A Cautionary Tale of Faith and Determination Upheld By the Pure Spirit of Our Risen Lord

The Foundation of Our Faith, Viewed From the Heart

(Luke chapter 6, verses 37–49)

For this week’s installment of my ongoing Bible study series we will be moving on to the third part of the gospel of Luke chapter 6. When we concluded last week’s study, we were in the middle of the revered Sermon on the Mount. Jesus had just finished teaching that we are to, “Be merciful, just as your heavenly Father is merciful”. At this point in Matthew’s gospel, it reads, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy.” Merciful people — that is, compassionate, kindhearted people who are filled with empathy — will be shown the same degree of favorable judgment and benefit of the doubt that they showed toward others, and they will receive it from Christ himself, in person. Now that’s what I call something to look forward to! On that note, let’s begin the 3rd and final part of Luke chapter six.

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 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 to you. He also told them this…