Luke 6:36

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples while teaching on the practical outworking of love toward enemies. He speaks this command immediately after describing the Father’s kindness to the ungrateful and wicked.

The words — The imperative γίνεσθε (ginesthe) commands a continuous state of being, while οἰκτιρμόνες (oiktirmones) denotes active compassion. The conjunction καθὼς (kathōs) establishes the Father’s character as the direct standard for this conduct.

The thread — This call to mirror divine character appears in Ephesians 5:1, Matthew 5:48, and 1 Peter 1:15. Each passage links believer conduct to the specific nature of God.

Why it lands — The text commands readers to actively practice mercy as a direct reflection of God’s own disposition. It requires abandoning self-interest and extending compassion without expectation of return.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ΓίνεσθεGinesthedo be you οὖνountherefore οἰκτίρμονεςoiktirmonesmerciful καθὼςkathōseven as καὶkaialso ὁhothe πατὴρpatērFather ὑμῶνhumōnof you οἰκτίρμωνoiktirmōnmerciful ἐστίν.estinis.

King James Version

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Cross-references

Ephesians 5:1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children,
Matthew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
1 Peter 1:15 But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,
Ephesians 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.