Luke 6:36

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 6:36 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Luke 6:36 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
36Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Be ye therefore merciful, etc.] Tenderhearted, kind, beneficent to all men, friends and foes: as your Father also is merciful; that is your Father which is in heaven; who is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works: nothing is more common in Zohar f263, and the Talmud f264 than to express the Divine Being by no other name, than “the Merciful”; rma anmjr, “the Merciful said” so, and so; that is, God: and so the Arabians generally begin their books and chapters with these words, “in the name of God, exceeding merciful”, or “the merciful commiserator”: a saying much like to this in the text, is the Targum of Jonathan, on (<032228>Leviticus 22:28). “O my people, the children of…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See this passage fully illustrated in the sermon on the mount, in Matt. 5–7. Luke 6:21 That hunger now - Matthew has it, “that hunger and thirst after righteousness.” Matthew has expressed more fully what Luke has briefly, but there is no contradiction. Luke 6:24-26 These verses have been omitted by Matthew. They seem to have been spoken to the Pharisees. Who are rich - In this world’s goods. They loved them; they had sought for them; they found their consolation in them. It implies, farther, that they would not seek or receive consolation from the gospel. They were proud, and would not seek it; satisfied, and did not desire it; filled with cares, and had no time or disposition to attend to…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Mat 5:48; Eph 4:31, Eph 5:1, Eph 5:2; Pe1 1:15, Pe1 1:16 Luke 6:37”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification