Luke 6:35
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.”
What does Luke 6:35 mean?
Jesus asks us to extend the same generosity to those who oppose or hurt us that we'd naturally give to friends, not because it's easy or because they deserve it, but because it mirrors God's own character. When we lend without expecting repayment or do good without keeping score, we're not being foolish—we're participating in the kind of radical love that God practices every day toward people who ignore Him or reject Him. The promise here is rich: when we love this way, we become recognizable as God's children, bearing a family resemblance through our kindness. It's also practical—God sees what we do in secret and rewards the generosity we offer with no earthly return. This doesn't mean we become doormats or enable harm, but rather that we release bitterness and choose grace, which ironically frees us more than it frees them.