Movatterモバイル変換

Strong’s Greek 488 appears once in the New Testament,Luke 6:38, where Jesus promises that the same “measure” believers employ toward others will be employed toward them. Though singular in occurrence, the verb anchors a sweeping biblical principle of reciprocal recompense—whether blessing or judgment—threaded through both Covenants.

Context inLuke 6:38

“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 back to you.” (Luke 6:38)

Luke situates the word within Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain, a discourse that pairs radical generosity with mercy, forgiveness, and love for enemies (Luke 6:27-38). The promise of overflowing return is not a transactional guarantee of material prosperity; it is the inevitable boomerang of God-governed reciprocity. The imagery evokes the marketplace: a merchant fills a grain basket, presses the grain to eliminate air pockets, shakes it level, and adds until it spills over—exceeding mere fairness.

Old Testament Background

1.Proverbs 11:24-25 presents the paradox that generous scattering leads to increase.
2.Leviticus 19:35-36 commands honest weights and measures, establishing that measurement is a moral act.
3.Isaiah 40:12 pictures God Himself measuring waters and heavens, underscoring divine sovereignty over “measure.”
4. The “measure for measure” motif appears in1 Samuel 15:23 andObadiah 15, affirming that God’s dealings mirror human conduct.

Theological Themes

Recompense by Measure

God’s justice employs proportionate response (Jeremiah 17:10;Revelation 18:6).Luke 6:38 encapsulates this justice in a positive key—lavish grace mirroring generous hearts.

Grace-Magnified Reciprocity

While the verb denotes reciprocity, the surrounding promise adds divine generosity that outstrips human giving (“running over”). God is never indebted to His creatures; His returns are grace-heightened, far exceeding the original measure (Ephesians 3:20).

Integrated Ethics

Luke links giving, forgiving, and refraining from judgment (Luke 6:37-38). The principle applies to material resources, relational mercy, and spiritual judgment alike.

Historical and Cultural Insights

• First-century marketplaces used wooden scoops and cloth folds in the tunic (the “lap”) for measuring grain. A merchant’s reputation rose or fell on the integrity of his measure.
• Jesus’ hearers, many of them agrarian, would visualize the seller tamping grain, shaking it, then adding more until it overflowed—an act of rare generosity that communicated honor and goodwill.

Related Scriptural Parallels

Matthew 7:2—“For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

2 Corinthians 9:6—“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

James 2:13—“Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

Christological Dimensions

Jesus personifies perfect measurement: He gives without measure (John 3:34), yet He also receives “the portion of the great” (Isaiah 53:12), fulfilling the principle in His own passion and exaltation. His cross is pressed down, shaken together, and running over with atoning grace; His resurrection is the overflowing “good measure” returned by the Father.

Eschatological Overtones

The final judgment will apply this principle universally. Believers who have invested in eternal treasure through mercy and generosity will find it lavishly multiplied (Luke 12:33-34). Conversely, those who measure out stinginess or condemnation will face proportional loss (Matthew 25:24-30).

Practical Implications for Christian Living and Ministry

1. Stewardship: Followers of Christ are called to extravagant kindness—financial, emotional, and spiritual—trusting God’s arithmetic.
2. Leadership: Pastors and elders model openhanded generosity, forming congregations that mirror the character of the kingdom.
3. Evangelism: Tangible generosity authenticates the gospel’s message of grace (Acts 2:44-47).
4. Conflict Resolution: The same principle governs forgiveness; a generous spirit toward offenders invites divine mercy upon the forgiver.

Summary

Though occurring once, Strong’s Greek 488 crystallizes a foundational Scriptural truth: the measure humans extend becomes the measure God returns—yet always amplified by His unmerited grace. A life governed by this principle embodies kingdom values, anticipates eternal reward, and reflects the character of the generous King.