Luke 6:37

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(37) Judge not, and ye shall not be judged.—See Note on Matthew 7:1. In St. Luke’s report there is something like a climax. “Seek not to judge at all. If you must judge, be not eager to condemn.”

Forgive.—Better, set free, release, or acquit; the word expressing a quasi-judicial act rather than the forgiveness of a private wrong.

Benson Commentary

Luke 6:37-38. Judge not, &c. — See notes on Matthew 7:1-2; Matthew 6:14-15. Give — Liberally to those that need your assistance; and it shall be given unto you — For your kindness and liberality will naturally gain you love and respect; and God also, by his supernatural grace, will influence men’s hearts in your favour. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over — “Our Lord makes use of these three phrases to express all the different kinds of good measure, according to the different nature of the things measured. Some of them, to make the measure good, must be pressed down and trodden; some of them must be shaken, as the several kinds of grain; and some of them must be running over, such as all sorts of liquors. The figure of giving this good measure into one’s bosom, is an allusion to the eastern habits, which were long pieces of cloth wrapped round their bodies, and girded up with a girdle. Their garments being of this kind, they could receive into their lap or bosom a considerable quantity of such dry goods as they sold by measure.” — Macknight. For with the same measure that ye mete it shall be measured, &c. — Amazing goodness! So we are permitted even to carve for ourselves! We ourselves are, as it were, to tell God, how much mercy he shall show us! And can we be content with less than the very largest measure? Give, then, to man, what thou designest to receive of God.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

6:37-49 All these sayings Christ often used; it was easy to apply them. We ought to be very careful when we blame others; for we need allowance ourselves. If we are of a giving and a forgiving spirit, we shall ourselves reap the benefit. Though full and exact returns are made in another world, not in this world, yet Providence does what should encourage us in doing good. Those who follow the multitude to do evil, follow in the broad way that leads to destruction. The tree is known by its fruits; may the word of Christ be so grafted in our hearts, that we may be fruitful in every good word and work. And what the mouth commonly speaks, generally agrees with what is most in the heart. Those only make sure work for their souls and eternity, and take the course that will profit in a trying time, who think, speak, and act according to the words of Christ. Those who take pains in religion, found their hope upon Christ, who is the Rock of Ages, and other foundation can no man lay. In death and judgment they are safe, being kept by the power of Christ through faith unto salvation, and they shall never perish.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See Matthew 7:1-9.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

37, 38. See on [1588]Mt 7:1, 2; but this is much fuller and more graphic.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Matthew 7:1", See Poole on "Matthew 6:14", where we have discoursed what private judgings are here forbidden, and what forgiving is here required.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged,.... See Gill on Matthew 7:1.

Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned; censure not men's persons, and judge not their state, or adjudge them to condemnation, for every offence in practice, or because they differ in principle, lest you should be treated in like manner by others; and especially, lest you should fall under the righteous censure, judgment, and condemnation of God:

forgive; offences and trespasses committed against you, bear with, and pass by injuries and affronts:

and ye shall be forgiven; of God; See Gill on Matthew 6:14.

Geneva Study Bible

{6} Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: {i} forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

(6) Brotherly judgments must not proceed from curiosity nor rudeness nor malice, but they must be just, moderate and loving.

(i) He does not speak here of civil judgments, and therefore by the word forgive is meant that good nature which the Christians use in patiently suffering and pardoning wrongs.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 6:37. In these special precepts it is implied throughout that God acts as we are exhorted to act. They give a picture of the gracious spirit of God.—καὶ, connecting the following precept as a special with a general. No καὶ in Matthew 7:1, where begins a new division of the sermon. In Mt. the judging condemned is referred to as a characteristic Pharisaic vice. Here it is conceived of as internal to the disciple-circle, as in Jam 4:12.—ἀπολύετε, set free, as a debtor (Matthew 18:27), a prisoner, or an offender (τῆς ἁμαρτίας ἀπολυθῆναι, 2Ma 12:45).

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

37. fudge not] For comment read Romans 2:1-3; Rom 14:10, “Why dost thou judge thy brother?...for we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ;” 1 Corinthians 4:3-5; 1Co 4:13, and the Lord’s prayer; James 2:13, “he shall have judgment without mercy that hath shewed no mercy.” Hence a “righteous judgment” of others is not forbidden, so long as it be made in a forbearing and tender spirit, John 7:24.

forgive, and ye shall he forgiven] For comment see the Parable of the Debtors, Matthew 18:23-35.

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 6:37. Μὴ κρίνετε, μὴ καταδικάζετε, judge not, condemn not) By judging, we decide as to the goodness or badness of an action: by condemning, we determine as to the person, what (punishment) the guilty has deserved: comp. Matthew 12:7.—ἀπολύετε, let go free [Engl. Vers. forgive[67]]) ἀπολύεται, let go free (loosed), is applied to a person who was held fast (kept confined); but ἀφίεται is applied to a debt being remitted, or forgiven, which was owed. Both verbs occur, Matthew 18:27. As to the thing itself, compare Isaiah 58:6.

[67] So 2Ma 12:45, ἁμαρτίας following. Wahl, Clavis, translates it condono, I absolve. However the distinction between ἀπολύειν and ἀφίεναι supports Bengel’s view.—ED.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 37. - Judge not, and ye shall not be judged. Jesus would have his followers avoid one great error which was too common in the religious Jewish life of his time - the habit of censoriously judging others. This uncharitable and often untrue censorship of the motives which led to the acts of others, was one of the practices of the day which stunted and marred all true healthy religious life. Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned. That pitiless condemnation which, regardless of circumstances, condemned as sinners beyond the pale of mercy, whole classes of their fellow-country-men, publicans, Samaritans, and the like. This haughty judgment of others in the case of the dominant sects of the Jews resulted in an undue estimate of themselves. His disciples must be very careful how they judged and condemned others; their rule must be, not condemnation, but forgiveness of others. Luke 6:37

Vincent's Word Studies

Forgive (ἀπολύετε)

Lit., release. So Rev., Christ exhorts to the opposite of what he has just forbidden: "do not condemn, but release." Compare Luke 22:68; Luke 23:16, Luke 23:17.