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.

Luke 6:35 (KJV)

Context

Luke 6:35 is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:17-49), delivered to His disciples and the gathered crowd. In the preceding verses, Jesus contrasts this teaching with the common practice of loving only those who love you, which even sinners do. Here He calls His followers to a radically different standard: love that extends even to enemies and expects nothing in return.

Meaning

Jesus commands three concrete actions: love your enemies, do good to them, and lend without hoping for anything back. The Greek word for “lend” implies a loan, but the command to expect nothing in return transforms it into an act of grace. This is not merely a feeling but a deliberate, selfless way of treating others, reflecting the character of God Himself.

The promise is twofold: a great reward and being called “children of the Highest.” The title “children of the Highest” (huioi hypsistou) points to a family resemblance—believers show they are God’s children by imitating His kindness. The reward is not necessarily material; it is tied to identity and relationship with God.

Biblical connections

The ground for this command is God’s own nature: He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil. This mirrors the Father’s perfect love, which is not conditional on the recipient’s merit. The immediate context (Luke 6:32-34) reinforces this by contrasting such grace with the natural human tendency to love only those who love us.

Application

This teaching challenges natural instincts and conventional reciprocity. It calls believers to a radical, selfless love that imitates God. Such love is possible because it flows from God’s nature, and believers are invited to participate in that divine character. When we lend or give without expecting repayment, we demonstrate that our hope is in God, not in human return.

Reflection

God’s kindness to the ungrateful and evil is the model for our own conduct. The verse assures us that acts of love toward enemies are not unnoticed; they carry a great reward and confirm our identity as children of the Highest. This is an invitation to live out the peace that comes from trusting God’s sovereign rule and His promise of reward.