Luke 6:34-35

6:34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to be repaid, ¹  what credit is that to you? Even sinners ²  lend to sinners, so that they may be repaid in full. ³  6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back. ⁴  Then ⁵  your reward will be great, and you will be sons ⁶  of the Most High, ⁷  because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people. ⁸ 

[6:34]  ¹ tn Grk “to receive”; but in context the repayment of the amount lent is implied. Jesus was noting that utilitarian motives are the way of the world.

[6:34]  ² sn See the note on the word sinners in v. 32.

[6:34]  ³ tn Grk “to receive as much again.”

[6:35]  ⁴ tn Or “in return.”

[6:35]  ⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the outcome or result. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started in the translation at this point.

[6:35]  ⁶ sn The character of these actions reflects the grace and kindness of God, bearing witness to a “line of descent” or relationship of the individual to God (sons of the Most High). There is to be a unique kind of ethic at work with disciples. Jesus refers specifically to sons here because in the ancient world sons had special privileges which were rarely accorded to daughters. However, Jesus is most likely addressing both men and women in this context, so women too would receive these same privileges.

[6:35]  ⁷ sn That is, “sons of God.”

[6:35]  ⁸ tn Or “to the ungrateful and immoral.” The word “people” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.