Luke 6:38 - Printer Friendly

ESV: give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

NIV: Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

NASB: Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.'

CSB: Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."

NLT: Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full — pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. '

KJV: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

NKJV: Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Jesus continues to explain how His followers should treat their enemies. This choice must be influenced by understanding the Christian's status as children of God the Father. They should let go of the instinct to judge other people's actions and declare them guilty. They should release enmity in their hearts and forgive others (Luke 6:37). They should love their enemies, bless them, and pray for them (Luke 6:27–28).

The motif of giving can apply to two distinct aspects. A natural result of persecution is often poverty and hunger. Our enemies, who hate us because we follow Jesus, may sue us and take our belongings (Matthew 5:40). Jesus says to give anyway, and don't expect anything back. God will satisfy us and give us His kingdom as our birthright (Luke 6:20–21, 29–30). So, even if persecution leads to physical loss, we are free to share what we have with our enemies.

Giving can also apply to spiritual matters. Jesus exhorts us to replace judgment and condemnation with charity, choosing to forgive, instead (Luke 6:37). We should be especially quick to give these spiritual blessings considering what God has given us (Ephesians 4:32).

When we do so, we emulate our Father (Luke 6:35) and secure His blessings. The image is that of a container being filled, then tapped and shaken so the contents settle, with even more poured on top so the excess spills over into the folds of a person's robe. Jesus even promises that if we must walk away from homes and family for His sake, He will give us a new family (Luke 18:28–30; Mark 3:33–35). Ultimately, God promises us more than we could ask or imagine in eternity (1 Corinthians 2:9). This often works itself out in practical ways: those who are kind and generous often find others are more sensitive to their needs.

Matthew 7:2 takes the negative view, applying God's reciprocation with our choice to judge, not give forgiveness.

In Luke 6:37–42, Jesus finishes explaining precisely what it means to be His disciple. He began with a list of blessings His persecuted followers can expect. He listed consequences for those blessed by the ungodly world (Luke 6:20–26). He exhorts His followers to love their enemies with prayer and generosity (Luke 6:27–35). Here, He applies mercy (Luke 6:36) with gracious judgment and forgiveness. Finally, He calls the crowd to have good hearts and lives that are founded on Him (Luke 6:43–49). The sentiments behind Jesus' teachings here are scattered around Matthew and Mark.

Luke 6 contains two main sections of teaching and calls to discipleship. Luke 6:1–16 continues the pattern of Luke 5. The two ways in which Jesus sets aside tradition—this time by taking authority over the Sabbath—are paired with His call for the Twelve disciples. Luke 6:17–49 records Jesus' teaching on the ''level place,'' or His ''Sermon on the Plain,'' and a call to a crowd for general discipleship. Much of this material has parallels in Matthew 5 through 7, but it's not clear if the two accounts are of the same event. As a travelling teacher, Christ likely gave the same general message multiple times.

Luke 6 completes Jesus' call for disciples and followers that started in Luke 5. Luke 5:1—6:16 consists of three calls for disciples, each paired with two revolutionary teachings about Jesus' authority that increasingly infuriate the religious leaders. Luke 6:17–49 continues the theme with a general call for followers and a description of their responsibilities. In Luke 7:1—8:3, Jesus interacts with the other: Gentiles, women, and even the dead. This is followed by another general call (Luke 8:4–21), a series of miracles (Luke 8:22—9:17), and a final call for the Twelve to follow Him even more deeply (Luke 9:18–50).

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.