Luke 6-7 KJV: Christ’s Authority, Mercy, and the Response of Faith

Chapter Summaries

Luke 6: The Lord of the Sabbath and the Life of a Disciple

The Sabbath controversies – Luke 6:1-11

While passing through the cornfields on the Sabbath, Jesus’ disciples plucked ears of corn, rubbed them in their hands, and ate. Certain Pharisees questioned why they were doing what they considered unlawful on the Sabbath. Jesus answered by recalling how David and those with him ate the shewbread, which was ordinarily reserved for the priests.

Jesus then declared:

“That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.” – Luke 6:5

His answer establishes His authority over the Sabbath. The passage does not portray Jesus as disregarding God’s holiness. It exposes the inadequacy of religious objections that fail to recognize who He is.

On another Sabbath, Jesus entered a synagogue where a man had a withered right hand. The scribes and Pharisees watched for an opportunity to accuse Him. Knowing their thoughts, Jesus called the man forward and asked:

“Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?” – Luke 6:9

Jesus restored the man’s hand. His opponents responded with madness and discussed what they might do to Him. The contrast is direct: Christ did good, while His accusers reacted with hostility.

Prayer and the choosing of the twelve – Luke 6:12-16

Before choosing the twelve apostles, Jesus went into a mountain and continued all night in prayer to God. When day came, He called His disciples and selected twelve, whom He also named apostles.

The distinction matters: the twelve were chosen from among His disciples and appointed to a particular office. Judas Iscariot is included, and Luke identifies him as the one “which also was the traitor” in Luke 6:16. Appointment among the twelve should not be treated as proof of personal salvation; Jesus elsewhere distinguished Judas from those who were clean, referring to His betrayer in John 13:10-11.

Jesus’ night of prayer provides a clear example of the importance of prayer in connection with serious responsibilities.

The gathered multitude and Christ’s healing power – Luke 6:17-19

Jesus came down with the twelve and stood “in the plain.” A large company of disciples and people from Judaea, Jerusalem, and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon gathered to hear Him and receive healing.

Luke records that those troubled by unclean spirits were healed and that power went out from Jesus to heal the multitude. His teaching and works displayed His authority over sickness and unclean spirits.

Blessings and woes – Luke 6:20-26

Addressing His disciples, Jesus pronounced blessings upon the poor, the hungry, those who wept, and those hated and rejected for the Son of man’s sake. He directed persecuted disciples to rejoice because their reward was great in heaven.

The qualification concerning persecution is essential. Jesus spoke of suffering:

“for the Son of man’s sake.” – Luke 6:22

This is not a promise that every form of rejection proves faithfulness to God.

Jesus also pronounced woes upon the rich, the full, those who laughed, and those universally praised. These warnings overturn the assumption that present comfort and public approval necessarily indicate God’s favor.

The passage does not teach that poverty earns salvation or that possessions alone determine a person’s eternal destiny. Salvation is by grace through faith, not works, as Ephesians 2:8-9 states. Here, Christ teaches His disciples to evaluate present circumstances in light of God’s kingdom and coming accountability.

Love for enemies – Luke 6:27-36

Jesus commanded His hearers to love their enemies, do good to those who hated them, bless those who cursed them, and pray for those who treated them despitefully.

He summarized the treatment of others with these words:

“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” – Luke 6:31

Christian love must reach beyond those who offer affection or benefit in return. Jesus pointed to the kindness of the Highest, who is “kind unto the unthankful and to the evil” in Luke 6:35.

The command is demanding:

“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” – Luke 6:36

Mercy does not require approving evil. It requires conduct shaped by the Father’s goodness rather than personal revenge.

Judgment, generosity, and self-examination – Luke 6:37-42

Jesus warned against judging and condemning others, commanded forgiveness, and taught generosity. His statement about giving in Luke 6:38 belongs within this instruction concerning merciful and generous treatment of others. It should not be reduced to a promise of financial profit.

The warning against judging does not abolish moral discernment. In this same chapter, Jesus teaches that trees are known by their fruit. Elsewhere He commands, “judge righteous judgment” in John 7:24.

The illustration of the mote and the beam exposes hypocrisy. A person attempting to correct a small fault in another while ignoring a great fault in himself cannot see clearly. Christ’s instruction is to remove the beam first, then help the brother.

The heart, its fruit, and the foundation of obedience – Luke 6:43-49

Good and corrupt trees produce corresponding fruit. Jesus applies this principle to human conduct and speech:

“for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” – Luke 6:45

Words reveal what fills the heart. Outward religious language cannot substitute for inward reality.

Jesus then asks:

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” – Luke 6:46

He closes with two builders. The man who comes to Christ, hears His sayings, and does them resembles a builder who digs deep and lays his foundation on a rock. The man who hears without doing resembles one who builds without a foundation.

The distinction is between obedient reception and empty hearing. Obedience does not purchase salvation, but a profession of allegiance to Christ must not be separated from submission to His words. Ephesians 2:8-10 places good works after salvation by grace, as part of the life God intends for His people.

Luke 7: Christ’s Compassion, Authority, and Forgiving Grace

The centurion’s servant – Luke 7:1-10

In Capernaum, a centurion had a valued servant who was sick and ready to die. Having heard of Jesus, he sent Jewish elders to ask Him to heal the servant.

The elders argued that the centurion was worthy because he loved their nation and had built them a synagogue. The centurion’s own message was different:

“Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof.” – Luke 7:6

He believed Jesus needed only to speak for his servant to be healed. Drawing upon his experience under authority and over soldiers, he recognized the effectiveness of Christ’s command.

Jesus marveled and said:

“I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” – Luke 7:9

The messengers returned and found the servant whole. The account emphasizes humble confidence in Christ’s authority. The elders appealed to the man’s deeds; the man himself confessed his unworthiness and trusted Jesus’ word.

The widow’s son at Nain – Luke 7:11-17

As Jesus approached Nain, a funeral procession was leaving the city. The dead man was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow.

Luke explicitly states Christ’s response:

“And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.” – Luke 7:13

Jesus touched the bier, the bearers stood still, and He commanded:

“Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.” – Luke 7:14

The young man sat up and began speaking, and Jesus delivered him to his mother.

The passage records no request from the mother before Jesus acted. His compassion and initiative are central to the account. His command also displays authority over death itself.

The people glorified God, declaring that a great prophet had arisen and that God had visited His people. Luke records their response; their description should not be mistaken for an exhaustive statement of Christ’s identity.

John the Baptist’s question and Jesus’ answer – Luke 7:18-23

John’s disciples reported these events to him. John then sent two disciples to ask Jesus:

“Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?” – Luke 7:19

Scripture records the question but does not explicitly explain John’s inward reasoning. We should therefore avoid confidently asserting either that John had abandoned his confidence in Christ or that he asked solely for his disciples’ benefit.

Jesus answered through His works and words. He told the messengers to report that the blind saw, the lame walked, lepers were cleansed, the deaf heard, the dead were raised, and the poor heard the gospel. These works correspond with prophetic descriptions such as Isaiah 35:5-6 and Isaiah 61:1.

Jesus added:

“And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” – Luke 7:23

The proper response was to receive the evidence He supplied and remain faithful to Him.

Jesus’ testimony concerning John – Luke 7:24-30

After John’s messengers departed, Jesus spoke to the people about John. John was not a reed shaken by the wind or a man characterized by luxurious clothing. He was a prophet and more than a prophet: the promised messenger preparing the way before the Lord, as foretold in Malachi 3:1.

Jesus declared John’s greatness and then said that the least in the kingdom of God was greater than he. This statement must not be turned into a claim that John was unsaved; the passage does not say that.

Luke contrasts two responses. The people and publicans “justified God,” acknowledging His righteousness, having received John’s baptism. The Pharisees and lawyers rejected God’s counsel against themselves, refusing that baptism.

Their response to John’s God-appointed ministry exposed their response to God’s counsel. Baptism itself did not earn salvation.

An unresponsive generation – Luke 7:31-35

Jesus compared the generation to children dissatisfied with either kind of response from their companions. John came with an austere manner of life, and critics accused him of having a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they accused Him of being gluttonous and a winebibber.

These were accusations made against Jesus, not truthful descriptions of His conduct.

Their contradictory objections exposed resistance to both messengers. Jesus concluded:

“But wisdom is justified of all her children.” – Luke 7:35

God’s wisdom is vindicated in those who receive and follow it.

The sinful woman and Simon the Pharisee – Luke 7:36-50

A Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to eat with him. An unnamed woman, identified as a sinner, entered with an alabaster box of ointment. She wept at Jesus’ feet, washed them with tears, wiped them with the hairs of her head, kissed them, and anointed them.

Luke does not identify this woman as Mary Magdalene or specify her particular sins. Those details should not be added.

Simon reasoned within himself that a prophet would know what kind of woman was touching Him. Jesus answered with a parable about two debtors, one owing five hundred pence and the other fifty. Neither could pay, and the creditor freely forgave both.

Simon correctly judged that the one forgiven more would love more.

Jesus then contrasted the woman’s actions with Simon’s omissions. Her great love displayed the reality of forgiveness. The parable presents forgiveness as freely given, with love following as its response. Christ’s concluding words make the saving issue explicit:

“Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” – Luke 7:50

Her tears, ointment, and affection did not purchase salvation. Jesus identified faith as the means by which she received salvation and sent her away in peace.

Key People and Places

• Jesus Christ: Lord of the Sabbath, teacher of His disciples, healer, giver of life, and the One who declares sins forgiven.
• The twelve apostles: Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon called Zelotes, Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot.
• The scribes and Pharisees: Opponents who watched Jesus for grounds of accusation. Simon, the Pharisee in Luke 7, received Jesus into his house but questioned Him inwardly.
• The man with the withered right hand: Healed by Jesus in the synagogue on the Sabbath.
• The centurion and his servant: The officer trusted Christ’s authority; his servant was healed.
• The widow of Nain and her only son: Jesus showed compassion to the mother and raised her son.
• John the Baptist: The prophetic messenger who prepared the Lord’s way and sent two disciples with a question.
• The unnamed woman: A woman identified as a sinner whose actions expressed great love and whom Jesus assured of salvation through faith.
• Capernaum: The setting of the centurion’s appeal.
• Nain: The city where Jesus raised the widow’s son.
• Judaea and Jerusalem: Areas from which people came to hear Jesus and be healed.
• Tyre and Sidon: Coastal locations whose surrounding region supplied additional hearers.
• The mountain and the plain: The settings of Jesus’ extended prayer and subsequent ministry to the gathered people. Luke does not name the mountain.

Main Doctrinal or Spiritual Themes

1. The authority of Jesus Christ

Jesus rules over the Sabbath, heals by His word, commands the dead to arise, and declares forgiveness. These chapters call readers to recognize His authority and respond with faith and obedience.

2. Grace received through faith

The centurion confessed unworthiness while trusting Christ’s word. The two debtors had nothing with which to pay. The woman received the assurance, “Thy faith hath saved thee.” Human merit cannot supply what only God’s grace provides.

3. Mercy reflecting the Father’s character

Love for enemies, forgiveness, generosity, and compassion belong to the life Christ commands. Jesus also demonstrates compassion in His treatment of the widow.

4. The heart revealed through conduct

Speech and actions bear witness to the heart. Religious titles, outward respectability, and verbal profession do not replace inward faith and obedience.

5. The danger of self-righteousness

The beam must be removed before the mote can be addressed. Simon’s criticism of the woman is answered by a lesson about debt and freely given forgiveness. Both passages call for humility before God.

6. Faithfulness under rejection

Christ’s disciples may suffer for His sake. Neither popularity nor opposition alone establishes a person’s spiritual condition. The decisive question is faithfulness to the Lord and His words.

Practical Applications or Lessons

• Give prayer a serious place in your decisions. Jesus’ extended prayer before choosing the twelve rebukes careless self-reliance.
• Practice mercy toward difficult people. Pray for those who mistreat you and seek opportunities to do good without demanding repayment.
• Examine yourself before correcting others. Christ commands honest repentance that prepares you to help your brother.
• Listen to your own speech. Words can expose bitterness, pride, or other sins that require attention at the heart level.
• Put Christ’s teaching into practice. Hearing sermons and calling Jesus Lord must be accompanied by obedience.
• Approach Christ humbly. The centurion’s confidence rested upon Jesus’ authority, not his own worthiness.
• Show compassion to the grieving. Jesus’ response to the widow directs believers toward attentive kindness.
• Bring questions to Christ and receive His answer. John’s messengers were directed to what Jesus did and taught.
• Do not let respectability conceal spiritual need. Simon needed the lesson of the two debtors just as surely as the woman needed forgiveness.
• Let forgiveness produce grateful love. Service and devotion are fitting responses to grace; they are not payment for it.