Luke 6:32–35

6:32 “If103 you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners104 love those who love them.105 6:33 And106 if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even107 sinners108 do the same. 6:34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to be repaid,109 what credit is that to you? Even sinners110 lend to sinners, so that they may be repaid in full.111 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back.112 Then113 your reward will be great, and you will be sons114 of the Most High,115 because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people.116

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103	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.
104	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.
105	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.
106	tc ‡ Three key mss (𝔓75 א* B) have “for” here, but it is unlikely that it was present originally. The addition of conjunctions, especially to the beginning of a clause, are typically suspect because they fit the pattern of Koine tendencies toward greater explicitness. NA 27 has the word in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.
107	tc Most mss (A D L Θ Ξ Ψ f13 33 𝔐 lat) include γάρ (gar, “for”) following καί (kai, here translated “even”), but a few important mss (א B W 700 892* 1241 pc) lack the conjunction. The inclusion of the conjunction seems to be motivated by clarity and should probably be considered inauthentic.
108	sn See the note on the word sinners in v. 32.
109	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.
110	sn See the note on the word sinners in v. 32.
111	tn Grk “to receive as much again.”
112	tn Or “in return.”
113	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.
114	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.
115	sn That is, “sons of God.”
116	tn Or “to the ungrateful and immoral.” The word “people” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.

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