Luke 6:35
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Study Note
Study Note
The command to 'love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again' grounds the ethic of enemy-love not in humanitarian idealism but in the character of God: 'for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.' The Greek 'apelpizō' ('hoping for nothing again') is rare and probably means 'without despairing' rather than 'expecting no return,' suggesting the call is to persevering generosity rather than naive charity with no disappointment. Matthew 5:44-48 provides a close parallel, with the additional motivation that tax-collectors and pagans also love those who love them — love that mirrors God must exceed this minimum. The promised reward ('your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest') shows that ethical imitation of God is simultaneously the path to sonship — being and doing are inseparable in Lukan discipleship.
Other Translations
But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.
`But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again, and your reward will be great, and ye shall be sons of the Highest, because He is kind unto the ungracious and evil;
But be loving to those who are against you and do them good, and give them your money, not giving up hope, and your reward will be great and you will be the sons of the Most High: for he is kind to evil men, and to those who have hard hearts.
Cross References
And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though …
Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase.
He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay …
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, …
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise …
And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the …