Luke 6:2-32

²Some of the Pharisees questioned him, asking, “Why are you doing what is not permitted on the Sabbath?”

³Jesus replied, “Have you never read what David did when he and his men were hungry?

⁴How he went into the house of God and took the consecrated bread? He ate it, and gave it to his men too. That's not permitted either. The consecrated bread is only for the priests.”

⁵Then he told them, “The Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

⁶On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue to teach. A man was there with a crippled right hand.

⁷The religious teachers and the Pharisees were observing Jesus closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. They wanted to find something to accuse him of.

⁸But Jesus knew what was in their minds. He told the man with the crippled hand, “Get up, and stand here in front of everyone.” The man got up and stood there.

⁹Then Jesus turned to them and said, “Let me ask you a question. Is it legal to do good on the Sabbath, or to do bad? To save life, or to destroy it?”

¹⁰He looked round at all of them there. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man did so, and his hand became like new.

¹¹But they flew into a rage, and began to discuss what they could do to Jesus.

¹²One day shortly after, Jesus went up a mountain to pray. He remained there all night, praying to God.

¹³When morning came he called together his disciples, and chose twelve of them. These are the names of the apostles:

¹⁴Simon (also called Peter by Jesus), Andrew his brother, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,

¹⁵Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Revolutionary,

¹⁶Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot (who became a traitor).

¹⁷Jesus went back down the mountain with them, and stopped at a place where there was some flat ground. There a crowd made up of his disciples and many other people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, had gathered to listen to him and to be cured from their diseases.

¹⁸Those who were troubled by evil spirits were also healed.

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.