Luke 12:57 Meaning: Judge for Yourselves What Is Right
“Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?
Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
And why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
`And why, also, of yourselves, judge ye not what is righteous?
And why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus asks why we don’t judge what is right ourselves. This verse calls us to use our God-given discernment in daily life and spiritual decision.
Context
This verse comes near the end of a long section where Jesus teaches both his disciples and the watching crowds. He has just rebuked the people for being weather-wise but spiritually dull. They can read the sky to predict rain or heat, yet they miss what God is doing right in front of them. Now he turns to a sharper point: why do they need someone else to tell them what is right? The verse sits between that indictment and a short parable about settling a dispute before it reaches court. So Jesus is pressing them (and us) to use the moral sense God already gave them, especially in a moment of urgency.
Key Words
The Greek verb translated judge is krinō. It does not mean condemning people or pronouncing a harsh verdict on them. It means to separate, to distinguish, to decide. A shepherd uses krinō when he sorts sheep from goats. A judge uses it when he weighs evidence and chooses what is just. Jesus asks why they are not doing this basic work of moral sorting and deciding.
The word for right is dikaion. It means what is just, fair, upright, in line with God’s character. Not what is convenient, popular, or easy. The phrase of yourselves (literally “from yourselves”) is also important. Jesus believes ordinary people can discern right from wrong without a special teacher or a sign from heaven. The trouble is they have let that inner sense stay dormant.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse in two main ways. Many Protestant commentators, following John Calvin, see it as a call to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. The evidence of his miracles and the fulfilled prophecies should have been enough. Others, including Anglican and Catholic scholars, emphasize the moral capacity God gives every person. Natural law and conscience can guide us in everyday decisions about right and wrong, especially in conflicts. These readings are not opposites. Both invite us to use the reason and moral instinct God placed in us, and to stop hiding behind excuses.
A common misunderstanding
A common mistake is to think Jesus is telling us to judge other people more harshly. Some read “why don’t you judge what is right” as a license to be critical and condemning toward others. In fact, the context points the other way. Jesus is talking about a dispute with an adversary and urges the person to make peace before it is too late. The judging here is about discerning your own situation, what you should do, where you have gone wrong, and how to set things right before God and your neighbour.
Living This Out
This week, try a simple practice. Before any decision that involves another person, a disagreement, a choice at work, a family tension, stop and ask yourself: what is the right thing to do here? Not what is easiest, not what protects my pride, not what others expect. Ask it quietly, and wait for an answer. You might already know it. The hard part is doing it. Jesus trusted that you can tell right from wrong. Trust him back by acting on what you see.
Main takeaway: God gave you the ability to know what is right; using it honestly is the first step to following Jesus.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus said it is very important to think about what is the right thing to do. You can know in your heart what is good. Try to do it today.
For ages 9, 12
Sometimes we want someone else to tell us what is right. But Jesus says you can figure it out yourself if you stop and think. When you are arguing with a friend or deciding what to do, take a moment and ask: what is the fair and kind thing? Your conscience will tell you. Then you have to actually do it.
Questions People Ask
Does 'judge for yourselves' mean I can decide what is right without the Bible?
No. Jesus is speaking to people who already had God's law and the prophets. He is not setting aside Scripture. He is saying they should have used the knowledge they already had to see what God was doing. The Bible still guides our conscience; this verse calls us to use that guidance actively, not wait for a special sign.
What does this verse have to do with the weather signs in the previous verses?
In Luke 12:54-56, Jesus points out that people can read the sky to predict rain or heat, yet they fail to 'interpret this time.' Then verse 57 asks why they don't judge what is right themselves. The contrast is sharp: they trust their own observations for the weather but not for the most important question, whether Jesus is the Messiah and whether they need to repent.
Is Jesus saying we shouldn't go to court or seek legal judgments?
The parable that follows (verses 58-59) urges settling with an adversary before reaching the magistrate. Jesus is not forbidding legal action in all cases. He is using the courtroom as a picture of final judgment. The point is urgency: reconcile with both God and others now, because there will be a day when the case closes and it is too late.
How does this verse apply to someone who struggles with knowing right from wrong?
Jesus assumes that basic moral knowledge is accessible to everyone. If you honestly do not know what is right, the next step is to ask God, read Scripture, and seek wise counsel. But often the problem is not ignorance; it is avoidance. This verse pushes us to stop making excuses and take the moral step we already know we should take.
What does 'right' mean in this verse?
The Greek word is dikaion, meaning just, righteous, morally straight. It is not about personal preference or cultural opinion. It aligns with God's character and commands. In the context, it includes recognizing that Jesus is the Messiah and acting accordingly, repenting, believing, and making peace with God and others.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study