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Bible Commentaries
Luke 6

The Gospels ComparedGospels Compared

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Verses 1-5

The disciples pick wheat on the Sabbath
Matthew 12:1-8Mark 2:23-28Luke 6:1-5
Matthew 12:1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.Mark 2:23 And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.Luke 6:1 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.
Matthew 12:2 But when the Pharisees saw [it], they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.Mark 2:24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?Luke 6:2 And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
Matthew 12:3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;Mark 2:25 And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?Luke 6:3 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;
Matthew 12:4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?Mark 2:26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?Luke 6:4 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?
Matthew 12:5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? Matthew 12:6 But I say unto you, That in this place is [one] greater than the temple. Matthew 12:7 But if ye had known what [this] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
Mark 2:27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
Matthew 12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.Mark 2:28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.Luke 6:5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Verses 6-11

Jesus heals a man’s hand on the Sabbath
Matthew 12:9-14Mark 3:1-6Luke 6:6-11
Matthew 12:9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:Mark 3:1 And he entered again into the synagogue; Luke 6:6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught:
Matthew 12:10 And, behold, there was a man which had [his] hand withered. and there was a man there which had a withered hand. and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.Mark 3:2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.Luke 6:7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.
Mark 3:3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.Luke 6:8 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.
Matthew 12:11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift [it] out?Mark 3:4 And he saith unto them,Luke 6:9 Then said Jesus unto them,
Matthew 12:12 How much then is a man better than a sheep?
Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. 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]?
Matthew 12:13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched [it] forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.Mark 3:5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched [it] out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.Luke 6:10 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.
Matthew 12:14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.Mark 3:6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.Luke 6:11 And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

Verses 12-16

Jesus selects the twelve Disciples
Mark 3:13-19Luke 6:12-16
Mark 3:13 And he goeth up into a mountain,Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
and calleth [unto him] whom he would: and they came unto him.Luke 6:13 And when it was day, he called [unto him] his disciples:
Mark 3:14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
Mark 3:15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
Mark 3:16 And Simon he surnamed Peter; Mark 3:17 And James the [son] of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: Mark 3:18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Luke 6:14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
Matthew, and Thomas, and James the [son] of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,Luke 6:15 Matthew and Thomas, James the [son] of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,
Mark 3:19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.Luke 6:16 And Judas [the brother] of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
Lists of disciples compared
Matthew 10:2-4Mark 3:13-19Luke 6:12-16Acts 1:13-14
Simon (Peter)Simon (Peter)Simon (Peter)Peter
James, Son of ZebedeeJames, Son of ZebedeeJamesJames
John, the brother of JamesJohn, the brother of JamesJohnJohn
AndrewAndrewAndrewAndrew
PhilipPhilipPhilipPhilip
BartholemewBartholemewBartholemewBartholemew
MatthewMatthewMatthewMatthew
ThomasThomasThomasThomas
James, son of AlphaeusJames, son of AlphaeusJames, son of AlphaeusJames, son of Alphaeus
ThaddaeusThaddaeus- - - - -- - - - -
Simon the ZealotSimon the ZealotSimon the ZealotSimon the Zealot
Judas IscariotJudas IscariotJudas Iscariot
- - - - -- - - - -Judas the son of JamesJudas the son of James
The difference in content occurs with Thaddaeus and Judas the son of James. The most logical explanation is that both names describe the same person. Judas the son of James would have been sharing the name of Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Christ. Most probably, he preferred to be called Thaddeus.

Verses 17-26

Jesus gives the Beatitudes
Matthew 5:1-12Luke 6:17-26
Matthew 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:Luke 6:17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;
Luke 6:18 And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.
Luke 6:19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed [them] all.
Matthew 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,Luke 6:20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said,
Matthew 5:3 Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed [be ye] poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
Matthew 5:4 Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:5 Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:6 Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.Luke 6:21 Blessed [are ye] that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed [are ye] that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
Matthew 5:7 Blessed [are] the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:8 Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matthew 5:9 Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Matthew 5:10 Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.Luke 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you [from their company], and shall reproach [you], and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
Matthew 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.Luke 6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward [is] great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. Luke 6:24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Luke 6:25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. Luke 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

Verses 27-36

Jesus teaches about loving enemies
Matthew 5:43-48Luke 6:27-36
Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.Matthew 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;Luke 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Luke 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Matthew 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Matthew 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.Luke 6:29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the [one] cheek offer also the other;
Matthew 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have [thy] cloke also.and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not [to take thy] coat also.
Luke 6:30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask [them] not again.
Luke 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
Matthew 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?Luke 6:32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
Matthew 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so?Luke 6:33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
Luke 6:34 And if ye lend [to them] of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and [to] the evil.
Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.Luke 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Verses 37-42

Jesus teaches about criticizing others
Matthew 7:1-6Luke 6:37-42
Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.
Matthew 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Luke 6:39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? Luke 6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
Matthew 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?Luke 6:41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Matthew 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam [is] in thine own eye?Luke 6:42 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?
Matthew 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s 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.
Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Verses 43-45

Jesus teaches about fruit in people’s lives
Matthew 7:15-20Luke 6:43-45
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.Luke 6:43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Matthew 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?Luke 6:44 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.
Matthew 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Matthew 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.Luke 6:45 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.
Matthew 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Verses 46-49

Jesus teaches about those who build houses on rock and sand
Matthew 7:21-29Luke 6:46-49
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them,Luke 6:47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:Luke 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock:
Matthew 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon 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.
Matthew 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:Luke 6:49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth;
Matthew 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Matthew 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Matthew 7:29 For he taught them as [one] having authority, and not as the scribes.
Bibliographical Information
"Commentary on Luke 6". "The Gospels Compared". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/tgc/luke-6.html. 2014.
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