Love Your Enemies, Do Good and Lend - Luke 6:35

The beloved physician Luke shared how Jesus said, “Give to every man that asks of you; and of him that takes away your goods ask them not again. And as you would that men should do to you, do you also to them likewise. For if you love them which love you, what thank have you? for sinners also love those that love them. And if you do good to them which do good to you, what thank have you? for sinners also do even the same. And if you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what thank have you? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again”, and in chapter six and verse thirty-five of his book Luke shares how Jesus said, “love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again” where we read:

But love you your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

The verse reads, “But love you your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again;” Luke began with the words, “but love you your enemies” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding, moreover and welcome, entertain, are fond of, are well-pleased with Jesus' disciples foes, hateful and opposing ones and hostile adversaries”, “and do good” which means “and perform and produce favors, extend benefits and be well-doers”, “and lend” or “and loan money”, “hoping for nothing again” which means “without despairing and fully expecting anything in return”. Luke shared how Jesus said His disciples were to “love enemies”, “do good” and “lend” without expecting to recover.

The verse goes on to say, “and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” Luke continued with the words, “and your reward” which means “and Jesus' disciples' wages, due and hire” “shall be great” or “will be massive and large”, “and you shall be the children” which means “and Jesus' disciples will be the offspring and progeny” “of the Highest” or “belonging to the Most High God”: “for he is kind” which means “because, since and on account that God is virtuous, good, pleasant, mild and benevolent” “unto the unthankful” or “to people who are ungracious, ungrateful and thankless” “and to the evil” which means “and to people who are wicked, sinful, annoying, diseased and blind”. Luke shared how Jesus said those who “love their enemies, do good and lend” will be “greatly rewarded” for doing so, and they will be known as “God's children” who is “good and virtuous” to people who are “thankless” and “wicked”.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we see how Jesus shared the way His disciples were to be in the world. They were to “love” their “enemies and foes”. They were to “do good” to people who have not “done good” to them, and they were to “lend” to people without expecting to recover their money. Jesus promised that those who follow these ways will be “greatly rewarded” as well as being known as “God's children”. They will imitate God who is “good” to people who are “wicked” and not “thankful”, and as others see the behavior of the Jesus follower, they will observe a difference in their lives. God's ways and rewards are “spiritual” and “eternal” in nature, and although they do not appear to “pay off” in this world, the dividends for all eternity will be known by the “child of God” who will receive abundant rewards for their efforts.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus says, “be therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".