Luke 6:34-38

6:34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to be repaid, ¹  what credit is that to you? Even sinners ²  lend to sinners, so that they may be repaid in full. ³  6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back. ⁴  Then ⁵  your reward will be great, and you will be sons ⁶  of the Most High, ⁷  because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people. ⁸  6:36 Be merciful, ⁹  just as your Father is merciful.

Do Not Judge Others

6:37 “Do ¹⁰  not judge, ¹¹  and you will not be judged; ¹²  do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, ¹³  and you will be forgiven. 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, ¹⁴  will be poured ¹⁵  into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive.” ¹⁶ 

[6:34]  ¹ tn Grk “to receive”; but in context the repayment of the amount lent is implied. Jesus was noting that utilitarian motives are the way of the world.

[6:34]  ² sn See the note on the word sinners in v. 32.

[6:34]  ³ tn Grk “to receive as much again.”

[6:35]  ⁴ tn Or “in return.”

[6:35]  ⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the outcome or result. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started in the translation at this point.

[6:35]  ⁶ sn The character of these actions reflects the grace and kindness of God, bearing witness to a “line of descent” or relationship of the individual to God (sons of the Most High). There is to be a unique kind of ethic at work with disciples. Jesus refers specifically to sons here because in the ancient world sons had special privileges which were rarely accorded to daughters. However, Jesus is most likely addressing both men and women in this context, so women too would receive these same privileges.

[6:35]  ⁷ sn That is, “sons of God.”

[6:35]  ⁸ tn Or “to the ungrateful and immoral.” The word “people” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.

[6:36]  ⁹ sn Merciful is a characteristic of God often noted in the OT: Exod 34:6; Deut 4:31; Joel 2:31; Jonah 4:2; 2 Sam 24:14. This remark also echoes the more common OT statements like Lev 19:2 or Deut 18:13: “you must be holy as I am holy.”

[6:37]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “And do.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[6:37]  ¹¹ sn As the Gospel makes clear, with the statement do not judge Jesus had in mind making a judgment that caused one to cut oneself off from someone so that they ceased to be reached out to (5:27-32; 15:1-32). Jesus himself did make judgments about where people stand (11:37-54), but not in such a way that he ceased to continue to offer them God’s grace.

[6:37]  ¹² sn The point of the statement do not judge, and you will not be judged is that the standards one applies to others God applies back. The passive verbs in this verse look to God’s action.

[6:37]  ¹³ sn On forgive see Luke 11:4; 1 Pet 3:7.

[6:38]  ¹⁴ sn The background to the image pressed down, shaken together, running over is pouring out grain for measure in the marketplace. One often poured the grain into a container, shook it to level out the grain and then poured in some more. Those who are generous have generosity running over for them.

[6:38]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “they will give”; that is, “pour.” The third person plural has been replaced by the passive in the translation.

[6:38]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “by [the measure] with which you measure it will be measured back to you.”