Luke 6:35

Love ye your enemies. See on Matt. 5:44-46.

Hoping. Gr. apelpizo, a word occurring nowhere else in the NT. In Greek literature it always means “to despair,” or “to give up in despair.” There is some textual evidence (cf. p. 146) for the reading “despairing of no one,” though the evidence seems to favor the reading “despairing of nothing.” Commentators generally suggest “never despairing” as the best rendering, or, “giving up nothing in despair.” However, the contrast here seems to demand a phrase opposite to “ye hope to receive” (v. 34), and hence there may be some justification for the translation “hoping for nothing.” There is some textual evidence (cf. p. 146) for reading “disappointing no man.” The KJV translation is based on the Vulgate, which reads, “hoping for nothing thence.” On the basis of the Vulgate the Catholic Church for centuries prohibited lending money on interest, and as a result the Jews became the great moneylenders and bankers of Europe. For a discussion of Bible principles with regard to lending money on interest, see on Ex. 22:25.

The context of Luke 6:30-35 makes clear that Christ does not refer here to interest on loans, but rather to the great principle that Christians should give to others (v. 30), treat others equitably (v. 31), do good to others (vs. 31, 35), and love others (v. 32) — without calculating in advance the probability of getting the same or more in return.

Christians are to help even apparently hopeless cases (apelpizo is used in Greek literature of a physician despairing of an apparently helpless and hopeless case). Help is to be based on need, not on the anticipation of getting a return on the investment of good deeds. The Christian is never to be “weary in well doing” (Gal. 6:9), nor should he feel that his labor is “in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58).

Your reward. Christ held forth rewards for right living, not primarily as incentives — yet rightly understood, they are properly incentives — but to demonstrate that though men may not appreciate the high principles on which citizens of the heavenly kingdom operate, God nevertheless knows and appreciates. He will eventually bring the reign of sin to an end and will reconstitute the affairs of this world in harmony with the very principles for which His “sons” endure injustice in this present world. The highest motive of a Christian is not to live the better life in order to acquire certain rewards, though these properly have their place, but rather to live the better life in recognition of the fact that in and of itself it is a better life. A Christian finds ultimate satisfaction in living in harmony with the great eternal principles of the kingdom of heaven.

Children. Their moral likeness to God proves them to be His children. They are His sons because they think, speak, and live in harmony with His principles (see on Matt. 5:45).

The Highest. Gr. Hupsistos. “Children of the Highest” of Luke is equivalent to “children of your Father” of Matt. 5:45. The Hebrew equivalent of Hupsistos is ‘Elyon (see on Gen. 14:18; Num. 24:16).

The unthankful. Christ is not so much concerned with the fact that these persons do not express appreciation for the kindnesses shown them by citizens of the kingdom of heaven, as He is with the basic attitude of the thankless. Even so, God is still kind to them, and the sons of God on earth — those who resemble their heavenly Father in moral character — will do likewise. See on John 8:44.

The evil. In Greek the definite article “the” is not repeated. The entire phrase reads literally, “to the ungracious and evil [ones].” The “ungracious” and “evil” are here treated as one group of people, not two separate groups. The kindnesses God extends are based on His own graciousness as giver, not on any graciousness on the part of the recipients. It is sometimes the case that graciousness extended to the most unworthy and unappreciative individual awakens in him a desire to escape from the bonds of sin, and ultimately brings about a transformation of his character.