But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. — Luke 6:35 KJV
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. — Luke 6:35 NIV
Reflection on Verse for Today
This is a powerful verse that challenges many human inclinations. It’s an embodiment of Jesus’ teaching of radical love and selfless generosity, a command to not just tolerate but actively love and do good to even those who wrong us.
In our human nature, we often seek revenge or at least hold onto resentment towards those who harm us. We’re naturally inclined to return kindness for kindness, and hurt for hurt. But Christ’s message turns this natural inclination on its head.
When Jesus says, “love your enemies,” he is inviting us into a new way of living and interacting with the world. This is a higher calling that goes beyond our human instincts. It’s not easy, but it’s the call of the Kingdom of God, a kingdom that operates on the principles of grace, mercy, and unending love.
The second part of this verse challenges another human tendency – the expectation of reward or return. The culture of reciprocity is deeply embedded in society. We often lend or give with the expectation of getting something back. Yet, Christ is calling us to give selflessly, without any expectation of return, reflecting the unconditional love that God shows us every day.
The final part of this verse offers an important reason for why we should strive to love our enemies and give without expectation. It reminds us that God is “kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” We are called to this radical love and generosity not just as a moral duty, but as an imitation of God’s character.
We often forget that we were once the ‘enemies’ of God, separated from Him by sin. Yet, He showed us the greatest act of love and generosity by sending His son, Jesus Christ, to die for us, reconciling us to Him. God did not wait for us to become deserving of His love; He loved us while we were still sinners.
As believers, when we love our enemies and lend to them without expecting anything in return, we are manifesting God’s love in the world and living as His children. This is a high calling, but it’s also a glorious one. This radical love has the power to change hearts, transform lives, and manifest God’s Kingdom here on earth.
Remember that the Holy Spirit is always ready to help us in this challenge. We can ask for His help in our prayers, as we strive to love like Jesus, knowing that every step we take in obedience is transforming us more into the image of Christ.
Thus, this verse invites us to an ongoing journey of spiritual growth and transformation. It’s a challenging path but one filled with the promises of immense spiritual rewards and the manifestation of God’s Kingdom on earth.
My Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come to you today with hearts full of gratitude for the overwhelming love and mercy you’ve shown us. We thank you for the truth of your Word and the wisdom it imparts to us. Today, we reflect upon Luke 6:35, a verse that calls us to a deeper level of love and generosity, one that mirrors Your own heart.
Lord, we confess that it is often difficult for us to love our enemies. Our human nature often seeks retaliation, or at the very least, to withhold kindness from those who’ve hurt us. Yet, you command us to love and do good to them, just as you have loved us when we were still sinners.
Help us, Lord, to see others through Your eyes. Grant us the grace to forgive, and the strength to love even when it’s hard. Transform our hearts to be more like yours, filled with compassion and grace.
Teach us, Father, to give without expecting anything in return. In a world that often encourages self-centeredness and keeping score, guide us to reflect your selfless and unconditional love. Help us to let go of our expectations, knowing that our true reward lies in becoming more like you and serving Your Kingdom.
May we always remember your kindness towards us, even when we were ungrateful and wicked. We are humbled by Your love and mercy, and we aspire to extend the same to others. Make us effective instruments of your love, kindness, and generosity in this world.
Give us the wisdom and patience to walk this challenging path, and the faith to know that every step is bringing us closer to You. May we be not only hearers of Your Word, but doers also, living out the call of the Gospel every day.
We ask this in the powerful name of Jesus, our Savior and our model of perfect love. Amen.
