A verse, in context
Luke 6:38, Give and It Shall Be Given
"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over" (Luke 6:38) is a favorite of fundraising appeals. But in Jesus' sermon the giving He commands is mercy and generosity of judgment, not seed-money for a financial return.
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”Luke 6:38
How it is often used
How it is often used. This verse is often used to promise financial return on giving, especially to a ministry: give money and God will pour money back, pressed down and running over. It becomes an investment principle, sometimes framed as a way to unlock personal prosperity. The truth it draws on, that God is generous and honors generosity, is real, and cheerful giving is genuinely blessed. But the popular use narrows "give" to money and "it shall be given" to material wealth, and detaches the verse from its context, which is about mercy, forgiveness, and how we treat others. Jesus is not teaching a technique for financial gain. He is teaching that the generous, non-judging, merciful posture we extend to others is the measure by which we ourselves will be treated, an overflowing return of grace rather than a guaranteed cash payout.
The passage around it
The passage around it. This verse comes in Luke's Sermon on the Plain, in a section on love for enemies and mercy. Jesus says, "Love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again" (v35), and, "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful" (v36). Then a chain of commands about how we treat others: "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven" (v37). Verse 38 continues in the same breath: "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." The controlling idea is the measure: the mercy, generosity, and grace with which we treat others is the measure God uses toward us. The giving is part of a whole disposition of merciful, non-judging love, not a monetary transaction.
What it actually means, and where it leads
What it actually means, and where it leads. Jesus is describing the abundant return of mercy: those who are generous, forgiving, and slow to judge will find generosity, forgiveness, and grace measured back to them, good measure, pressed down, running over. The "give" belongs to a whole way of treating people, extending mercy as the Father is merciful, and the overflowing return is chiefly God's own lavish grace, not a promised financial windfall. The point is the measure: a stingy, condemning heart receives by that measure, while a generous, merciful one is met with overflowing grace. This leads directly to Christ, who gave Himself completely, "hoping for nothing again," and who is the very embodiment of the Father's mercy poured out beyond measure. To live this verse is to imitate Him, giving mercy freely and trusting the Father's overflowing generosity, rather than treating giving as an investment scheme. The reward is real and abundant, but it is grace, not a guaranteed return on capital.
Questions people ask
Is Luke 6:38 promising financial return on my giving?
Not in context. The verse sits in Jesus' teaching on mercy, forgiveness, and not judging others. The "give" is part of a whole generous, merciful disposition, and the overflowing return is chiefly God's grace measured back, not a guaranteed cash payout.
What is the "measure" Jesus talks about?
It is the standard by which you treat others. If you are merciful, generous, and slow to condemn, that same generous measure will be used toward you; if stingy and judgmental, that measure returns as well. Verse 37 shows this with judging, condemning, and forgiving.
Should Christians give generously, then?
Yes, gladly and freely, as an imitation of the Father's mercy and of Christ who gave everything. The point is to give out of love without demanding a return, trusting God's overflowing grace rather than using giving as an investment strategy.