Luke 6:35

Commentary on Luke 6:35

Luke 6:35 is a powerful expression of Jesus's radical ethics, challenging His disciples to live by a standard of love and generosity that far surpasses worldly norms. It encapsulates the essence of divine character and promises profound spiritual rewards for those who embody it.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus's "Sermon on the Plain" (Luke 6:20-49), a foundational discourse similar to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel. Preceding verses (Luke 6:27-34) lay the groundwork by directly commanding believers to love their enemies, bless those who curse them, and pray for those who mistreat them. Luke 6:35 expands on this by emphasizing concrete actions of love and generosity, contrasting them with the common practice of reciprocal kindness or lending with an expectation of repayment.

Key Themes

• Radical Love and Selfless Generosity: The command to "love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again" moves beyond mere tolerance or passive non-retaliation. It demands active, benevolent engagement, even towards those who are hostile or undeserving. This selfless act of giving without expectation of return is a hallmark of divine character, challenging human self-interest and worldly transactional relationships.
• Great Reward and Divine Sonship: Jesus promises a "great reward" for those who live out this challenging command. This reward is not primarily material but spiritual, signifying a deep alignment with God's nature and purpose. To be "children of the Highest" means to reflect God's character, participating in His divine family and inheriting the blessings associated with such a relationship. This concept of being called children of God is a profound honor.
• Imitating God's Impartial Kindness: The ultimate motivation for this radical behavior is rooted in God's own character: "for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil." God's grace and benevolence extend universally, not just to the righteous or those who acknowledge Him, but even to those who are ungrateful or wicked. This mirrors the teaching found in Matthew 5:45, where God sends rain on the just and unjust. Believers are called to imitate this boundless, unconditional love and kindness.

Linguistic Insights

• The Greek word for "love" here is agapao (the verb form of agape), which denotes a selfless, unconditional, and deliberate choice of benevolent goodwill, rather than merely emotional affection. This agape love is a foundational concept in Christian ethics, emphasizing action based on principle rather than feeling.
• The phrase "hoping for nothing again" translates from the Greek meden apelpizontes. While it can literally mean "despairing of nothing," in this context, it is widely understood as "expecting nothing in return" or "having no expectation of repayment." This emphasizes the pure, unadulterated nature of the generosity, highlighting a giving heart that seeks no earthly recompense.

Practical Application

Luke 6:35 challenges believers to live out their faith in a way that transcends human limitations and societal expectations. It calls for practical acts of kindness, forgiveness, and generosity that extend beyond personal feelings, perceived worthiness, or the hope of reciprocity. This verse encourages us to:

• Practice unconditional love: Extend love and goodness even to those who are difficult, hostile, or unappreciative. This means letting go of grudges and actively seeking the well-being of others.
• Embrace selfless giving: Lend or give without calculating potential returns, trusting that true reward comes from God. This fosters a spirit of generosity that reflects God's own giving nature.
• Reflect God's character: By demonstrating kindness to the unthankful and evil, we become true "children of the Highest," embodying the love and grace of God to a world that desperately needs it. This difficult but transformative command invites us to participate in God's redemptive work on Earth.