Meaning of Luke 6:35

This verse from Luke's Gospel, situated within Jesus' Sermon on the Plain, presents a radical ethical imperative that stands in stark contrast to conventional human behavior and societal norms. Jesus is not merely suggesting a passive tolerance of enemies but an active, selfless engagement that mirrors God's own disposition. The command to "love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back" is a direct call to transcend personal grievances and retaliatory instincts. This unconditional love, or agape, is presented as the hallmark of true discipleship, a reflection of the character of God who extends grace even to those who are "ungrateful and wicked." The promise of a "great reward" is not primarily material but speaks to a profound spiritual inheritance and a deeper connection with the divine, positioning believers as true children of the Most High by emulating His boundless compassion.

Context and Background

Luke 6:35 is part of Jesus' ethical teaching, specifically the Sermon on the Plain, which is Luke's parallel to Matthew's Sermon on the Mount. Unlike Matthew's more structured, mountain-top delivery, Luke's setting is more communal, delivered on a "level place" to a mixed crowd of disciples and ordinary people. This particular teaching follows Jesus' pronouncements on blessing the poor, hungry, weeping, and hated (Luke 6:20-23), and then contrasts these blessings with woes for the rich, full, laughing, and well-spoken of (Luke 6:24-26). The immediate context, therefore, sets up a dichotomy between the values of the Kingdom of God and the values of the world, highlighting a transformative ethic that begins with the marginalized and extends to the most adversarial.

Key Themes and Messages

• Unconditional Love (Agape): The core of the verse is the command to love enemies. This is not an emotional affection but a volitional, active commitment to the well-being of others, even those who have wronged us.
• Active Benevolence: "Do good to them" emphasizes proactive acts of kindness, not just a lack of ill will. This involves tangible actions that benefit the recipient.
• Generosity Without Expectation: "Lend to them without expecting to get anything back" speaks to a selfless giving that is detached from personal gain or reciprocation. This challenges the transactional nature of human relationships.
• Divine Emulation: The motivation for this radical behavior is explicitly stated: "because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked." Believers are called to imitate God's character, which is characterized by indiscriminate kindness.
• Future Reward: The promise of a "great reward" points to a heavenly recompense, a spiritual inheritance, and a deeper relationship with God, rather than earthly riches.

Spiritual Significance and Application

Spiritually, Luke 6:35 calls for a profound reorientation of the heart and mind. It demands a departure from the self-preservation and retaliatory instincts that are natural to fallen humanity. Practicing this kind of love is an act of faith, acknowledging that our ultimate security and reward lie with God, not in the approval or reciprocation of others. It signifies a spiritual maturity where one trusts in God's justice and provision, rather than seeking to enforce it through personal vengeance or conditional kindness. This ethic transforms relationships, breaks cycles of conflict, and witnesses to the power of God's grace in the world.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This teaching is not an isolated command but a cornerstone of biblical ethics. It finds its ultimate expression in Jesus' own life and sacrificial death on the cross, where He prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34). The Old Testament law, while often dealing with justice and retribution, also contained seeds of this principle, such as "If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him" (Exodus 23:4). However, Jesus intensifies and perfects this ethic, demonstrating that true righteousness goes beyond mere observance of the law to a heart transformed by divine love. The New Testament epistles further expound on this, urging believers to "bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse" (Romans 12:14).

Analogies

• The Sun: God's kindness is like the sun, which shines on both the righteous and the unrighteous, the grateful and the ungrateful. His provision of light and warmth is impartial, demonstrating His universal benevolence.
• A Parent's Love: A loving parent often extends grace and patience to a wayward child, even when the child is difficult or unappreciative. This parental love, though imperfect, provides a glimpse of God's boundless love for His erring children.
• A Seed: Planting a seed without immediate expectation of harvest, or even with the knowledge that the plant might be trampled, can be likened to doing good without expecting return. The act of planting is itself the fulfillment, trusting that the soil and the weather (analogous to God's providence) will ultimately yield fruit.

Relation to Other Verses

• Matthew 5:43-48: This passage in the Sermon on the Mount is directly parallel, stating, "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you." Jesus' teaching in Luke 6:35 is a consistent articulation of this core principle.
• Romans 12:17-21: Paul elaborates on this theme, advising, "Repay no one evil for evil... If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing so you will heap burning coals on his head." This reinforces the active, benevolent approach to enemies.
• 1 John 4:7-12: This passage connects divine love to human love, stating, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God... If we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us." It underscores that the capacity and command to love originate from God and are demonstrated by believers.
• Luke 6:27-30: The verses immediately preceding Luke 6:35 also speak to loving enemies, praying for those who abuse, and turning the other cheek, establishing a consistent ethical framework within Jesus' teaching.