“Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge 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?
- BSB And why don’t you judge for yourselves 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 7:24Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
- Deut 32:29Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
- Acts 13:26–38Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you.
- Acts 2:40With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
- 1 Cor 11:14Doesn’t even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?
- Matt 21:32For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn’t even repent afterward, that you might believe him.
- Luke 21:30When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near.
- Matt 21:21Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, if you have faith, and don’t doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you told this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it would be done.
- Matt 15:10–14He summoned the multitude, and said to them, “Hear, and understand.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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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.