Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation–Luke 6:37-38

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Welcome to today’s Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation covering Luke 6:37-38 where we receive teaching from Jesus on the judging and blessing others.

Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 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.

The first phrase of these two verses is a favorite of many, not because they are in pursuit of righteousness, but because they want to continue in their wickedness.  And yet, it stands as a command for all to follow who would seek the Lord.  Jesus, upon coming up to these directives had been confronted for doing good works on the Sabbath, taught a heavenly perspective on what was blessed and what was woeful, and challenged all to love those who seemed least worthy.  And so it naturally follows here that He would instruct people to be more careful with their words and not jump to accusations.  He, being the most misunderstood person who ever lived, longed for people to listen well and to examine their own hearts before attacking everyone else.  It is indeed likely that we will not be often judged by others if we don’t jump down other people’s throats, but even more serious here is the fact that God will hold us accountable for all our interactions with others.  We should in every way seek His perspective, for that is truth in fullness, and then speak with our fellow man based upon such.  This is why preachers must preach the Word and not their own counsels.  This is why parents must seek to instruct their children in a way that models the heavenly Father’s care instead of their own considerations.

Likewise, we need to remember that the pronouncement of condemnation belongs only to the Lord.  Though we can know a tree by it’s fruit, we cannot know the whole of the tree or the fullness of the fruit as God can.  We are unable to judge the heart and so can only issue warning to the wayward with no ultimate condemnation.

“Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.”  This introduces the blessings that will come to those who will extend grace to others.  Forgiveness is a difficult procedure to learn because we struggle so much with being offended and giving offense.  But humbling oneself and offering forgiveness is something that will not go unnoticed by others or by the Lord.  Both grudge-holding and grace-giving are contagious in nature, and both store up a future of either judgment or reward.  Similarly and perhaps more broadly (seeing as how forgiveness is itself a gift) we are instructed to give to others.  This might at many times call for great sacrifice on our part that seems highly counter intuitive when we are trying to build up our own wealth, no matter how modest.  The assurance here given is that we will not be found wanting for being generous to others.  Giving must be an action of faith.

The next statement given by Jesus is a bit unique in form but highly effective!  “Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.”  It is as if He is telling us that putting into practice all that He had given us to do will produce for us a full package, condensed and perfectly mixed, bursting forth with blessing for us to hold as our own.  Only a fool would not want such a gift from the ultimate gift Giver and Rewarder!  The question then becomes, “How does one get such a gift?”  The final sentence of this passage gives the answer: the measure used by the individual will be measured back to them.  This is what it looks like to store up treasure in heaven.  The practice of the things mentioned will not be forgotten.  There may be many blessings that come back to us here in this life, but the great abundance comes when the race is complete.  What a great help to have such principles to remember when living a life of passionate service and love!  Much to be gained, nothing of lasting value to be lost.

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