Luke 6:19-47

¹⁹Everyone in the crowd tried to touch him, because power was coming out from him and healing them all.

²⁰Looking at his disciples, Jesus told them,

²¹“How happy are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. How happy are you who are hungry now, for you will eat all you need. How happy are you who are weeping now, for you will laugh.

²²How happy are you when people hate you, exclude you, insult you, and curse your name as evil because of me, the Son of man.

²³When that day comes, be happy. Jump for joy, for great is your reward in heaven. Don't forget their forefathers mistreated the prophets just like this.

²⁴But how sad are you who are rich, for you have already received your reward.

²⁵How sad are you who are full now, for you will become hungry. How sad are you who laugh now, for you will mourn and cry.

²⁶How sad are you when everyone praises you. Don't forget that their forefathers praised false prophets just like this.

²⁷But I say to those of you who are listening: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you.

²⁸Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you.

²⁹If someone hits you on one cheek, turn the other cheek. If someone takes your coat, don't prevent them taking your shirt.

³⁰Give to anyone who asks you. If someone takes something from you, don't ask for it back.

³¹Do to others what you want them to do to you.

³²If you love those who love you, why should you deserve any credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them.

³³If you do good to those who do good to you, why should you deserve any credit for that either? Sinners do that as well.

³⁴If you lend money expecting to be repaid, why should you deserve any credit for that? Sinners lend money to other sinners as well, expecting to be repaid what they loaned.

³⁵No: love your enemies, do good to them, and lend without expecting to be repaid anything. Then you will receive a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God, for he is kind to ungrateful and wicked people.

³⁶Be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

³⁷Don't judge, and you won't be judged; don't condemn, and you won't be condemned; forgive, and you'll be forgiven;

³⁸give, and you will be given generously in return. When what you're given is measured out, it's pressed down so more can be added, spilling out over the top, pouring into your lap! For how much you give will determine how much you receive.”

³⁹Then he illustrated the point: “Can a blind person lead another? Wouldn't they both fall into a ditch?

⁴⁰Do students know more than the teacher? Only when they've learned everything: then they will be like their teacher.

⁴¹Why are you so worried about the speck that's in your brother's eye when you don't even notice the plank that's in your own eye?

⁴²How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that's in your eye,’ when you don't even see the plank that's in your own eye? Hypocrite! Take out the plank from your own eye first, and then you'll be able to see well enough to take out the speck from your brother's eye.

⁴³A good tree doesn't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree doesn't produce good fruit.

⁴⁴You recognize a tree by the fruit it produces. You don't pick figs from thorn bushes, or harvest grapes from brambles.

⁴⁵Good people produce what's good from the good things they value that they have stored inside them. Bad people produce what's bad from the bad things they have stored inside them. What fills people's minds spills out in what they say.

⁴⁶So why do you bother to call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ when you don't do what I say?

⁴⁷I'll give you an example of someone who comes to me, hears my instructions, and follows them.