Luke 6:9 Meaning and Explanation
“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?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus asks whether the sabbath is for doing good or evil, for saving life or destroying it.
What Does Luke 6:9 Mean?
Before healing, Jesus asks the question underneath the whole dispute: is it lawful on the sabbath to do good, or to do evil? To save life, or to destroy it? The choice he frames is stark. There is no neutral option — on God's day of rest, refusing to do good when good lies in your power is not nothing.
The irony is sharp: Jesus intends to save a man's hand on the sabbath, while his watchers spend the same sabbath plotting his destruction (verse 11). His question answers itself, and they do not answer at all. The day God blessed is most honored by doing what God does — good, healing, rescue.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 6:9
What does Luke 6:9 mean?
Jesus asks whether the sabbath is for doing good or evil, for saving life or destroying it.