazō, to seize, occurs several times (Joh
7:30,32,44).
6:39 {Also a parable} (kai parabolēn). Plummer thinks that the
second half of the sermon begins here as indicated by Luke's
insertion of "And he spake (eipen de) at this point. Luke has
the word parable some fifteen times both for crisp proverbs and
for the longer narrative comparisons. This is the only use of the
term parable concerning the metaphors in the Sermon on the Mount.
But in both Matthew and Luke's report of the discourse there are
some sixteen possible applications of the word. Two come right
together: The blind leading the blind, the mote and the beam.
Matthew gives the parabolic proverb of the blind leading the
blind later (Mt 15:14). Jesus repeated these sayings on various
occasions as every teacher does his characteristic ideas. So Luke
6:40; Mt 10:24, Lu 6:45; Mt 12:34f.
6:40 {The disciple is not above his master} (ouk estin mathētēs
huper ton didaskalon). Literally, a learner (or pupil) is not
above the teacher. Precisely so in Mt 10:24 where "slave" is
added with "lord." But here Luke adds: "But everyone when he is
perfected shall be as his master" (katērtismenos de pās estai
hōs ho didaskalos autou). The state of completion, perfect
passive participle, is noted in katērtismenos. The word is
common for mending broken things or nets (Mt 4:21) or men (Ga
6:1). So it is a long process to get the pupil patched up to the
plane of his teacher.
6:41 {Mote} (karphos) and {beam} (dokon). See on ¯Mt 7:3-5
for discussion of these words in this parabolic proverb kin to
several of ours today.
6:42 {Canst thou say} (dunasai legein). Here Mt 7:4 has {wilt
thou say} (ereis).
6:44 {Is known} (ginōsketai). The fruit of each tree reveals
its actual character. It is the final test. This sentence is not
in Mt 7:17-20, but the same idea is in the repeated saying (Mt
7:16,20): "By their fruits ye shall know them," where the verb
{epignōsesthe} means full knowledge. The question in Mt 7:16 is
put here in positive declarative form. The verb is in the plural
for "men" or "people," sullegousin. See on ¯Mt 7:16.
6:45 {Bringeth forth} (propherei). In a similar saying repeated
later. Mt 12:34f. has the verb ekballei (throws out, casts
out), a bolder figure. "When men are natural, heart and mouth act
in concert. But otherwise the mouth sometimes professes what the
heart does not feel" (Plummer).
6:46 {And do not} (kai ou poieite). This is the point about
every sermon that counts. The two parables that follow illustrate
this point.
6:47 {Hears and does} (akouōn kai poiōn). Present active
participles. So in Mt 7:24. (Present indicative.) {I will show
you} (hupodeixō humin). Only in Luke, not Matthew.
6:48 {Digged and went deep} (eskapsen kai ebathunen). Two first
aorist indicatives. Not a "hendiadys" for dug deep. Skaptō, to
dig, is as old as Homer, as is bathunō, to make deep.
6:49 {He that heareth and doeth not} (ho de akousas kai mē
poiēsas). Aorist active participle with article. Particular case
singled out (punctiliar, aorist).
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