November 2

Luke 6:1 — 7:50

6 Now on a sabbath he happened to be passing through grainfields, and his disciples were plucking and eating the heads of grain, rubbing them with their hands. 2 At this some of the Pharisees said: “Why are YOU doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” 3 But Jesus said in reply to them: “Have YOU never read the very thing David did when he and the men with him got hungry? 4 How he entered into the house of God and received the loaves of presentation and ate and gave some to the men with him, which it is lawful for no one to eat but for the priests only?” 5 And he went on to say to them: “Lord of the sabbath is what the Son of man is.”

6 In the course of another sabbath he entered into the synagogue and began teaching. And there was a man present whose right hand was withered. 7 The scribes and the Pharisees were now watching him closely to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, in order to find some way to accuse him. 8 He, however, knew their reasonings, yet he said to the man with the withered hand: “Get up and stand in the center.” And he rose and took his stand. 9 Then Jesus said to them: “I ask YOU men, Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do injury, to save or to destroy a soul?” 10 And after looking around at them all, he said to the man: “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But they became filled with madness, and they began to talk over with one another what they might do to Jesus.

12 In the progress of these days he went out into the mountain to pray, and he continued the whole night in prayer to God. 13 But when it became day he called his disciples to him and chose from among them twelve, whom he also named apostles: 14 Simon, whom he also named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew and Thomas, and James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Simon who is called “the zealous one,” 16 and Judas [the son] of James, and Judas Iscariot, who turned traitor.

17 And he came down with them and took his station on a level place, and there was a great crowd of his disciples, and a great multitude of people from all of Judea and Jerusalem and the maritime country of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and be healed of their sicknesses. 18 Even those troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all the crowd were seeking to touch him, because power was going out of him and healing them all.

20 And he lifted up his eyes upon his disciples and began to say:
           “Happy are YOU poor, because YOURS is the kingdom of God.
      21 “Happy are YOU who hunger now, because YOU will be filled.
           “Happy are YOU who weep now, because YOU will laugh.
      22 “Happy are YOU whenever men hate YOU, and whenever they exclude YOU and reproach YOU and cast out YOUR name as wicked for the sake of the Son of man. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap, for, look! YOUR reward is great in heaven, for those are the same things their forefathers used to do to the prophets.
      24 “But woe to YOU rich persons, because YOU are having YOUR consolation in full.
      25 “Woe to YOU who are filled up now, because YOU will go hungry.
          “Woe, YOU who are laughing now, because YOU will mourn and weep.
      26 “Woe, whenever all men speak well of YOU, for things like these are what their forefathers did to the false prophets.

27 “But I say to YOU who are listening, Continue to love YOUR enemies, to do good to those hating YOU, 28 to bless those cursing YOU, to pray for those who are insulting YOU. 29 To him that strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also; and from him that takes away your outer garment, do not withhold even the undergarment. 30 Give to everyone asking you, and from the one taking your things away do not ask [them] back.

31 “Also, just as YOU want men to do to YOU, do the same way to them.

32 “And if YOU love those loving YOU, of what credit is it to YOU? For even the sinners love those loving them. 33 And if YOU do good to those doing good to YOU, really of what credit is it to YOU? Even the sinners do the same. 34 Also, if YOU lend [without interest] to those from whom YOU hope to receive, of what credit is it to YOU? Even sinners lend [without interest] to sinners that they may get back as much. 35 To the contrary, continue to love YOUR enemies and to do good and to lend [without interest], not hoping for anything back; and YOUR reward will be great, and YOU will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind toward the unthankful and wicked. 36 Continue becoming merciful, just as YOUR Father is merciful.

37 “Moreover, stop judging, and YOU will by no means be judged; and stop condemning, and YOU will by no means be condemned. Keep on releasing, and YOU will be released. 38 Practice giving, and people will give to YOU. They will pour into YOUR laps a fine measure, pressed down, shaken together and overflowing. For with the measure that YOU are measuring out, they will measure out to YOU in return.”

39 Then he also spoke an illustration to them: “A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Both will tumble into a pit, will they not? 40 A pupil is not above his teacher, but everyone that is perfectly instructed will be like his teacher. 41 Why, then, do you look at the straw that is in your brother’s eye, but do not observe the rafter that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, allow me to extract the straw that is in your eye,’ while you yourself are not looking at the rafter in that eye of yours? Hypocrite! First extract the rafter from your own eye, and then you will see clearly how to extract the straw that is in your brother’s eye.

43 “For there is not a fine tree producing rotten fruit; again there is not a rotten tree producing fine fruit. 44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. For example, people do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they cut grapes off a thornbush. 45 A good man brings forth good out of the good treasure of his heart, but a wicked man brings forth what is wicked out of his wicked [treasure]; for out of the heart’s abundance his mouth speaks.

46 “Why, then, do YOU call me ‘Lord! Lord!’ but do not do the things I say? 47 Everyone that comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show YOU whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug and went down deep and laid a foundation upon the rock-mass. Consequently, when a flood arose, the river dashed against that house, but was not strong enough to shake it, because of its being well built. 49 On the other hand, he who hears and does not do, is like a man who built a house upon the ground without a foundation. Against it the river dashed, and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house became great.”


7 When he had completed all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2 Now a certain army officer’s slave, who was dear to him, was ailing and was about to pass away. 3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent forth older men of the Jews to him to ask him to come and bring his slave safely through. 4 Then those that came up to Jesus began to entreat him earnestly, saying: “He is worthy of your conferring this upon him, 5 for he loves our nation and he himself built the synagogue for us.” 6 So Jesus started off with them. But when he was not far from the house, the army officer had already sent friends to say to him: “Sir, do not bother, for I am not fit to have you come in under my roof. 7 For that reason I did not consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me, and I say to this one, ‘Be on your way!’ and he is on his way, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 9 Well, when Jesus heard these things he marveled at him, and he turned to the crowd following him and said: “I tell YOU, Not even in Israel have I found so great a faith.” 10 And those that had been sent, on getting back to the house, found the slave in good health.

11 Closely following this he traveled to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd were traveling with him. 12 As he got near the gate of the city, why, look! there was a dead man being carried out, the only-begotten son of his mother. Besides, she was a widow. A considerable crowd from the city was also with her. 13 And when the Lord caught sight of her, he was moved with pity for her, and he said to her: “Stop weeping.” 14 With that he approached and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still, and he said: “Young man, I say to you, Get up!” 15 And the dead man sat up and started to speak, and he gave him to his mother. 16 Now fear seized them all, and they began to glorify God, saying: “A great prophet has been raised up among us,” and, “God has turned his attention to his people.” 17 And this news concerning him spread out into all Judea and all the surrounding country.

18 Now John’s disciples reported to him about all these things. 19 So John summoned a certain two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to say: “Are you the Coming One or are we to expect a different one?” 20 When they came up to him the men said: “John the Baptist dispatched us to you to say, ‘Are you the Coming One or are we to expect another?’” 21 In that hour he cured many of sicknesses and grievous diseases and wicked spirits, and granted many blind persons the favor of seeing. 22 Hence in answer he said to the [two]: “Go YOUR way, report to John what YOU saw and heard: the blind are receiving sight, the lame are walking, the lepers are being cleansed and the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised up, the poor are being told the good news. 23 And happy is he who has not stumbled over me.”

24 When the messengers of John had gone away, he started to say to the crowds concerning John: “What did YOU go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed being tossed by the wind? 25 What, then, did YOU go out to see? A man dressed in soft outer garments? Why, those in splendid dress and existing in luxury are in royal houses. 26 Really, then, what did YOU go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell YOU, and far more than a prophet. 27 This is he concerning whom it is written, ‘Look! I am sending forth my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way ahead of you.’ 28 I tell YOU, Among those born of women there is none greater than John; but a person that is a lesser one in the kingdom of God is greater than he is.” 29 (And all the people and the tax collectors, when they heard [this], declared God to be righteous, they having been baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and those versed in the Law disregarded the counsel of God to them, they not having been baptized by him.)

31 “With whom, therefore, shall I compare the men of this generation, and whom are they like? 32 They are like young children sitting in a marketplace and crying out to one another, and who say, ‘We played the flute for YOU, but YOU did not dance; we wailed, but YOU did not weep.’ 33 Correspondingly, John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, but YOU say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of man has come eating and drinking, but YOU say, ‘Look! A man gluttonous and given to drinking wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 All the same, wisdom is proved righteous by all its children.”

36 Now a certain one of the Pharisees kept asking him to dine with him. Accordingly he entered into the house of the Pharisee and reclined at the table. 37 And, look! a woman who was known in the city to be a sinner learned that he was reclining at a meal in the house of the Pharisee, and she brought an alabaster case of perfumed oil, 38 and, taking a position behind at his feet, she wept and started to wet his feet with her tears and she would wipe them off with the hair of her head. Also, she tenderly kissed his feet and greased them with the perfumed oil. 39 At the sight the Pharisee that invited him said within himself: “This man, if he were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman it is that is touching him, that she is a sinner.” 40 But in reply Jesus said to him: “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He said: “Teacher, say it!”

41 “Two men were debtors to a certain lender; the one was in debt for five hundred denarii, but the other for fifty. 42 When they did not have anything with which to pay back, he freely forgave them both. Therefore, which of them will love him the more?” 43 In answer Simon said: “I suppose it is the one to whom he freely forgave the more.” He said to him: “You judged correctly.” 44 With that he turned to the woman and said to Simon: “Do you behold this woman? I entered into your house; you gave me no water for my feet. But this woman wet my feet with her tears and wiped them off with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss; but this woman, from the hour that I came in, did not leave off tenderly kissing my feet. 46 You did not grease my head with oil; but this woman greased my feet with perfumed oil. 47 By virtue of this, I tell you, her sins, many though they are, are forgiven, because she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then he said to her: “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 At this those reclining at the table with him started to say within themselves: “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” 50 But he said to the woman: “Your faith has saved you; go your way in peace.”