Pressed Down, Shaken Together and Running Over

Luke 6:38, Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

This is a popular one isn’t it?  We love to include it in our prosperity message.  And we should.  We love to pray it.  And we should.  We love to lay claim to it and again, we should! 

But, how many of us know (I’m raising my hand…) that we must take the Word in context?

Luke 6:27-38

But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful

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.

As I read this, I am keenly aware that neither money or financial prosperity is mentioned…not even once. 

What is listed (and I have highlighted these above) is:

1. Love your enemies.

2. Do good to those that hate you.

3. Bless those that curse you.

4. Pray for those who mistreat you.

5. Give to everyone who asks you. (Could be money, food, clothing, etc.)

6. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

7. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

8. Do not judge.

9. Do not condemn.

10. Forgive.

11. Give. 

Give what?  Love, goodness, blessings, prayer, actions, mercy, no judgement, no condemnation, forgiveness.

Sure, this can apply to financial prosperity and we’re happy to interpret it that way and preach it that way but we are depriving ourselves of the greater return  if we limit it to that. 

This word says specifically that if we give, that pressed down, shaken together and running over shall men give into our bosom. 

What is the bosom?  It’s the chest. The cavity that holds the heart and the seat of emotions.  It houses our soul.  

This is the place where Jesus allowed John to rest his head…the place that John preferred.  

Matthew 6:21, For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Just look what Jesus treasured.