Luke 6:46

My Notes

What Does Luke 6:46 Mean?

"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Jesus asks the simplest, most devastating question in the Gospels. The answer He's looking for isn't complicated. It's just painful.

"Why call ye me, Lord, Lord" — the doubled title indicates enthusiasm, even reverence. Not casual name-dropping. Lord, Lord — with emphasis, with conviction, with apparent sincerity. These aren't atheists. These aren't hostile skeptics. These are people who use the right title, who address Jesus with the right words, who would self-identify as His followers.

"And do not the things which I say" — the gap between speech and action. Between title and obedience. Between what comes out of your mouth and what comes out of your life. Jesus doesn't question their theology. He questions their compliance. The problem isn't that they call Him the wrong thing. It's that they call Him the right thing and then live as if it doesn't apply.

"Lord" (kyrios) means master, owner, the one with authority over your life. To call someone Lord is to submit to their authority. To call someone Lord and then ignore their instructions is a contradiction so fundamental that Jesus marks it as the definition of hypocrisy. The title without the obedience is worse than no title at all — because it adds dishonesty to disobedience.

The question is rhetorical. Jesus isn't confused about why they do this. He's exposing the absurdity so they might see it themselves.

Reflection Questions

• 1.If you're honest, why do you call Jesus 'Lord' and not do what He says? What's your actual reason?
• 2.What specific instruction from Jesus are you currently acknowledging with your mouth but ignoring with your life?
• 3.What's the difference between imperfect obedience and the hypocrisy Jesus describes here? Where's the line?
• 4.If 'Lord' means master with authority over your life, what would it look like to actually live under that authority this week — not just claim the title?

Devotional

This is the question that levels every form of Christian hypocrisy in a single sentence. Why do you call Me Lord and then live like I'm not?

The honesty of the question is what makes it unbearable. Jesus doesn't accuse. He asks. And the asking is worse than accusing because it forces you to supply your own answer. Why do I call Him Lord and not do what He says? What is my actual reason?

The answers, if you're honest, are usually ugly. Because I'm afraid. Because it would cost me. Because I want to be seen as a follower without the inconvenience of actually following. Because the title makes me feel spiritual and the obedience makes me feel uncomfortable. Because Lord on my lips is free and Lord over my life is expensive.

Jesus isn't asking for perfection. He's asking for consistency. If He's Lord, He's Lord — which means His words aren't suggestions. They're instructions. And instructions from the person you've acknowledged as your master aren't optional. You don't get to pick which ones apply.

The question is standing in front of you right now. Not as condemnation — as invitation. Stop saying Lord with your mouth and no with your life. Either He's your Lord and you do what He says, or He's not and you should stop pretending. The middle ground — Lord on the lips, rebellion in the life — is the one place Jesus explicitly says you cannot stand.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture