Paragraph 6:46–49

Jesus concluded his sermon by challenging his listeners not only to hear his teaching but also to obey it. He spoke a parable that illustrated the wisdom of listening and obeying and the folly of listening without obeying.

6:46a–b

Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I say?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus used this rhetorical question to rebuke the people who called him Lord but did not obey him.

Some ways to translate this rebuke are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord,” and yet don’t do what I tell you? (Good News Translation)

• As a statement or a command. For example:

You are wrong to call me “Lord, Lord” and not do what I say.
-or-
You should not call me “Lord, Lord” if you are not going to obey me.

Translate this rebuke in a way that is natural in your language.

6:46a

call Me: The words call Me indicate here that these people were using the title “Lord, Lord” to address Jesus. Another way to translate this is:

keep on saying that I am your Lord (Contemporary English Version)

Lord, Lord: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord means “master” or “one who has authority over others.” People used this word as a polite title when they spoke to an elder or someone in authority.

In this context, Jesus taught that the people who were calling him Lord acknowledged that he was their master. They were implying that they were following him as his disciples. Therefore, they knew that he had the right to tell them what to do and that they ought to obey him. Some other ways to translate this are:

Master
-or-
Leader

The doubled form Lord, Lord is an emphatic way to address someone. Here it emphasizes the honor and respect that the title Lord implies. In some languages, this doubled form might imply a wrong meaning. For example, it could mean that the speaker is angry with the person he is addressing. If this doubled form does not show honor in your language, use the word Lord once. Indicate the emphasis in another way. For example:

Why do you insist that I am your lord/master by calling me ‘Lord/Master,’ but…

See Lord, Context 3, in the Glossary.

6:46b

but not do what I say: This part of the verse contrasts with 6:46a. When people call Jesus their Lord, it implies that they will obey him. However, Jesus indicated that the people were not actually obeying him. Some ways to show this contrast are:

and yet don’t do what I tell you (Good News Translation)
-or-

and in spite of that, you do not do what I say

what I say: Some other ways to translate the phrase what I say are:

what I say that you should do
-or-
what I command/tell you to do

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