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In Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) in a scene we can see Luke trying to attack the Emperor with his lightsaber. But Darth Vader stops him.

Why does Vader stop Luke when he tries to kill the Emperor?

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Vader wanted Luke to have loyality with him, not Palpatine.

Darth Vader: Luke. You can destroy the Emperor. He has foreseen this. It is your destiny. Join me, and together we can rule the galaxy as father and son. Come with me. It is the only way.

But for this, he has to turn Luke to the dark side. He had to show the power of hate and anger, that will eventually lead him to the dark side, but when he tried to strike Palpatine, he did not have anger and hate flowing through his veins. At that time, he could have killed the Emperor, but Vader needed him to accomplish this.

Emperor: Patience, my friend. In time he will seek you out. And when he does, you must bring him before me. He has grown strong. Only together can we turn him to the dark side of the Force.

As we can see, only Vader and Emperor Palpatine together could've turn Luke to the dark side.

We can see Vader later provoking Luke in order to do that.

This Sci-Fi answer to similar question also shares more details.

To reply the comment that asked that he wasn't going to kill Palpatine and rule the galaxy, here is the conversation between Padme and Anakin (Vader) in Revenge of the Sith,

Anakin: I have brought peace to the Republic. I am more powerful than the Chancellor. I- I can overthrow him. And together, you and I can rule the galaxy, and make things the way we want them to be.

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  • Please see my comment on OP for reasoning behind my DV of your response. In short, I fundamentally disagree with your interpretation of Vader's motivations, and his dynamic with Luke and Palpatine.
    – Charles
    Commented Feb 28, 2018 at 15:02
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    For sure, that makes sense. :) Truly though, to address your response with a bit more detail, IMO, there's much more evidence that suggests Vader was still 100% loyal to Palpatine (and more importantly, the Dark Side itself) than there is evidence of him desiring to join forces with his son to take Palapatine's place. Up until his last act of free will, that being saving his son, Vader acts as nothing more than a kind of foot solider to the Emperor, and considers himself completely controlled by the Dark Side of the Force. "You underestimate the power of the Dark Side."
    – Charles
    Commented Mar 2, 2018 at 16:56
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    For example, if Vader didn't block Luke's attack, and the Emperor was struck down, Vader would have betrayed his loyalty to his master, as well as to the Dark Side. At that moment, he had yet to observe Luke suffering so much, and didn't have to decide which side of the balance to favor. It was only until his own son's life was in immediate danger that the decision truly laid before Vader to chose one or the other. So, that being said, Vader was simply upholding his duty to his master, and the Dark Side, by blocking Luke's attack. There's really nothing more to it; again, IMO.
    – Charles
    Commented Mar 2, 2018 at 17:02
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    @Charles Well, I am done discussing. I am willing to keep your downvote and stand by my answer.
    – A J ♦
    Commented Mar 2, 2018 at 17:24
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    @Charles I appreciated your previous SW answers. If you have something different to add, as I can see you do, that can serve as an answer, feel free to do that.
    – A J ♦
    Commented Mar 2, 2018 at 17:28
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Simple. He (Vader) knows how strong the Emperor is. If Luke tried to stop him (the emperor) Luke would have died. So sacrificed his own life to save Luke

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