And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?
Parallel translations
- WEB Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?
- KJV Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
- NKJV “Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right?
- NASB “And why do you not even judge by yourselves what is right?
- NLT “Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus asks why they do not judge for themselves what is right. People are responsible to discern and respond to the truth before them.
Overview
Jesus calls the crowds to exercise moral discernment rather than remain spiritually blind. They have the capacity to recognize what is right and should act on it, especially regarding their standing before God. This challenges hearers to take personal responsibility for responding rightly to Christ and the urgency of the hour.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- John 7:24Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”
- Deut 32:29If only they were wise, they would understand it; they would comprehend their fate.
- Acts 13:26–38Brothers, children of Abraham, and you Gentiles who fear God, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.
- Acts 2:40With many other words he testified, and he urged them, “Be saved from this corrupt generation.”
- 1 Cor 11:14Doesn’t nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him,
- Matt 21:32For John came to you in a righteous way and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
- Luke 21:30When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.
- Matt 21:21“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.
- Matt 15:10–14Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, “Listen and understand.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 12:57 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.