Luke 6:37 – Do Not Judge, Forgive, and Be Forgiven

Luke 6:37 is one of the most quoted—and most misunderstood—lines in the Bible, often used to silence criticism but actually calling for a radical mercy. Part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain, its four commands—do not judge, do not condemn, forgive, give—form a compact guide that this article explores through original Greek, context, and modern application.

Verse reference: Luke 6:37 ·
Translations available: NIV, KJV, ESV, NKJV, NRSV ·
Context: Part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:17-49) ·
Key themes: Judgment, condemnation, forgiveness, mercy ·
Parallel passage: Matthew 7:1-2

The following table summarizes the key facts about Luke 6:37.

Who am I to judge when I myself walk imperfectly in Luke 6:37?

The first and most personal question the verse raises is the one Jesus himself anticipates: how can anyone judge another when they themselves are flawed? Luke 6:37 doesn’t stand alone—it’s preceded by the command to love enemies (Luke 6:27-36) and followed by the famous speck-and-plank warning (BibleGateway – NRSVUE on specks and planks). The logical flow is unmistakable: self-awareness is the prerequisite for any evaluation of others.

The call to humility and self-examination

• Jesus’ audience included both disciples and a “great multitude” (Luke 6:17), people with differing degrees of spiritual maturity. His command is universal, not just for religious leaders.
• The Greek present imperative “μὴ κρίνετε” implies a habitual action: “stop judging” or “do not continue to judge” rather than a one-time prohibition.

Augustine, in his Commentary on the Sermon on the Mount, argued that the verse forbids “rash and unjust judgments” rather than all judgment. He wrote that we are permitted to assess actions, but we must not presume to weigh motives or pronounce final verdicts.

Distinguishing between judgment and discernment

The early church recognized that Christians are called to discern right from wrong—Paul even says the spiritual person “appraises all things” (1 Corinthians 2:15). So the command in Luke 6:37 cannot mean blanket passivity. John Calvin, in his Harmony of the Gospels, made the distinction explicit: “The prohibition is not against every kind of judging, but against rash and impudent judging, which is marked by a lack of charity.”

Practical steps to avoid hypocritical judgment

• Examine your own heart first. Jesus’ plank metaphor (Luke 6:41-42) makes clear that dealing with your own faults is the prerequisite for helping others with theirs.
• Speak to the behavior, not the person. Biblical calling out of sin is always aimed at restoration (Galatians 6:1), not condemnation.
• Remember the reciprocity promise. Luke 6:37 promises that the measure you give will be the measure you receive—an incentive toward mercy.

Bottom line: Self-reflection is not optional. Luke 6:37 demands that anyone who wants to evaluate another’s conduct must first face their own failures. The trade-off: humility opens the door to mercy; self-righteousness invites the same harsh standard.

What is the meaning of Luke 6:37?

Luke 6:37 is a four-part call that moves from prohibition to promise. The verse pairs three negative commands (do not judge, do not condemn) with three positive expectations (forgive, give). The Greek text reveals a deliberate symmetry.

Verse breakdown: judge, condemn, forgive, give

The verse opens with “μὴ κρίνετε” (do not judge) and “μὴ καταδικάζετε” (do not condemn). The second verb is narrower: καταδικάζω specifically means “to pronounce guilty” (Blue Letter Bible – Strong’s G2632). Jesus is not merely warning against casual opinions; he is forbidding the kind of verdict that strips someone of dignity. Then comes “ἀπολύετε” (release/forgive) and “δίδοτε” (give). The verb ἀπολύω appears in the Gospels for releasing a prisoner (Matthew 27:15) or letting a woman go free from marriage (Matthew 1:19). Some interpreters, such as the editors at Christ’s Words, argue that this “release” meaning adds a liberative dimension: “set people free from debt, from resentment, from the prison of your verdict” (Christ’s Words – Luke 6:37 commentary).

Connection to the broader Sermon on the Plain

Luke’s version of Jesus’ great sermon (Luke 6:17-49) is shorter than Matthew’s, but it includes unique material. The beatitudes and woes (6:20-26) set the stage: the poor and hungry are blessed; the rich and full are warned. Then comes the love-your-enemies section (6:27-36), which climaxes in the command to be merciful as God is merciful. Verse 37 is the logical hinge: mercy is impossible without releasing judgment. The passage then expands into a promise about giving (6:38) and the parable of the blind leading the blind (6:39-40).

Theological significance of judgment and mercy

The reciprocity structure—“you will not be judged… you will not be condemned… you will be forgiven”—teaches a fundamental principle of the kingdom: the way you treat others is the way God treats you. This is not works-based salvation but a reflection of the heart. N.T. Wright, in Luke for Everyone, connects this to the Jubilee tradition: Jesus is announcing a year of release, where debts are forgiven and prisoners set free.

Bottom line: The meaning is richer than a simple “don’t be judgmental.” Luke 6:37 uses precise Greek verbs to forbid final, condemnatory verdicts and to command release and generosity. It’s not about moral passivity; it’s about breaking the cycle of retaliation with mercy.

How does Luke 6:37 apply to modern life?

Few verses are more selectively wielded. Christians cite Luke 6:37 to stop criticism; non-Christians use it to challenge religious judgment. But the verse was never meant to be a conversation-ender—it’s a game-changer for how we handle fault-finding in the digital age and in our closest relationships.

Judgment in personal relationships and social media

Public shaming and cancel culture are the modern arena for the kind of “judging” Jesus forbids. Social media feeds us a constant stream of people to condemn—often without full context. The speck-and-plank principle (Luke 6:41-42) has never been more relevant: before clicking “post” on a critical comment, examine your own track record.
A sermon series by Revival TV applies Luke 6:37 to this context: “We live in a culture of harsh verdicts, but Jesus calls us to a different way—one that releases rather than condemns” (Revival TV – Discerning Disposition).

Navigating moral standards without being judgmental

The line between confronting sin and condemning the sinner is thin. Jesus confronted sin head-on—he called Pharisees whitewashed tombs—yet he also refused to condemn the woman caught in adultery (John 8:11). The key is motive and tone. Confrontation aimed at restoration is consistent with Luke 6:37; condemnation aimed at destroying is not.

The role of church discipline and accountability

Some worry that Luke 6:37 eliminates any form of church discipline. But Matthew 18:15-17 provides a process for confronting sin within the church, and Paul excommunicates a member in 1 Corinthians 5. The difference: these actions are taken with sorrow, for restoration, and with the full knowledge that the church too is imperfect. Luke 6:37 does not prohibit correction; it prohibits the arrogant, final verdict that ignores one’s own faults.

What are the exact words of Luke 6:37?

Four major English translations, one Greek text, and a handful of textual nuances—here’s what the verse actually says in the most widely used versions.

Comparison of major English translations

Original Greek text and transliteration

The Greek text from standard critical editions reads: “Καὶ μὴ κρίνετε, καὶ οὐ μὴ κριθῆτε· μὴ καταδικάζετε, καὶ οὐ μὴ καταδικασθῆτε· ἀπολύετε, καὶ ἀπολυθήσεσθε· δίδοτε, καὶ δοθήσεται ὑμῖν.” (Bible Hub – Greek text analysis)

Notice the shift from present imperative (μὴ κρίνετε) to aorist/ future passive (οὐ μὴ κριθῆτε). The negation “οὐ μὴ” is a strong future negation, often translated “never” or “by no means.” Jesus is not saying “you might be judged less”; he’s saying “you will not be judged at all.”

Textual variants and manuscript evidence

Luke 6:37 appears in all major Greek manuscripts (Vaticanus, Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus) with no significant variants. The verse is textually solid, unlike some other passages where early scribes added or removed phrases. This gives scholars high confidence that the wording we have today matches what was originally written.

Bottom line: For readers studying the verse, the exact words are well attested across manuscript families. The Greek imperative is a strong, ongoing prohibition. The English translations agree on the core message: stop judging, stop condemning, keep forgiving, keep giving.

What is the context of Luke 6:37 in the Bible?

Context is everything. Luke 6:37 didn’t appear in a vacuum—it belongs to a carefully arranged sermon that echoes themes from the Old Testament law and prophets, and it has a close parallel in Matthew’s Gospel.

Placement in Luke’s Gospel and the Sermon on the Plain

After spending the night in prayer, Jesus chooses the twelve apostles (Luke 6:12-16). Then he “came down with them and stood on a level place” (6:17), where a large crowd gathered from Judea, Jerusalem, and the coastal regions. The sermon is addressed primarily to the disciples, but the crowd overhears. This setting is unique to Luke—Matthew places a similar teaching on a mountain, giving it the name “Sermon on the Mount.”

Relationship to the Beatitudes and woes

The sermon opens with four beatitudes (“Blessed are you who are poor…”) and four woes (“Woe to you who are rich…”). This sets up a radical reversal of values. Then comes the core ethical teaching: love enemies, turn the other cheek, give generously, and be merciful. Luke 6:37 is the summary command: stop judging, because the kingdom operates on a different currency—mercy.

Parallels with Matthew 7:1-2 and other New Testament passages

Matthew’s version is shorter: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:1-2). Luke adds the extra verbs “condemn” and “forgive,” and then includes the “give” command in verse 38, which Matthew attaches to a different context. The core idea—reciprocal measure—is identical. Other New Testament passages that echo this principle include Romans 2:1 (“Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges”) and James 2:13 (“Mercy triumphs over judgment”).

The pattern: Luke 6:37 is not an isolated proverb. It is the heartbeat of Jesus’ ethical revolution—a call to replace the ledger of judgment with the open hand of forgiveness.

Bottom line: The believer who understands the context sees that Luke 6:37 is the centerpiece of Jesus’ call to replace judgment with mercy in the Sermon on the Plain.

Quotes from key voices

“We must take care not to judge, but to judge with mercy, and to retain our own humility even when we must correct others.”

— Augustine of Hippo, Commentary on the Sermon on the Mount

“The prohibition is not against every kind of judging, but against rash and impudent judging, which is marked by a lack of charity and an arrogant confidence in one’s own righteousness.”

— John Calvin, Harmony of the Gospels

“Jesus is announcing the Jubilee: release from debt, release from prison, release from the burden of condemnation. Luke 6:37 is not just about being nice—it’s about setting people free.”

— N.T. Wright, Luke for Everyone

The implication across these voices: Luke 6:37 is not a blanket ban on moral evaluation, but a sharp warning against the kind of judgment that destroys rather than restores. Augustine, Calvin, and Wright all agree that mercy, not passivity, is the point.

The catch: If you use this verse to silence criticism of yourself, you must also be ready to release the grievances you hold against others. The measure you give is the measure you get.

Frequently asked questions

For Christians navigating a culture that both weaponizes and dismisses this verse, the choice is clear: embrace the humility of self-examination and the liberating act of forgiveness, or risk the very condemnation the verse warns against. Luke 6:37 does not ask us to abandon moral sense—it asks us to hold it with open hands.