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Luke 6:1. On Saturday, the first after the second day of Easter, He happened to pass through sown fields, and His disciples plucked ears of corn and ate them, rubbing them with their hands. The Jews called every holiday the Sabbath, for the Sabbath means rest. Often the holiday was celebrated on Friday, and this Friday, for the sake of the holiday, was called Saturday. Then Saturday itself was called the second-first, as the second after the preceding other holiday and Saturday. A similar thing happened then, and this Saturday is called “the second-first.” Luke 6:2. But some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why do you do what you should not do on the Sabbath?” Luke 6:3. Jesus answered and said to them, Have you not read what David did when he and those with him were hungry? Luke 6:4. How did he enter the house of God, take the showbread, which no one should eat except the priests, and eat it, and give it to those with him? To the Pharisees, who accuse the disciples of eating on the Sabbath, “plucking”, that is, plucking, ears of grain and crumbling, that is, “rubbing with hands,” the Lord points to David, who was hungry and ate “the showbread.” For he, fleeing from Saul, came to the high priest Abiathar and deceived him, saying that the king had sent him on one necessary matter, and in his greed he took from the priest the showbread, which was offered every day at the sacred meal in twelve, six from the right hand and six from the left hand (Lev. 24:5-6). He also received the sword of Goliath (1 Samuel 21:1-9). The Lord, reminding them of this story, shames them with David’s act. If you,” he says, “revere David, then how do you condemn My disciples? Luke 6:5. And he said to them: The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. And otherwise: “Son of Man..., that is, I, the Lord of the Sabbath,” and as Creator and Creator, and Ruler, and Lawgiver, I have the power to destroy the Sabbath. “Son of Man” could be called none other than Christ, who, being the Son of God, for the sake of men most wonderfully deigned to be and be called the Son of Man. For there is nothing new in the fact that you and I are called the Son of Man, but what is remarkable is that He, who became most wonderfully man, is called the Son of Man. Luke 6:6. It happened on another Saturday that He entered the synagogue and taught. There was a man whose right hand was dry. Luke 6:7. The scribes and Pharisees watched Him to see if He would heal on the Sabbath, in order to find an accusation against Him. Luke 6:8. But He, knowing their thoughts, said to the man who had a withered hand: stand up and step into the middle. And he stood up and spoke. Luke 6:9. Then Jesus said to them: I ask you: what should you do on the Sabbath? good or evil? save your soul or destroy it? They were silent. Luke 6:10. And looking at them all, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so; and his hand became as healthy as the other. Luke 6:11. They became furious and talked among themselves about what they should do to Jesus. What we said in the explanation of the Gospel of Matthew is known (see Chapter 12). Now let’s say that he who does not perform any deeds of piety has a dry hand. For the hand is an instrument of activity, and whoever has it withered is, without a doubt, idle. So, whoever wants to heal his hand will heal it on Saturday. Let me explain. He cannot perform deeds of piety who first does not calm down from anger. First turn away from evil, and then do good (Ps. 36:27). So, when you keep the Sabbath, that is, rest from evil deeds, then you will stretch out your hand to the works of piety, and it will be restored to you. It is decent to say: “his hand became healthy.” For there was a time when human nature had good activity and a hand, that is, active force, healthy; then she lost it and, by the grace of Christ, acquired it again, and returned to her former goodness. Luke 6:12. In those days He went up the mountain to pray and spent the whole night in prayer to God. The Lord creates everything for our teaching, so that we also do as He does. For example, He intends to pray. He climbs the mountain. For one should pray, having calmed down from work and not in the presence of many, and pray throughout the whole night, and not in such a way that one begins to pray and immediately stops. Luke 6:13. When the day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he named apostles: Luke 6:14. Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Luke 6:15. Matthew and Thomas, James Alphaeus and Simon, called the Zealot, Luke 6:16. Judas Jacob and Judas Iscariot, who later became a traitor. He selects disciples after prayer, wanting to teach that we, when it comes to appointing someone to spiritual service, take up this matter with prayer, seek guidance from God and ask Him to show us someone worthy. Luke 6:17. And He went down with them and stood on level ground, and a multitude of His disciples, and a great crowd from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal regions of Tire and Sidon, Luke 6:18. who came to listen to Him and be healed of their illnesses, also those suffering from unclean spirits; and were healed. Having chosen twelve, he descends from the mountain to heal those who came from the cities and do double good, namely: to the soul and to the body. For listen: “they came to listen to Him” - this is the healing of souls; “and be healed of your illnesses” is the healing of bodies. Luke 6:19. And all the people sought to touch Him, because power came from Him and healed everyone. The prophets and other saints had no power coming from them, for they were not themselves the sources of power. And the Lord had power coming from Him, for He Himself was the source of power, while the prophets and saints received special power from above. Luke 6:20. And He lifted His eyes to His disciples and said: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for yours is the Kingdom of God. Luke 6:21. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are those who weep now, for you will laugh. Luke 6:22. Blessed are you when people hate you and when they excommunicate you and revile you and call your name dishonorable because of the Son of Man. Luke 6:23. Rejoice in that day and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. This is what their fathers did to the prophets The Lord, having ordained his disciples, brings them into a more spiritual state through beatitudes and teaching. For He speaks to them. And, firstly, he pleases the poor; If you want, mean by them the humble, if you want - leading a life that does not love money. In general, all the beatitudes teach us moderation, humility, humiliation, and enduring reproaches. Luke 6:24. On the contrary, woe to you, rich people! for you have already received your consolation. Luke 6:25. Woe to you who are now satiated! for you will hunger. Woe to you who laugh now! for you will mourn and lament. Luke 6:26. Woe to you when all people speak well of you! For this is what their fathers did to the false prophets. Just as “sorrow” is assigned to those who are rich in the present age (about whom it is said that they receive consolation, that is, here, in the present age, they taste joy, have fun, enjoy pleasures and receive praise). Let us be afraid, brothers, for woe to those who have praise from people. For one must deserve praise from people, but first from God. Luke 6:27. But I say to you who are listening: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, Luke 6:28. bless those who curse you and pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:29. Give the other one to the one who hits you on the cheek, and do not prevent the one who takes your outer clothing from taking your shirt. Luke 6:30. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not demand back from the one who took what is yours. The apostles were sent to preach and therefore expected many persecutors and slanderers. So, if the apostles, burdened by persecution, then wanting to take revenge on the offenders, had become silent and stopped teaching, then the sun of the Gospel would have gone out. That is why the Lord first convinces the apostles not to take revenge on their enemies, but to endure everything that happens courageously, whether someone offends them or plots unrighteously against them. This is what He Himself did on the Cross, saying: “Father! forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Luke 6:31. And as you want people to do to you, do so to them. Then, so that the apostles would not say that such a commandment - to love your enemies - is impossible, He says: what you wish for yourself, do to others, and be in relation to others what you wish others to have in relation to you. If you want your enemies to be harsh, uncompassionate and angry for you, then be like that. If, on the contrary, you want them to be kind and compassionate, and unforgettable, then do not consider it impossible to be one yourself. Luke 6:32. And if you love those who love you, what gratitude do you have for that? for sinners also love those who love them. Luke 6:33. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what gratitude is that to you? for sinners do the same. Luke 6:34. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to get it back, what gratitude are you for that? for even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. Luke 6:35. But you love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing; and you will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Luke 6:36. Therefore, be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do you see the innate law written in our hearts? So the Lord said: “I will put My law within them and write it on their hearts” (Jer. 31:33). Then he offers them another incentive, namely: “if you love those who love you,” then you are like sinners and pagans; if you love those who are angry with you, then you are like God, who is “good... to the ungrateful and evil.” So, what do you want: to be like sinners, or like God? Do you see the Divine teaching? At first He convinced you by natural law: what you wish for yourself, do to others; then he convinces with both death and reward, for as a reward he promises you that you will be like God. Luke 6:37. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; The Lord cuts off from our souls the most difficult disease, I mean, the root of arrogance. For whoever does not look after himself, but only spies on his neighbor and wants to discredit him, has obviously forgotten himself, captivated by arrogance. He always thinks of himself that he does not sin, and therefore condemns others when they sin. So, if you do not want to be judged, do not judge others. For tell me, please, why do you condemn another as a transgressor of the Divine Laws in everything? But don’t you yourself violate the Divine Law (I’m not talking about other sins) by condemning others? For the Law of God decisively commands you not to condemn your brother. This means that you are breaking the Law. And being a criminal yourself, you should not condemn another as a criminal; for the Judge must be above nature, which falls into sin. Luke 6:38. give, and it will be given to you: good measure, shaken together, pressed, and running over, will be poured into your bosom; For with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you. So, let go, and it will be released to you; give, and it will be given to you. For good measure, pressed, shaken and running over, will be given into your bosom. For the Lord will not measure sparingly, but richly. Just as you, intending to measure out some kind of flour, if you want to measure out without stinginess, press it, shake it and apply it in abundance, so the Lord will give you a large and abundant measure. Perhaps another witty person will ask: how does He say that they will give a full measure into your bosom, when He said that He will measure it to you with the same measure that you measure, for if it overflows from the top, it is not the same? We answer, the Lord did not say: He will measure it to you with the “same” measure, but “with the same” measure. If He said: “by the same measure,” then the speech would present difficulty and contradiction; and now, having said: “with the same”, He resolves the contradiction, for it is possible to measure with one measure, but not in the same way. This is what the Lord says: if you do good, they will do good to you. This is the same measure. It is called overflowing because for one of your good deeds you will be paid countless times. Luke 6:39. He also told them a parable: Can a blind man lead a blind man? won't they both fall into the pit? The same goes for condemnation. For he who condemns receives the same measure when he is subsequently condemned; since he is condemned more, as having condemned his neighbor, then this measure is full. The Lord, having said this and forbidding us to condemn, also presents us with a parable, that is, an example. He says: he who condemns another and commits the same sins himself! Tell me, perhaps, are you not like a blind man leading a blind man? For if you condemn another, and you yourself fall into the same sins, then you are both blind. Although you think that through condemnation you are leading him for good, you are not leading him. For how can he be taught by you to do good when you yourself fall? Luke 6:40. A student is never higher than his teacher; but, having been perfected, everyone will be like his teacher. “The student is never higher than... the teacher.” If, therefore, you, the imaginary teacher and leader, fall, then, without a doubt, the student you lead also falls. For even a prepared disciple, that is, a perfect one, will be like his teacher. Having said this that we should not condemn those who are weaker and, apparently, sinners, He adds something else on the same subject. Luke 6:41. Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not feel the plank in your own eye? Luke 6:42. Or, as you can say to your brother: brother! Let me take the speck out of your eye, when you yourself cannot see the beam in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. “What,” he says, “do you see the “bough”, that is, the small sin of your brother, and do not notice the “log” - your great sin? This can apply to everyone, and especially to teachers and bosses, who punish even the small mistakes of their subordinates, but leave their own, no matter how great, unpunished. That is why the Lord calls them hypocrites, because they seem different (for, punishing the sins of others, they seem righteous), and in reality it is different, for they themselves sin, and even worse. Then he confirms His speech by example. Luke 6:43. There is no good tree that bears bad fruit; and there is no bad tree that bears good fruit, Luke 6:44. For every tree is known by its fruit, because they do not gather figs from thorn trees, or pluck grapes from bushes. Luke 6:45. A good man brings forth good things from the good treasure of his heart, and an evil man brings forth evil things from the evil treasure of his heart, for out of the abundance of his heart his mouth speaks. Just as a good tree, he says, does not bear rotten fruit, and a rotten tree does not bear good fruit, so the one who intends to make others chaste, to correct them and bring them into a better state, should not himself be evil; if he himself is angry, he will not make others better. For everyone's heart is a treasury. If it contains good, then the person is good and speaks good; if the heart is full of evil, then the person is angry and speaks evil. You can understand all this speech about the Pharisees. For He, turning to them, said: first throw the plank out of your own eye, and then the speck from your brother’s eye, just as in another place he said: “straining out a gnat and swallowing up a camel” (Matthew 23:24). How, he says, can you Pharisees, being rotten trees, bear good fruit? For just as your teaching is rotten, so is your life, since you speak from the abundance of your heart. How will you correct others and punish the crimes of others when you yourself sin more? Luke 6:46. Why do you call Me: Lord! God! - and do not do what I say? Luke 6:47. Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and does them, I will tell you who he is like. Luke 6:48. He is like a man building a house, who dug, went deep and laid the foundation on the rock; why, when the flood happened and the water came against this house, it could not shake it, because it was founded on stone. This necessarily applies to us, who with our lips confess Him as Lord, “but with our works we deny” Him (Titus 1:16). If,” he says, “I am the Lord, then in everything you must act as slaves.” And the duty of slaves is to do what the Lord commands. Then he tells us what benefit it is to him who listens to Him and not only listens, but actually does it. Such a one is “like a man building a house,” who built it “on a rock.” “The stone...,” as the apostle testifies (1 Cor. 10:4), “is Christ.” Luke 6:49. But he who listens and does not do is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation, which, when water came upon it, immediately collapsed; and the destruction of this house was great. The one who digs and deepens is the one who does not accept the words of Scripture superficially, but seeks out their depths in spirit. This one builds on stone; then, when a flood occurs, that is, persecution or temptation, the river approaches this house, that is, the tempter, whether demon or man, and, however, cannot shake it. A tempting person can very rightly be compared to a flood of a river. For just as a river flood is caused by water falling from above, so the tempter man is brought back by Satan, who fell from heaven. The house of those who do not keep the words of the Lord falls, and the destruction of this house is great. For the fall of those who hear but do not do is great, because he who neither heard nor did sins more easily, but he who hears and yet does not do sins more seriously.