Luke 6:7 (KJV)

What does Luke 6:7 mean?

Luke 6:7 describes religious leaders looking for grounds to accuse Jesus, rather than watching him heal with an open mind. They focus on whether he will heal a man on the Sabbath, the Jewish day of rest.

The scene follows the arrival of a man whose right hand was disabled in verse 6. Luke tells the reader what the scribes and Pharisees hoped to gain by observing Jesus. Scribes were teachers of Jewish law, while Pharisees were members of a Jewish religious group concerned with observing that law.

The Greek behind Luke 6:7

• “watched” — παρατηρέω (paratēreō): The word can carry the sense of watching closely or keeping someone under observation. Here, the close attention fits the leaders’ search for a reason to accuse Jesus.
• “accusation” — κατηγορία (katēgoria): The word means a charge or accusation against someone. It gives their watching a definite aim: finding something they could bring against Jesus.

Why Luke 6:7 matters

• The dispute concerns healing on the Sabbath, not whether the man needed help. Jesus later asks whether it is lawful on the Sabbath “to do good, or to do evil” (verse 9).
• Luke lets the reader see the leaders’ purpose before Jesus speaks to them. In verse 8, Jesus knows their thoughts and calls the man to stand before everyone.
• The leaders’ reaction shows how sharply the encounter divided them from Jesus. After the man’s hand is restored, they are filled with anger and discuss what they might do to Jesus (verse 11).