New Testament · Gospel

Luke 6:17

Blessings and Woes

Then Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of His disciples was there, along with a great number of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. Luke 6:17 · Berean Standard Bible

What It Means

Luke 6:17, in plain English

Jesus came down from the mountain with His apostles and stood on a flat area. A massive crowd had gathered from all over — Judea, Jerusalem, and even the coast of Tyre and Sidon.

Why it's here

People traveled enormous distances to see Jesus. His reputation had spread far beyond Galilee, drawing people from every direction.

Who's speaking

Luke sets the scene for what's known as the Sermon on the Plain.

Where it sits in the story

People traveled for days to hear Jesus. The hunger for His words crossed every boundary — geographic, ethnic, social. When Jesus speaks, something in the human heart recognizes it as truth.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

Jesus descends to a topos pedinos ("level place"), distinguishing this from Matthew's 'Sermon on the Mount.' The crowd's geographic diversity — Judea, Jerusalem, coastal Tyre and Sidon — indicates Jesus' fame has spread beyond Galilee.

Language and setting

Luke's 'Sermon on the Plain' parallels Matthew's Sermon on the Mount but with distinctive Lukan emphases including direct address, woes, and socioeconomic concerns.

Voice

Luke describes Jesus' descent from the mountain and the large, geographically diverse crowd.

Significance

The setting is significant: Jesus comes down from the mountain of prayer and selection to meet the multitude at ground level. The sermon that follows will be directed at this mixed audience of disciples and seekers.

In context

Luke 6:15–19

15Matthew and Thomas; James son of Alphaeus and Simon called the Zealot;

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

17Then Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of His disciples was there, along with a great number of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon.

18They had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases, and those troubled by unclean spirits were healed.

19The entire crowd was trying to touch Him, because power was coming from Him and healing them all.

Read all of Luke 6 — Blessed are the poor; woe to the rich. Jesus delivers his version of the great sermon and demands a love so radical it includes your enemies.

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