33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
34aAnd if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.
35But alove your enemies, bdo good, and clend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and dyou will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
36aTherefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
Do Not Judge
37a“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. bForgive, and you will be forgiven.
38aGive, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bbosom. For cwith the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Articles, Bible studies, and sermons that contain Luke 6:35:
Luke 6:35-36
Those words reveal the very heart of God. The natural human response is to ask, "What will I get in return?" We want appreciation for kindness. We want gratitude for our sacrifices, recognition for our service, and repayment for our generosity. Yet Christ calls us to a higher standard. He calls us to love when love is not returned, to forgive when forgiveness is not appreciated, to serve when no one notices, and to give when there is no possibility of repayment. Why? Because that is exactly how God treats us.
The world says, give only if you receive, and Christ says, give hoping for nothing in return. The world says, love those who love you, and Christ says, love your enemies. The world says, judge according to appearances. Christ says, be merciful just as your Father is merciful.
