Exposition of Luke 6:38 on Generosity

Luke 6:38, part of Jesus's Sermon on the Plain, states, "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" (BSB) ^[2]. This verse encapsulates a principle of divine reciprocity, particularly concerning generosity and judgment, within the broader context of Jesus's ethical teachings.

The immediate literary context of Luke 6:38 is crucial for its interpretation. It follows a series of challenging commands from Jesus, including "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven" (Luke 6:37, BSB). Matthew Henry suggests that these sayings, many of which appear in Matthew's Gospel as well, were frequently used by Christ and easily applicable ^[8]. The Geneva Bible's translation of Luke 6:36, "Be ye therefore mercifull, as your Father also is mercifull," further emphasizes the divine standard for human conduct that precedes the call to generosity ^[1]. This connection suggests that the generosity enjoined in verse 38 is an outflow of the mercy and non-judgment taught in the preceding verses. The principle of reciprocity, "with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you," directly links one's actions toward others with the divine response ^[2].

Historically, Jesus's teachings in Luke 6 are addressed to his disciples and a large crowd, likely in Galilee ^[1]. The Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:17-49) shares thematic similarities with the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew (Matthew 5-7), though it is generally considered a distinct collection of teachings, possibly delivered at a different time or to a different audience. The imagery used in Luke 6:38—"pressed down, shaken together, and running over"—evokes common practices in ancient marketplaces, particularly in the measurement of dry goods like grain ^[7]. A generous merchant would ensure the buyer received a full measure by compacting the contents and filling the container until it overflowed, often into the buyer's garment or "lap" ^[7]. This vivid illustration underscores the abundance and liberality of the promised return.

Several key terms and phrases in Luke 6:38 warrant closer examination. The command "Give" (δίδωμι, didōmi) is presented without qualification regarding the recipient, implying a general disposition of generosity. Adam Clarke notes that Christian charity should be motivated by God, not by human generosity, vanity, or self-interest, if one desires God to account for it ^[6]. He emphasizes that true, unmixed generosity belongs only to God, who receives no advantage from his gifts but promises to repay with "excessive interest" ^[6]. The phrase "it will be given to you" (δοθήσεται ὑμῖν, dothēsetai hymin) uses a divine passive, a common biblical idiom where God is understood as the implied agent. This indicates that the return is not merely a natural consequence but a divine act of provision. The "good measure" (μέτρον καλόν, metron kalon) signifies not just adequacy but excellence and abundance, further amplified by the descriptive actions of "pressed down, shaken together, and running over" ^[2]. The "lap" (κόλπος, kolpos) refers to the fold of a garment used to carry items, reinforcing the image of a tangible, overflowing blessing ^[7].

The final clause, "For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you," serves as a foundational principle for the entire preceding section on judgment, forgiveness, and giving ^[2]. This concept of reciprocal justice or reward is found elsewhere in scripture, such as in 2 Corinthians 9:6, which states, "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully" ^[3]. Psalm 41:1-2 also connects generosity to blessing, stating, "Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him; the LORD protects him and keeps him alive" ^[4]. Torrey's Topical Textbook lists numerous passages enjoining mercy and highlighting its benefits, including Proverbs 11:17 and Matthew 5:7, which declare, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy" ^[5].

The interpretation of Luke 6:38 has resonated throughout Christian tradition. Augustine, in his homilies on the Gospels, connects the act of giving to lending at interest, where God repays the merciful with more ^[12]. He suggests that even when one gives to someone who cannot repay, the act is a form of "borrowing" from God, who "pays back more to the merciful" ^[12]. This perspective elevates acts of charity beyond mere human transaction to a divine economy.

The Reformed tradition, as seen in the Heidelberg Catechism, emphasizes that true faith inevitably produces "fruits of gratitude," linking outward acts of generosity and good works to an inward transformation ^[10]. John Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, speaks of God as the Creator who holds the "distribution of all things" in his hand, and as a Father who nourishes his children, implying that believers should expect their needs to be met by him ^[14]. This theological framework supports the promise of Luke 6:38, where God's provision is assured for those who act in accordance with his will. Calvin also applies certain passages, including Luke 6:38, to Christ's humanity, noting that while Christ as God knows and does all things, as Mediator he also experienced growth and dependence ^[11].

The passage has also functioned in discussions about the nature of grace and human effort. While Luke 6:38 promises a return for giving, it is not typically understood as a means of earning salvation. Rather, it describes the outworking of a transformed life. Aquinas, in his Summa Theologica, discusses whether grace is necessarily given to those who prepare themselves or do what they can ^[9]. He concludes that while human preparation is from God, the gift of grace "exceeds every preparation of human power," indicating that grace is not earned by human effort, even generous giving ^[9]. However, acts of generosity are seen as fitting responses to grace and are met with divine favor.

Matthew Henry's commentary on the widow's mites (Mark 12:41), though not directly on Luke 6:38, illustrates the principle of giving in the temple treasury, where "works of charity and works of piety very fitly go together" ^[13]. This highlights the integration of generosity into religious practice and worship, aligning with the spirit of Luke 6:38.

Sources

Luke “Luke 6:36 (Geneva1599) — Be ye therefore mercifull, as your Father also is mercifull.”
Luke “Luke 6:38 (BSB) — 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.””
OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: 2Cor.9.6 → Luke.6.38 (confidence: 44 votes)”
OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Luke.6.38 → Ps.41.1-Ps.41.2 (confidence: 13 votes)”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Mercy — After the example of God -- Lu 6:36. Enjoined -- 2Ki 6:21-23; Ho 12:6; Ro 12:20,21; Col 3:12. To be engraved on the heart -- Pr 3:3. Characteristic of saints -- Ps 37:26; Isa 57:1. Should be shown With cheerfulness. -- Ro 12:8. To our brethren. -- Zec 7:9. to those that are in distress. -- Lu 10:37. To the poor. -- Pr 14:31; Da 4:27. To backsliders. -- Lu 15:18-20; 2Co 2:6-8. To animals. -- Pr 12:10. Upholds the throne of kings -- Pr 20:28. Beneficial to those who exercise -- Pr 11:17. Blessedness of showing -- Pr 14:21; Mt 5:7. Hypocrites devoid of -- Mt 23:”
Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 6:38: Give, and it shall be given - "Christian charity will make no difficulty in giving that which eternal truth promises to restore. Let us give, neither out of mere human generosity, nor out of vanity, nor from interest, but for the sake of God, if we would have him place it to account. There is no such thing as true unmixed generosity but in God only; because there is none but him who receives no advantage from his gifts, and because he engages himself to pay these debts of his creatures with an excessive interest. So great is the goodness of God, that, when he might ha”
Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 6:38: 6:38 pressed down, shaken together: A generous grain merchant would top off the buyer’s container, press it down, shake it to make more room, and then pour until the grain overflowed into the buyer’s lap.”
Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 6:37: All these sayings of Christ we had before in Matthew; some of them in ch. 7, others in other places. They were sayings that Christ often used; they needed only to be mentioned, it was easy to apply them. Grotius thinks that we need not be critical here in seeking for the coherence: they are golden sentences, like Solomon's proverbs or parables. Let us observe here, I. We ought to be very candid in our censures of others, because we need grains of allowance ourselves: "Therefore judge not others, because then you yourselves shall not be judged; therefore condemn not ”
theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, First Part of the Second Part (Prima Secundae), Of the Cause of Grace, Art. 3: Article: Whether grace is necessarily given to whoever prepares himself for it, or to whoever does what he can? I answer that, As stated above (Article [2]), man's preparation for grace is from God, as Mover, and from the free-will, as moved. Hence the preparation may be looked at in two ways: first, as it is from free-will, and thus there is no necessity that it should obtain grace, since the gift of grace exceeds every preparation of human power. But it may be considered, secondly, as it”
Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed) “Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed, 1563), Q. But doesn’t this teaching: Q. But doesn’t this teaching make people indifferent and wicked? A. No. It is impossible for those grafted into Christ through true faith not to produce fruits of gratitude.1 1 Luke 6:43-45; John 15:5 The Holy Sacraments Lord’s Day 25 Q & A 65”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 50: Isiah 41:1, &c.; John 5:17 ; Luke 2:52 ; John 8:50 ; Mark 13:32 ; John 14:10 ; 6:38; Luke 24:39 . apply entirely to his humanity; since, as God, he cannot be in any respect said to grow, works always for himself, knows every thing, does all things after the counsel of his own will, and is incapable of being seen or handled. And yet he not merely ascribes these things separately to his human nature, but applies them to himself as suitable to his office of Mediator. There is a communication of ijdiwvmata, or properties, when Paul say”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — CHAP. XX.--62. And, indeed, in these three classes of examples, I see that no class of injury is passed over. [1] For all matters in which we suffer any injustice are divided into two classes: of whic (part 5): "From him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away," it is to be referred to the mind; for God loveth a cheerful giver.[2] Moreover, every one who accepts anything borrows, even if he himself is not going to pay it; for inasmuch as God pays back more to the merciful, whosoever does a kindness lends at interest. Or if it does not see”
Mark (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Mark 12:41: This passage of story was not in Matthew, but is here and in Luke; it is Christ's commendation of the poor widow, that cast two mites into the treasury, which our Saviour, busy as he was in preaching, found leisure to take notice of. Observe, I. There was a public fund for charity, into which contributions were brought, and out of which distributions were made; a poor's-box, and this in the temple; for works of charity and works of piety very fitly go together; where God is honoured by our worship, it is proper he should be honoured by the relief of his poor; and w”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 30: that he might delude us with an empty form of donation. 158 Nothing, therefore, which concerns our safety will ever be wanting. To conclude, in one word; as often as we call God the Creator of heaven and earth, let us remember that the distribution of all the things which he created are in his hand and power, but that we are his sons, whom he has undertaken to nourish and bring up in allegiance to him, that we may expect the substance of all good from him alone, and have full hope that he will never suffer us to be in want of thing”

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