"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.” Luke 6:38 (NIV)
Historical Context: Luke 6:38 is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain, addressing His disciples and a broader crowd. This teaching occurs within a cultural framework where generosity and reciprocity were highly valued, reflecting the socio-economic challenges of the time.
Literary Context: The verse is part of a broader section emphasizing love, mercy, and non-judgment. Preceding verses encourage forgiveness, love for enemies, and mercy. Following verses address issues of hypocrisy and personal accountability.
Word Study
"Give" (δίδωμι, didōmi): Implies a free and generous act without expecting anything in return.
"Measure" (μέτρον, metron): Refers to the standard of measurement used in trade, often symbolizing fairness or abundance.
"Shaken together, running over": Idiomatic phrases emphasizing excess, abundance, and overflowing generosity.
Theological Context
Luke 6:38 encapsulates the Kingdom principle of reciprocity—what one gives (whether love, forgiveness, or resources) will be returned, magnified by divine generosity. It ties to the broader biblical principle of sowing and reaping (Gal. 6:7-9).
Scriptural Cross-referencing
Proverbs 11:25: "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."
2 Corinthians 9:6-8: Highlights God’s provision to those who give cheerfully.
Matthew 7:2: Reinforces the idea of measured reciprocity in judgment and actions.
Application to the Original Audience
Jesus encouraged His disciples to practice radical generosity and grace, contrasting societal norms that emphasized repayment and fairness.
Application to the Contemporary Audience
Believers are called to embody generosity and trust in God’s abundant provision. This teaching challenges materialism and fear of scarcity, encouraging a life of faith and grace-filled action.
The Overflowing Measure of Kingdom Generosity
Luke 6:38 profoundly invites us into the transformative economy of God’s Kingdom. Jesus declares, "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." These words echo with both challenge and promise, urging believers to embrace a life marked by generosity, grace, and divine reciprocity.
This verse emerges from the Sermon on the Plain, where Jesus reorients His audience to Kingdom values that transcend societal norms. In the historical context, generosity often carried an expectation of repayment or reciprocation. Yet Jesus presents giving as an act of faith, untethered from human repayment and instead reliant on God’s boundless provision. The imagery of "pressed down, shaken together, and running over" vividly depicts a measure of divine abundance that exceeds human expectation.
Theologically, Luke 6:38 reinforces the principle that one’s actions towards others invite a mirrored response from God. It is not mere human reciprocity but divine multiplication. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative, such as Paul’s teaching in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, which affirms that cheerful giving invites God’s sufficiency in all things.
The application of this passage stretches across time. For the original audience, many of whom lived under economic hardship, this teaching was both a challenge and a comfort. It called them to trust God’s providence, even when resources were scarce. In today’s world, marked by consumerism and self-preservation, Luke 6:38 calls believers to a countercultural generosity. It reassures that giving, whether in love, forgiveness, or material resources, is not loss but an investment in the inexhaustible resources of God’s Kingdom.
Ultimately, Luke 6:38 invites a shift in perspective—relinquishing fear and a bold embrace of God’s abundance. It challenges believers to measure their lives not by what they hoard but by what they pour out, trusting that God’s measure is always overflowing.
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