"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
— Luke 6:36 (NIV)
Luke 6:36 is one short sentence from Jesus that sets the standard for how his followers treat people: the way the Father treats them. This page gives the verse, what the key Greek words mean, where it sits in Luke 6, and a plain reading. For more on the theme, see Bible verses about mercy and Love and mercy.
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The verse
The King James reads: "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful."
"Be" is ginomai (G1096), to become, so the command has a sense of growing into something. "Merciful" is oiktirmōn (G3629), full of pity and compassion. "Father" is patēr (G3962).
Where it sits in Luke 6
This verse closes Jesus's teaching on loving enemies in the Sermon on the Plain. It starts with "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:27-28).
The verse right before it gives the reason: "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 children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked" (Luke 6:35). The verse right after it puts mercy into practice: "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven" (Luke 6:37).
What the verse is saying
Jesus does not ask his followers to be merciful because people deserve it. He points to the Father, who is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Mercy is how children come to look like their Father.
The "therefore" in the KJV ties it back to verse 35. If God gives to people who give nothing back, his children can stop keeping score too. Matthew's parallel line is "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48); Luke shows what that looks like day to day, and it is mercy.
Questions people ask
What does Luke 6:36 say?
In the NIV it says, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." The KJV says, "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful."
What does "merciful" mean in Luke 6:36?
The Greek word oiktirmōn means full of pity and compassion. It is mercy that feels for someone and then acts, the way God is kind to people who have not earned it.
Who is Jesus talking to in Luke 6:36?
His disciples and the crowd gathered for the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:17-20). The verse wraps up his teaching on loving enemies.
How is Luke 6:36 different from Matthew 5:48?
Matthew 5:48 says, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Luke 6:36 puts the same idea as mercy. Both point to the Father as the pattern for how to treat enemies.
What verses go with Luke 6:36?
Luke 6:35 (love your enemies), Luke 6:27-28 (do good to those who hate you), Ephesians 4:32 (be kind and compassionate), and Micah 6:8 (to love mercy) are close companions.
