Luke 6:20 kjv
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
Luke 6:20 nkjv
Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.
Luke 6:20 niv
Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Luke 6:20 esv
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Luke 6:20 nlt
Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said, "God blesses you who are poor,
for the Kingdom of God is yours.
Luke 6 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 5:3 | "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." | Parallel Beatitude emphasizing spiritual poverty. |
| Matt 11:5 | "The poor have the good news preached to them." | Christ's mission includes proclaiming to the poor. |
| Luke 4:18 | "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me...to preach good news to the poor..." | Jesus's inaugural sermon, mission to the poor. |
| Luke 14:13, 21 | "When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind... Bring in the poor..." | Command to show hospitality to the marginalized. |
| James 2:5 | "Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom...?" | God's choice often falls on the worldly poor. |
| Psa 40:17 | "As for me, I am poor and needy; but the Lord takes thought for me..." | Acknowledging dependency on God. |
| Psa 69:33 | "For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise His own people who are prisoners." | God's attentiveness to the needy. |
| Prov 28:6 | "Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways." | Integrity valued over wealth. |
| Isa 61:1 | "He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners." | Prophetic basis for Jesus's ministry to the afflicted. |
| Zeph 3:12 | "But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord." | Remnant characterized by humility and poverty. |
| Matt 19:23-24 | "Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven... It is easier for a camel..." | Difficulty of rich entering the Kingdom. |
| Luke 12:33 | "Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old..." | Radical generosity and detachment from possessions. |
| 1 Tim 6:9-10 | "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare... For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." | Warning against the pursuit of riches. |
| Acts 2:44-45 | "And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings..." | Early church's practice of sharing resources. |
| Phil 4:11-12 | "...for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound." | Paul's contentment in various circumstances. |
| Heb 11:25 | "choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin." | Moses choosing suffering with God's people. |
| Rev 2:9 | "I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)..." | Smyrna church, materially poor but spiritually rich. |
| Rev 21:3 | "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them." | Kingdom of God fully established. |
| 1 Cor 1:26-29 | "For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards... but God chose what is foolish..." | God chooses the lowly and despised. |
| Luke 1:52-53 | "He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate. He has filled the hungry with good things..." | Mary's Magnificat: God's reversal of fortunes. |
| Deut 15:11 | "For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother...'" | Enduring presence of poverty and call for aid. |
Luke 6 verses
Luke 6 20 Meaning
Luke 6:20 declares a profound and counter-intuitive truth about true blessedness. Jesus pronounces a divine blessing upon those who are "poor," stating that the Kingdom of God already belongs to them. This blessing signifies a state of true well-being, divine favor, and an enviable condition in God's eyes, specifically for those who lack worldly resources or social standing, or are humble and dependent upon God, making them receptive to His reign.
Luke 6 20 Context
Luke 6:20 is the inaugural blessing in Jesus's Sermon on the Plain, following His selection of the twelve apostles (Luke 6:12-19). This discourse is delivered to a crowd that includes a significant number of His disciples, along with a multitude of people who had come from various regions to hear Him and be healed. Unlike Matthew's Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7) which has broader Beatitudes (e.g., "poor in spirit"), Luke's Beatitudes, particularly Luke 6:20-23, are shorter and notably direct. Jesus's address here specifically targets "His disciples," suggesting a particular challenge and blessing for those committed to following Him. The immediate context shows Jesus interacting with those on the margins, healing them and speaking directly to them, setting the tone for Luke's consistent emphasis on the poor and outcast throughout his Gospel. Historically, wealth was often perceived as a sign of divine favor in the ancient Near East, while poverty could be seen as a curse or punishment. Jesus's radical pronouncement inverts this prevailing belief, highlighting a different basis for blessedness and divine favor.
Luke 6 20 Word analysis
- And He lifted up His eyes: A common biblical posture signifying intentionality, direct address, or contemplation. It draws attention to the speaker's focus and the importance of what is about to be said.
- on His disciples: This audience designation is crucial. Unlike parts of the wider crowd, these are individuals who have made a conscious choice to follow Jesus, implying a readiness to receive and live by His counter-cultural teachings.
- and said,: A direct declaration, an authoritative pronouncement from the teacher.
- 'Blessed (μακάριοι - makarioi): Not mere happiness based on circumstance, but a state of enviable well-being and favor from God. It denotes true fulfillment, flourishing, and inner joy that is not contingent on external conditions but is a spiritual reality guaranteed by God. This word refers to the happiness that flows from God's presence and approval.
- are you who are poor (οἱ πτωχοί - hoi ptōchoi): In Luke's Gospel, "poor" primarily refers to literal, material destitution, those who are genuinely impoverished, lacking basic necessities. It signifies not just being of modest means, but truly needy and dependent. While it can extend to those humble in spirit who depend solely on God (as in Matthew), Luke places a distinct emphasis on economic and social disadvantage. These are often the marginalized, the disinherited, those without earthly influence or possessions, often linking to the Hebrew concept of the "Anawim," the humble poor who trust implicitly in God.
- for yours is (ὅτι ὑμετέρα ἐστίν - hoti hymetera estin): The "for" (hoti) indicates the reason or basis for the blessedness. "Yours is" (literally "because yours it is") implies a present possession or immediate reality. The Kingdom of God is already a belonging of the poor, not just a future hope.
- the kingdom of God (ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ - hē basileia tou Theou): This is the central theme of Jesus's teaching. It signifies God's active, sovereign reign and rule. It is both a present spiritual reality experienced through Christ's ministry (God breaking into human history) and a future eschatological reality that will be fully established. Its presence is seen in divine reversals, healing, justice, and the radical reordering of priorities and power. For the "poor," it means inclusion, belonging, and an inversion of earthly power structures where they are heirs to God's dominion.
Words-group analysis:
- "Blessed are you who are poor": This is a radical redefinition of prosperity. It confronts the prevailing wisdom of the day that linked wealth with God's blessing. Jesus declares divine favor upon those often despised or overlooked by society, affirming their worth and inherent receptiveness to spiritual truths due to their humility and dependence.
- "for yours is the kingdom of God": This phrase explains why the poor are blessed. Their lack of earthly reliance positions them uniquely for absolute dependence on God. They are not striving for earthly kingdoms or possessions, but are open to God's reign. This pronouncement signifies their immediate inheritance and rightful place within God's sovereign rule, which brings peace, justice, and ultimate spiritual wealth.
Luke 6 20 Bonus section
Luke's unique emphasis on the materially poor stands out in comparison to Matthew's "poor in spirit" (Matt 5:3), although both contain a spiritual dimension. For Luke, true poverty of spirit often manifests itself through actual, lived experiences of material destitution. This Beatitude lays the groundwork for Luke's consistent advocacy for the economically disadvantaged and marginalized throughout his Gospel, demonstrating that Jesus's ministry had profound social and economic implications, advocating for justice and challenging the wealthy to acknowledge their spiritual emptiness if they ignore the needs of others. The "poor" here are heirs to God's promises because their lack of worldly resources positions them perfectly to place their entire hope and trust in Him. They are less susceptible to the distractions and corrupting influences that wealth can bring, and therefore, more receptive to the radical demands and blessings of God's reign.
Luke 6 20 Commentary
Luke 6:20 serves as a foundational declaration of Jesus's values and the nature of the Kingdom of God. It overturns conventional human wisdom by pronouncing blessedness upon those the world typically pities or despises: the materially poor. This is not a romanticization of poverty, but a recognition that material need often fosters a deep dependence on God and makes one particularly receptive to His transforming work, unlike those whose reliance is on their possessions. The Kingdom of God, God's present and future reign, is presented as an immediate possession for these individuals. This Beatitude is a core message that divine favor does not align with worldly wealth or status, but with humility, need, and openness to God's provision. It's a call to re-evaluate what truly constitutes blessedness and a challenge to human hierarchies based on wealth and power.