And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
And {G2532} if {G1437} ye do good {G15} to them which do good {G15} to you {G5209}, what {G4169} thank {G5485} have {G2076} ye {G5213}? for {G1063} sinners {G268} also do {G4160} even {G2532} the same {G846}.
What credit is it to you if you do good only to those who do good to you? Even sinners do that.
If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.
And if ye do good to them that do good to you, what thank have ye? for even sinners do the same.
No cross-references found for this verse.
Context
Luke 6:33 is part of Jesus' extensive teaching often referred to as the "Sermon on the Plain" (Luke 6:17-49), which shares significant parallels with Matthew's Sermon on the Mount. In this section, Jesus challenges His disciples to live by a radical ethic of love that transcends conventional human behavior. Immediately preceding this verse, Jesus has instructed His followers to love their enemies, do good to those who hate them, bless those who curse them, and pray for those who abuse them. This particular verse addresses the common human inclination towards reciprocal good deeds, setting it against a much higher, divine standard.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The King James Version translates the Greek word charis (χάρις) as "thank." While charis can mean "grace," "favor," or "gratitude," in this context, it refers to the credit, merit, or special commendation one might expect to receive for their actions. Jesus' rhetorical question, "what thank have ye?" means, "What special credit, reward, or divine favor do you gain?" It underscores that simply reciprocating good deeds, which even "sinners" do, does not earn unique divine commendation because it is driven by human expectation rather than selfless, sacrificial love.
Practical Application
Luke 6:33 profoundly challenges believers to examine the motivations behind their acts of kindness and generosity: