What is the meaning of Luke 6:35? But love your enemies “But love your enemies” (Luke 6:35a) • The command is deliberate and unconditional; it mirrors God’s own initiative toward us while we were His enemies (Romans 5:10). • Loving adversaries fulfills Proverbs 25:21, “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat.” • Jesus restates this in Matthew 5:44, making love of enemy a distinguishing mark of genuine discipleship. • Practical expressions include praying for opponents (Matthew 5:44), blessing those who curse (Luke 6:28), and refusing retaliation (Romans 12:14). do good to them “...do good to them” (Luke 6:35b) • Love is active, not sentimental; it is proven by tangible kindness (1 John 3:18). • Galatians 6:10 urges believers to “do good to everyone,” underscoring that good deeds are not reserved for friends. • Romans 12:20-21 calls us to overcome evil with good, echoing Jesus’ directive here. • Doing good reflects God’s character, who “opens His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing” (Psalm 145:16). and lend to them, expecting nothing in return “...and lend to them, expecting nothing in return” (Luke 6:35c) • Financial generosity without strings embodies trust in God, not in repayment (Deuteronomy 15:7-11). • Psalm 37:26 describes the righteous as “always generous and lending freely.” • Jesus repeats the principle in Luke 14:12-14, promising blessing when we give where repayment is impossible. • This attitude protects the heart from greed and models God’s gratuitous grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). Then your reward will be great “Then your reward will be great” (Luke 6:35d) • God Himself guarantees compensation far beyond earthly payback (Hebrews 11:6). • Matthew 6:4 affirms that the Father who sees in secret rewards openly. • The “great” reward encompasses both present joy (Acts 20:35) and future inheritance (1 Peter 1:4). and you will be sons of the Most High “...and you will be sons of the Most High” (Luke 6:35e) • Demonstrating enemy-love reveals the family likeness; believers act as their Father acts (Matthew 5:45). • John 1:12 says those who receive Christ are given “the right to become children of God.” Here Jesus shows how children resemble the Father in conduct (Romans 8:14). • Sonship is not earned by works, yet works authenticate the relationship (James 2:18). for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked “...for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked” (Luke 6:35f) • God’s common grace extends even to those who spurn Him, sending rain and sun on both righteous and unrighteous (Matthew 5:45). • Romans 2:4 points to God’s kindness leading to repentance, illustrating the redemptive aim behind mercy. • Psalm 145:9 declares, “The LORD is good to all,” grounding the believer’s kindness in God’s universal benevolence. summary Luke 6:35 calls believers to mirror God’s radical, proactive love: loving enemies, doing good, and offering resources without expectation of return. Such obedience brings divine reward and visibly marks us as children of the Most High, whose kindness reaches even the ungrateful and wicked. Living this verse showcases the gospel, displaying to a watching world the Father’s generous, redeeming heart. |
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