Luke 6:12 - Meaning and Application

In these verses, we see the Lord Jesus in private, in his close circle, and in public, and in each setting he acts in a way that fits him perfectly.

In private, we see him praying to God (Luke 6:12). This writer often notices when Christ withdrew, to give us an example of secret prayer. We must keep up daily fellowship with God this way, and without it the soul cannot truly grow. At this time, his enemies were filled with rage and were planning what to do to him. He went out to pray, and in this he answered the pattern of David (Psalm 109:4): “For my love, they are my adversaries, but I give myself to prayer.” He was alone with God, going out to a mountain so there would be no disturbance or interruption. We are never less alone than when we are alone with God. Some think there may have been a special place of prayer on that mountain, but that is uncertain. He went there for privacy, and so he likely did not go to a place where many others gathered. He also stayed there a long time with God, continuing all night in prayer. We may think half an hour is a long time for private devotion, but Christ spent a whole night in meditation and prayer. We have much to bring before the throne of grace, and we should take great joy in fellowship with God. Those two things can sometimes keep us in prayer for a long time.

In his close circle, we see him choosing the men who would be his constant hearers and witnesses of his miracles, and later be sent out as apostles, that is, messengers sent to preach his gospel and build his church (Luke 6:13). After spending the night in prayer, one might think he would rest when day came. Instead, as soon as people were awake, he called his disciples to him. In serving God, we should be careful not to waste time, but to let one good duty lead into the next. Men set apart for ministry should be appointed with prayer that is especially serious and solemn. The number of the apostles was twelve, and their names are listed here. We meet them for the third time, and each time the order is different. This teaches both ministers and Christians not to care too much about rank or place, and even less to fight for it. Let things stand as they happen. The one called Thaddeus in Mark, and Lebbaeus in Matthew, whose surname was Thaddeus, is here called Judas the brother of James, the same man who wrote the letter of Jude. Simon, called the Canaanite in Matthew and Mark, is here called Simon Zelotes, likely because he had great zeal for religion. About these twelve, we may say as the queen of Sheba said about Solomon’s servants, “Happy are your men, and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom.” No men were ever so privileged, and yet one of them had a devil and turned traitor (Luke 6:16). Even so, Christ was not mistaken when he chose him.

In public, we see him preaching and healing, the two great works that filled his time (Luke 6:17). He came down with the twelve from the mountain and stood on level ground, ready to receive all who came to him. A large crowd gathered, not only his usual disciples, but also many people from Judea and Jerusalem. Even though Jerusalem was many miles away from that part of Galilee, and even though it had famous teachers with great reputations, they still came to hear Christ. People also came from the coastlands of Tyre and Sidon. Those regions were mostly filled with busy merchants, and they bordered land once held by Canaanites, yet some there were well disposed toward Christ. He had followers scattered in many places, here and there. They came to hear him, and he taught them. If good preaching is not near us, it is better to travel far to hear it than to go without it. It is worth going a long way to hear Christ’s word and setting aside other business for it. They also came to be healed, and he healed them. Some were troubled in body, and some in mind. Some had diseases, and some were oppressed by demons. But when they came to Christ, both kinds were healed, for he has power over diseases and demons, over both the effects and the causes (Luke 6:17, 18). It seems that even those who had no particular illness felt his power in a blessing to their bodies, because the whole crowd tried to touch him (Luke 6:19). Those who were healthy as well as those who were sick were helped in one way or another. He healed them all. And who among us does not need healing in some way? There is enough grace in Christ, and enough healing power in him, for everyone and for each one.