Luke 6:20–49

THE BEATITUDES

²⁰Then looking up at his disciples, he said:^e

Blessed are you who are poor,

because the kingdom of God is yours.

²¹Blessed are you who are hungry now,

because you will be filled.

Blessed are you who weep now,

because you will laugh.

²²Blessed are you when people hate you,

when they exclude you,^f insult you,

and slander your name as evil^g

because of the Son of Man.^h

²³“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy. Take note—your reward is great in heaven, for this is the way their ancestors used to treat the prophets.ⁱ

WOE TO THE SELF-SATISFIED

²⁴But woe to you who are rich,

for you have received your comfort.

²⁵Woe to you who are now full,

for you will be hungry.

Woe to you ^Awho are now laughing,

for you will mourn and weep.

²⁶Woe to you^A

when all people speak well of you,

for this is the way their ancestors

used to treat the false prophets.^j

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

²⁷“But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.^{k 29}If anyone hits you on the cheek,^l offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. ³⁰Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back. ³¹Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them.^{m 32}If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.^{n 33}If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. ³⁴And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you?^o Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. ³⁵But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High.^p For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. ³⁶Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.^q

DO NOT JUDGE

³⁷“Do not judge, and you will not be judged.^r Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.^{s 38}Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap.^t For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”^u

³⁹He also told them a parable: “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit?^{v 40}A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.^w

⁴¹“Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye, but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye? ⁴²Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam of wood in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the beam of wood out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the splinter in your brother’s eye.

A TREE AND ITS FRUIT

⁴³“A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit.^{Ax 44}For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren’t gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush. ⁴⁵A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.

THE TWO FOUNDATIONS

⁴⁶“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say?^{a 47}I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them:^{b 48}He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn’t shake it, because it was well built. ⁴⁹But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great.”^c