Luke 6:32

6:32 “If ¹  you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners ²  love those who love them. ³ 

Luke 6:35

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 

[6:32]  ¹ tn Grk “And if.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. This is a first class condition, but the next two conditional clauses are third class conditions, so that stylistic variation is probably at work.

[6:32]  ² sn Here the term sinners may refer to people who had no concern for observing the details of the Mosaic law; these were often treated as social outcasts. See L&N 88.295.

[6:32]  ³ sn Jesus’ point in the statement even sinners love those who love them is that disciples are to go farther than sinners do. The examples replay vv. 29-30.

[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.