Luke 6:9

Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy [it]?

Then {G3767} said {G2036} Jesus {G2424} unto {G4314} them {G846}, I will ask {G1905} you {G5209} one thing {G5101}; Is it lawful {G1832} on the sabbath days {G4521} to do good {G15}, or {G2228} to do evil {G2554}? to save {G4982} life {G5590}, or {G2228} to destroy {G622} it?

Then Yeshua said to them, "I ask you now: what is permitted on Shabbat? Doing good or doing evil? Saving life or destroying it?"

Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

And Jesus said unto them, I ask you, Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to destroy it?

Commentary

Luke 6:9 presents a pivotal moment where Jesus challenges the religious leaders' rigid interpretation of the Sabbath law, highlighting the true purpose of God's commands.

Context

This verse immediately follows Jesus' encounter with a man with a withered hand in the synagogue on the Sabbath. The scribes and Pharisees were meticulously watching Him, hoping to find grounds for accusation if He performed a healing work on the holy day (see Luke 6:7). Instead of directly addressing their unspoken challenge, Jesus poses a profound question that exposes the flaw in their legalistic thinking.

Key Themes

  • The Purpose of the Sabbath: Jesus reframes the Sabbath not as a day for strict inactivity that precludes good, but as an opportunity for acts of mercy and life-giving. His question forces a stark choice between actively doing good and passively allowing harm.
  • Mercy Over Legalism: Jesus consistently prioritized compassion and human need over the letter of the law when it resulted in hardship or injustice. This incident, like others (e.g., Matthew 12:7, "I will have mercy, and not sacrifice"), underscores His teaching that the spirit of the law is love and compassion.
  • The Nature of Good and Evil: By contrasting "to do good" with "to do evil," and "to save life" with "to destroy," Jesus implies that inaction in the face of suffering or the prevention of good is, in itself, a form of evil or destruction. The Pharisees' desire to prevent healing was akin to destroying life.
  • Jesus' Authority: In asking this question, Jesus asserts His authority to interpret and apply God's law, challenging the established religious authorities who had burdened the people with countless regulations.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "Is it lawful" translates the Greek exestin (ἔξεστιν), which means "is it permissible" or "is it right." Jesus' question is not merely about legality according to human tradition, but about moral righteousness and divine intent. The contrast between "to do good" (agathopoieō) and "to do evil" (kakopoieō) uses strong, active verbs, emphasizing the moral responsibility of action or inaction.

Practical Application

Luke 6:9 challenges believers today to examine their own priorities. Are we so caught up in rules, traditions, or even personal comfort that we neglect opportunities to show compassion and do good? This verse encourages us to actively seek ways to bring healing, help, and life to others, understanding that true righteousness is often expressed through acts of love and mercy, particularly towards those in need. It reminds us that God's laws are ultimately for our good and the good of humanity, always aligning with His character of love and compassion, as seen in 1 John 4:8.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 14:3

    And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

  • Matthew 12:12

    How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

  • Matthew 12:13

    Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched [it] forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

  • Mark 3:4

    And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

  • John 7:19

    Did not Moses give you the law, and [yet] none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

  • John 7:23

    If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?

  • Luke 9:56

    For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save [them]. And they went to another village.
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