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The Context of Luke 6:37-49
Luke 6:37-49 is a well-known passage from the Gospel of Luke. It follows the Sermon on the Plain, a discourse given by Jesus to his disciples and a great multitude of people. In this sermon, Jesus lays out the principles of the kingdom of God, urging his followers to love their enemies, do good to those who hate them, and bless those who curse them. He also warns against judging others, and emphasizes the importance of living a life based on the principles of love and forgiveness.
Verse 37: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged”
The first verse of Luke 6:37-49 is a powerful reminder of the importance of avoiding judgment. Jesus tells his followers, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” These words serve as a reminder that we are all sinners in need of forgiveness, and that it is not our place to judge others.
The Importance of Forgiveness
Jesus’ emphasis on forgiveness is a recurring theme throughout the New Testament. In Matthew 18:21-22, Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother who sins against him, and Jesus responds, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” In Ephesians 4:32, Paul urges believers to “be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Verse 38: “Give, and it will be given to you”
Verse 38 is another well-known passage from Luke 6:37-49. Jesus says, “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.”
The Principle of Generosity
The principle of generosity is an important one in the Bible. In Proverbs 11:25, we read, “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” In 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, Paul writes, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Verse 39: “Can the blind lead the blind?”
In verse 39, Jesus asks a rhetorical question: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?” This verse serves as a warning against following false teachers or leaders who do not have a clear understanding of the truth.
The Importance of Discernment
Discernment is an important quality for believers to cultivate. In 1 John 4:1, we are urged to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” In Proverbs 14:15, we read, “The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.”
Verse 40: “The student is not above the teacher”
In verse 40, Jesus reminds his disciples that they are not above him, their teacher. He says, “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.”
The Importance of Humility
Humility is an important quality for believers to cultivate. In Philippians 2:3-4, Paul writes, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” In James 4:6, we read, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Verse 41-42: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye?”
In verses 41-42, Jesus uses a humorous illustration to make a serious point. He says, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
The Danger of Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy is a serious sin that Jesus frequently warns against. In Matthew 23:27-28, he says, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”
Verse 43-45: “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit”
In verses 43-45, Jesus uses another illustration to make a point. He says, “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
The Importance of Character
Character is an important aspect of the Christian life. In Galatians 5:22-23, we read, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” In Philippians 4:8, Paul writes, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Verse 46-49: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
In the final verses of Luke 6:37-49, Jesus again emphasizes the importance of obedience. He says, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
The Importance of Action
Faith without action is meaningless. In James 2:14-17, we read, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
Conclusion
Luke 6:37-49 is a powerful passage that emphasizes the importance of love, forgiveness, humility, discernment, character, and action. As believers, we are called to live a life based on these principles, following the example of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. May we strive to be like the man who built his house on the rock, so that when the storms of life come, we will be able to stand firm, knowing that our foundation is secure.
