With The Measure You Use

“’Consider carefully what you hear,’ He continued. ‘With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.’”
Mark 4:24-25 (NIV)

With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, means that ‘you get back what you give’. Here it means that those who accept the truth of Jesus’ teachings will receive even more truth in return.

In Luke 6:38, the same Proverb is used to encourage generosity in giving; it means that you will receive back according to your generosity. Here it says, “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

What did Jesus mean by a good measure, pressed down, shaken and running over? In the marketplace, where the buyer would order a measure of grain, a particularly generous merchant would fill the container, shake it to settle the contents, press the grain down to make more room, and keep pouring until it overflowed into the buyer’s lap. It is a picture of generosity, of grace, of receiving from God far more than we give.

In Matthew 7:2 it is used to warn against hypocritical judgement—that you will be judged by how you judge. “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Take heed or consider what we hear. Why? Like the Berean Jews in Acts 17:11, who examined the scriptures to see if they were hearing truth, we are to pay diligent (or close attention) to what we hear. We should seek to understand it, and to lay it up in our minds and memories, in order that we will be able to convey the gospel message to others when anyone ask us about our beliefs, or when God gives us the opportunity to do so.

Prayer
Thank you, Father, for pouring out your blessings on us without measure. In Jesus’ name.
Amen

Study by Dennis Payne

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About the Author:
Dennis Payne attends the North London Congregation of the Grace Communion International.

Local Congregation:
Grace Communion International London
Indian YMCA
Mahatma Gandhi Hall
41 Fitzroy Square
LONDON
W1T 6AQ

Meeting Time:
Saturday 2:30pm

Local Congregational Contact:
Barry Robinson
Email:   london@gracecom.church