Be Merciful

Mercy and a Firm Foundation · Luke 6

Story guide: On a level place Jesus speaks blessings and woes, calls listeners to love their enemies, and teaches mercy like the Father’s. Food and crowd details are illustrative staging.

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17And coming down with them, he stood on a level place, with a large crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon,

18who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those troubled by unclean spirits were being healed.

19And the whole crowd was trying to touch him, because power was coming out from him and healing them all.

20And he, lifting up his eyes toward his disciples, was saying: “Blessed are the poor, because yours is the kingdom of God.”

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, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man.

23Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same way their fathers used to do to the prophets.

24But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort.

25Woe to you who are full now, because you will be hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, because you will mourn and weep.

26Woe when all people speak well of you, for their fathers used to do the same to the false prophets.

27But I say to 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.

29To the one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from the one who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic also.

30Give to everyone who asks you, and from the one who takes what is yours, do not demand it back.

31And just as you want people to do for you, do the same for them.

32And if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.

34And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners so that they may receive back the same amount.

35But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and evil.

36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

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