Luke 6:37Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

As a lawbreaker yourself, you cannot rightly condemn another as a sinner; for a judge must rise above the nature that falls into sin. Therefore, let go of judgment, and it will be returned to you; give, and it will be given to you.

In this context, wise Paul instructs: "For when you condemn another, you condemn yourself, because the one who condemns also does the same." Nevertheless, it is vital that we show compassion to the vulnerable, those beset by temptations and ensnared by sin with little hope of redemption, and to pray for them, encourage them, and awaken them to mindfulness, while striving to avoid similar transgressions ourselves. "For whoever condemns his brother," as the disciple of Christ notes, "speaks against the law and judges the law." The lawgiver and the judge are united: a judge of a sinful person must be superior to that individual, and since they are not, the sinner can rightfully question, "Why do you judge your neighbor?" Should you presume to pass judgment without proper authority, you will instead find yourself judged, for the law does not authorize you to condemn others. Thus, a person of true understanding does not focus on the wrongs of others or dwell on their neighbor's faults; rather, they examine their own actions. Such was the blessed psalmist, who humbly approached God, lamenting his own misdeeds: "If Thou, O Lord, O Lord, scrutinise iniquity, who can endure?" He also appeals for a reasonable pardon by acknowledging the frailty of human nature: "Remember that we are dust."

Similarly, we find in the Psalms, "I praise Thee seven times a day" (Psalm 118:164), implying that our praise of God encompasses all times. Our commendation of the Lord does not solely emanate from vocal expressions; it encompasses our silent thoughts, actions, and intentions, as we acknowledge the Giver of such blessings. The Apostles sought an increase in their faith (Luke 17:5), not believing they could generate faith on their own but asking the Lord to fulfill what He began, reflecting the Apostle's words: “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Phil. 1:6). David's request in the Psalm, “Guide me, O Lord, in Thy way, and I will walk in Thy truth” (Psalm 85:11), indicates a desire not only to be shown the path but also to be sustained along it, ultimately reaching his heavenly home.

Every good deed we perform should invoke praise of God, as He is the source of all that is good. When living a virtuous life, we continually honor God, blessing Him at all times, ensuring His praise is ever present in our mouths. As the Prophet expressed, “By the seven days of the day I praise Thee,” signifies that our praise should be constant. Therefore, if a brother sins against us seven times a day and comes back to confess, we are called to forgive him with generosity. We should not hesitate to grant pardon. As debtors ourselves, we cannot afford to be unforgiving; our own debts are far greater, owed to the One who owes nothing to anyone. Remember, the way we treat others mirrors how God will treat us. We need to maintain a reverent heart that finds joy in God’s name, as indicated in the Scripture: "Let my heart be glad when I fear thy name" (Psalm 85:11). When we find joy in receiving forgiveness, we must also tremble at the thought of withholding it from others.

Consider the Gospel parable of the servant who, owing a tremendous debt, was initially forgiven by his master yet failed to show mercy to a fellow servant who owed him a much smaller sum. When his master learned of this, the servant faced dire consequences (Matthew 18:25-35). Such a narrative illustrates the gravity of our obligations to forgive, reinforcing that our lack of mercy could result in our own judgment.

Let us heed these teachings, recognizing that within the Gospel lies both a, sacred duty and a profound warning. We must protect ourselves, remain vigilant, forgive, and not fall into the trap of retribution when correcting those who sin. It is essential to remember that correction accompanied by compassion is necessary; we should not neglect either aspect.

In our daily prayers, we beseech the Lord to “forgive us our debts” (Matthew 6:12), yet we often forget the gravity of His mercy and the expectation to extend the same grace to others. We must not cause the Lord to question our sincerity, asking us how long we will come pleading for forgiveness without genuinely softening our hearts.

The notion of punishment also merits consideration; while God does indeed forgive, He also disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). His discipline is aimed at steering us away from harm, reminding that we too must maintain a balance of love and correction. As we extend forgiveness, let us ensure we expel anger from our hearts and refuse to let bitterness take root.

Sin can consume the heart; thus we must act with wisdom and apply proper correction to help guide others away from destruction while fostering a spirit of forgiveness rather than hatred. We should consider our own reactions when met with the sins of others, aware that showing mercy reflects God's love toward us.

In closing, let us fervently petition the Lord for the grace not only to forgive, but to act in accordance with His teachings: “Let them go, and they will let you go; give, and it will be given to you” (Luke 6:37, 38).

In matters left to personal discretion and not explicitly outlined in Scripture, Paul's guidance reiterates the importance of refraining from judgment. Concerning actions that displease God, he admonishes individuals who fail to pronounce judgments, as he asserts, And I, being absent in body but present with you in spirit, have already made a decision as if I were physically present: the individual who has committed such an act should be delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that the spirit may be saved on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 5:3-5). Consequently, when matters are based on our own will—sometimes even when uncertain—we should refrain from condemning our brother, as the Apostle advises against premature judgment regarding uncertainties: Therefore do not judge in any way before the time, until the Lord comes, Who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts (1 Cor. 4:5). Nonetheless, defending God’s judgments is a necessary obligation, lest the one who remains silent experiences the wrath of God, particularly if that individual, by condemning others while committing similar acts, fails to heed the Lord's words, ‘Take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye’ (Matt. 7:5).

Let us cultivate love among ourselves and receive love from God. We should practice patience towards one another, trusting that He will demonstrate patience with our transgressions. Let us not respond to evil with evil, and He likewise will not respond to our wrongdoings. For we will find forgiveness for our sins in our willingness to forgive our brothers and sisters. The mercy of God towards us is revealed in our compassion for our neighbors. This is why the Lord commands: Forgive, and you will be forgiven. And again, He says: If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you (Matthew 6:14). Furthermore, He states: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy (Matthew 5:7). And once more: With the measure you use, it will be measured to you (Matthew 7:2). Behold, the Lord has shown us the path to salvation and granted us the privilege to be called children of God (John 1:12). From this moment forward, our salvation lies within our own choices.

This illustrates the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We struggle to accept our neighbor's imperfections; we scrutinize their actions closely. The moment someone does something commendable, we quickly embrace them, but if they act in a way we perceive as wrong, our love shifts to disdain. Unfortunately, having tasted from the tree, the mind stumbles into the same faults it has condemned in others. It then recognizes its own nakedness and vulnerability since it has sought deceitfulness in every corner. Awareness of one's nakedness previously escaped them, hidden beneath the cloak of compassion for others. Thus, at the moment of reckoning, our discernment deteriorates. God did not bring death into existence; rather, humanity introduced it through their hatred for their neighbors. The God of life does not relish in death, is not swayed by anger, nor designs protective schemes; He honors the dignity of every person. In His wisdom, He created all things, establishing a divine order grounded in spiritual truths. Therefore, God did not utter the warning to Adam as a decree of punishment: In the day that you eat of it, you shall die by death (Gen. 2:17). Instead, He revealed to us the principle of justice that states every action, good or evil, results in consequences. It is not that the Lord concocts retribution, as some misguided individuals may believe. We grasp this truth clearly, and so we must understand that if we harbor hate for any of our fellow-believers, we become equally liable to divine disdain. Should we fail to envision any sinner as capable of repentance, we too shall forfeit that opportunity. If we do not extend forgiveness for our neighbor's transgressions, we will find no forgiveness ourselves. The Lawgiver Christ spoke unequivocally on this matter: Judge not, that ye be not judged (Matt. 7:1). Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned; forgive, and ye shall be forgiven (Luke 6:37). Aware of this, the Apostle Paul asserted: By the same judgement with which you judge another, you condemn yourself (Rom. 2:1). The prophet likewise proclaimed: You will reward each one according to his deeds, and another prophet boldly stated in God’s name: I will avenge, I will repay, saith the Lord (Rom. 12:19). In essence, the entirety of Scripture, both Old and New Testaments, clearly presents this principle to us. Recognizing that this law is spiritual and divinely ordained, we should approach it with reverence, encouraging us to love our brothers and sisters both openly and in secret. This is not merely the Mosaic Law, which judges the overt; rather, it encompasses a spiritual truth that addresses the hidden. In this way, the old law is fulfilled, following our Lord’s assertion: I came not to break the law, but to fulfill it (Matt. 5:17).

In every moment, our aim should be singular: when others offend us in word or deed, we ought to find joy instead of sorrow. Our rejoicing should not be aimless; we must seek reasons to forgive those who wrong us, thereby attaining absolution for our own failings. This constitutes true knowledge of God, extending beyond all other understanding, for through this divine insight we are able to invoke God's presence and be heard. Such knowledge is borne from prayer, revealing a faith in Christ that empowers us to love God fervently and to regard our neighbor as ourselves. For this purpose, we ought to beseech God in our vigils and physical trials, imploring Him to open His heart toward us and not to cast us aside. In doing so, we will come to receive the grace that was conferred upon us in holy Baptism, manifestly and tangibly, if we extend forgiveness to our neighbors for their trespasses. This virtue of forgiveness is undermined by two grievous sins: excessive pleasure, which seeks to pervade our being, and vanity. We must first mentally renounce these two vices, as only then can we hope to uphold the value of forgiveness.

Should we indulge in these sins, we have no one to blame but ourselves, neither Satan nor mankind. Let us engage in this battle of our own will, treating it with the utmost seriousness. This is a personal struggle, taking place within us; we cannot enlist outside allies. In this conflict, we possess only one ally—Christ, who resides invisibly within us through holy Baptism, invincible and unwavering. He will champion our cause if we strive to follow His commands to the best of our abilities. Our two adversaries enticed Eve with alluring promises and misled Adam. Satisfaction presented the lure: The tree is good for food and delightful to contemplate (Gen. 3:6); while vanity proclaimed, You shall be like gods, knowing good and evil (Gen. 3:5). Just as the first Adam and Eve felt shame in their nakedness, when we strip away malice from our thoughts, we recognize our own vulnerabilities and feel genuine embarrassment. In response, we may reach for fig leaves, adorning ourselves with superficial words, thoughts, and rationalizations. However, the Lord has supplied us with garments crafted from leather, instructing us: By your patience save your souls (Luke 21:19). Furthermore, He warns us: He who saves his soul (by harboring vengeance or any other sin) will lose it, but he who loses it (for My sake), that is, he who sacrifices it, will save it for eternal life (cf. Matt. 10:39).

God came into the world to redeem sinners, and thus, it is essential for all people to acknowledge their own shortcomings. To judge and condemn others is to deny this awareness and to assume a righteousness that does not rightfully belong to them; this leads to judgment and condemnation. The label of hypocrite is aptly applied to those who judge and condemn their neighbors (Matthew 7:5).

Not all pursue such riches, which often arrive unexpectedly following their generous acts. As the saying goes, cast the bread and salt behind you, and they will reappear before you. The actions described are akin to a throwing motion; however, they are not cast aside carelessly but entrusted into the hands of God. In these divine hands, security is guaranteed, and receiving is certain. All that is needed is faith and trust.