Lucas 6

Lucas 6

William MacDonald - Love manifests itself in giving (see John 3:16; Eph. 5:25). The Christian ministry is a ministry of expenditure. Those who give generously are rewarded generously. The picture is of a man with a large apron-like fold in the front of his garment. He uses it for carrying seed. The more widely he broadcasts the seed, the greater his harvest. He is rewarded with good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. He receives it into his bosom, that is, into the fold of his garment. It is a fixed principle in life that we reap according to our sowing, that our actions react upon us, that the same measure we use to others is measured back to us. If we sow material (and spiritual) things we reap spiritual treasures of inestimable value. (Borrow Believer's Bible Commentary) The image Jesus alludes to is the buying of grain in the marketplace where a grain merchant would fill a basket and if he was generous, would shake it (saleuo from salos = wave means to cause to move to and fro) press it down and shake it to make more room, and then pour until the grain overflowed into the buyer's lap! Jesus is saying this is a wonderful picture of a generous person who is like a basket filled with grain and the grain is running over the sides depicting their overflowing generosity. This promise reminds one of the beautiful love story in the OT in which Boaz the kinsman redeemer poured out barley for Ruth to take home to Naomi... Again he said, “Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it.” So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley (exactly how much this weighed is not known but there is no question it was "a good measure" given the context --and note that Ruth who had taken care of Naomi was now being blessed by Boaz, who is a wonderful OT picture of Jesus Christ, our Kinsman-Redeemer) and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.’” (Ru 3:15+) Darrell Bock has the following quote from Jeremias on the picture of grain shaken, etc - "The measuring of the corn is a process which is carried out according to an established pattern. The seller crouches on the ground with the measure between his legs. First of all he fills the measure three-quarters full and gives it a good shake with a rotatory motion to make the grains settle down. Then he fills the measure to the top and gives it another shake. Next he presses the corn together strongly with both hands. Finally he heaps it into a cone, tapping it carefully to press the grains together; from time to time he bores a hole in the cone and pours a few more grains into it, until there is literally no more room for a single grain. In this way, the purchaser is guaranteed an absolutely full measure; it cannot hold more." (See Luke: Baker Exegetical Commentary) He that gives of himself or his possessions in the name of Christ is not giving, but sowing. - Henry Morris For by your standard of measure (metron) it will be measured (antimetreo) to you in return - Measured in return is in the passive voice which in this context is the so-called divine passive describing God's promise to reward His children in the future. Bock adds that "The person’s activity sets the standard of God’s reaction, which does not so much involve the eschatological judgment of one’s salvation before God as it involves God’s evaluation of the character of one’s life and the pleasure he expresses at the way one has lived....In sum, the standard one uses in relation to others is the standard that God will apply." (See Luke: Baker Exegetical Commentary) THOUGHT - The question the truth in this passage begs is simple - What kind of eternal reward would we like to receive from God Who gives good gifts (James 1:17+), gifts that will "remain" for eternity (read Jn 15:16, cf Lk 18:29,30+)? The implication is that if we desire an eternal reward that is running over, our current character and liberality should be "running over." As someone once told me, you can get a good "barometer" of an individual's spiritual walk from their use of a hymnbook and their withdrawals in their checkbook! How would you judge your spiritual maturity if you looked at your checkbook for the last six months? One is reminded of Jesus' words (a command) to "seek (present imperative - not self effort but Spirit enabled!) first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Mt 6:33+) Beloved, we have one short life on earth to prepare well for one "long" life in Heaven! Redeem the time! He who gives to the poor will never want, But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses. -- Proverbs 28:27