Love Your Enemies and Be Merciful
Luke 6:27-36
Luke.6.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Αλλα: CONJ
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- ακουουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- αγαπατε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- εχθρους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- καλως: ADV
- ποιειτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- μισουσιν: VERB,pres,act,part,dat,pl,m
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
Parallels
- Matthew 5:44 (verbal): Direct parallel in the Sermon on the Mount: Jesus commands loving enemies and extends instruction to pray for persecutors—near-verbatim teaching to Luke 6:27.
- Luke 6:35 (verbal): Close parallel within the same Lucan sermon: repeats and expands the call to love enemies by highlighting rewards and divine character behind such behavior.
- Romans 12:14-21 (thematic): Paulic ethical application urging blessing persecutors, not repaying evil for evil, and overcoming evil with good—develops the same ethic of love toward enemies.
- Luke 23:34 (allusion): Jesus' prayer for his executioners ('Father, forgive them') exemplifies the command to love enemies in concrete, sacrificial form.
- 1 Peter 3:9 (thematic): Appeals to not repay evil with evil and to bless instead—echoes the New Testament exhortation to respond to hostility with love and blessing.
Alternative generated candidates
- But I tell you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you.
- But to you who hear I say: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you.
Luke.6.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ευλογειτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- καταρωμενους: PART,pres,mid/pass,acc,pl,m
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- προσευχεσθε: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,2,pl
- περι: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- επηρεαζοντων: PART,pres,act,gen,pl,m
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
Parallels
- Luke 6:27 (structural): Immediate context in the same Lucan sermon; the command to bless and pray for enemies is part of a linked passage (6:27–36).
- Matthew 5:44 (quotation): Parallel teaching in the Sermon on the Mount: explicitly commands love for enemies and prayer for those who persecute you—closely parallels Luke's wording and intent.
- Romans 12:14 (verbal): Paul echoes the same imperative: 'Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse'—a direct verbal/thematic echo of Jesus' teaching.
- 1 Peter 3:9 (thematic): Commands not to repay evil with evil but to repay with blessing; reflects the same ethic of blessing rather than cursing opponents/enemies.
Alternative generated candidates
- Bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you.
- Bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you.
Luke.6.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- τυπτοντι: VERB,pres,act,ptcp,dat,sg,m
- σε: PRON,acc,sg,2
- επι: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- σιαγονα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- παρεχε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- και: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αλλην: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- απο: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αιροντος: VERB,pres,act,ptcp,gen,sg,m
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ιματιον: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- χιτωνα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- μη: PART
- κωλυσης: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 5:39-40 (verbal): Nearly identical teaching in the Sermon on the Mount: 'turn the other cheek' and 'if anyone wants to sue you for your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.'
- Isaiah 50:6 (allusion): The Suffering Servant gives his cheek and back to those who strike him—an earlier prophetic motif echoed by Jesus' instruction to accept insult without retaliation.
- Romans 12:17-21 (thematic): Paul's ethic of not repaying evil with evil and overcoming evil with good parallels Jesus' non-retaliatory command to offer the other cheek and more.
- 1 Peter 2:20-23 (thematic): Peter commends patient endurance of unjust suffering and points to Christ who did not retaliate—reflecting the same ethic of accepting insult without response.
- Exodus 21:24 (cf. Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21) (structural): The Old Testament lex talionis ('eye for eye') provides the legal backdrop which Jesus' instruction to 'offer the other cheek' explicitly counters and transforms.
Alternative generated candidates
- To the one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from the one who takes your cloak do not demand back your tunic.
- If someone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from the one who takes your cloak do not withhold your tunic.
Luke.6.30 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- παντι: PRON,dat,sg,m
- αιτουντι: VERB,pres,act,part,dat,sg,m
- σε: PRON,acc,sg,2
- διδου: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- και: CONJ
- απο: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αιροντος: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,sg,m
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- σα: PRON,acc,pl,2
- μη: PART
- απαιτει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 5:42 (verbal): Direct verbal parallel—Jesus' command to give to the one who asks mirrors Luke's wording (δόσον τῷ αἰτοῦντί σε / πάντα αἰτοῦντι σοι δίδου).
- Luke 6:29 (structural): Immediate Lukan context: a cluster of teachings on non-retaliation and radical generosity (offer also your cloak; do not demand back what is taken), forming a unit with 6:30.
- Matthew 5:39-41 (thematic): Part of the Sermon on the Mount's non-retaliation/generosity ethic (turn the other cheek, give to him who begs, go the extra mile), paralleling Luke's instruction to give and not demand back.
- Proverbs 25:21-22 (allusion): Old Testament antecedent for showing kindness to an enemy (If your enemy is hungry, give him bread; if he is thirsty, give him water), providing wisdom background for Jesus' command to give to those who ask.
- Romans 12:20 (quotation): Paul quotes Proverbs 25:21-22 in urging love of enemies—echoes the NT ethic of generosity toward others (including enemies) exemplified in Luke 6:30.
Alternative generated candidates
- Give to everyone who asks you; and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.
- Give to everyone who asks you; and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.
Luke.6.31 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- καθως: CONJ
- θελετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- ινα: CONJ
- ποιωσιν: VERB,pres,act,subj,3,pl
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ανθρωποι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ποιειτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- ομοιως: ADV
Parallels
- Matthew 7:12 (verbal): Direct parallel in the Sermon on the Mount: identical ethical formulation of the Golden Rule—'do to others what you would have them do to you.'
- Luke 6:27-28 (structural): Immediate Lukan context: commands to love enemies, bless and pray for persecutors; these particular injunctions frame and exemplify the reciprocity principle of v.31.
- Leviticus 19:18 (allusion): Old Testament legal/ethical root—'love your neighbor as yourself' supplies the foundational impulse behind treating others as one wishes to be treated.
- Matthew 22:39 (thematic): Jesus' summary of the law pairs love of neighbor with love of God; the neighbor-love command expresses the same interpersonal ethic as the Golden Rule.
- Romans 13:8-10 (quotation): Paul argues that love fulfills the law and cites the command to love one's neighbor—echoing the Golden Rule's moral principle that proper treatment of others embodies the law.
Alternative generated candidates
- And just as you wish that others would do to you, do the same to them.
- And as you would have others do to you, do the same to them.
Luke.6.32 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- αγαπατε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- αγαπωντας: PARTCP,pres,act,acc,pl,m
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- ποια: PRON,dat,sg,f
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- χαρις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- γαρ: PART
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- αμαρτωλοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- αγαπωντας: PARTCP,pres,act,acc,pl,m
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- αγαπωσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Matthew 5:46 (verbal): Nearly identical teaching and phrasing: 'For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?'—both challenge ordinary reciprocity as no special virtue.
- Matthew 5:47 (verbal): Parallel rhetorical pattern and point: asking what credit there is for ordinary mutual affection—'If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?'
- Luke 6:33 (verbal): Immediate parallel in Luke's own context: the similar statement about doing good to those who do good to you and the observation that 'even sinners do the same,' reinforcing the same contrast.
- Luke 6:27-35 (thematic): Wider Lukan context (love of enemies, merciful conduct) that frames the statement—contrasts ordinary reciprocal love with the radical ethic Jesus commands (love your enemies, be merciful as God is).
- Romans 12:17-21 (thematic): Pauline echo of the New Testament ethic that Christians should not repay evil with evil but overcome it (feed your enemy, do not be overcome), thematically opposing mere mutual reciprocity.
Alternative generated candidates
- If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
- If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
Luke.6.33 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εαν: CONJ
- αγαθοποιητε: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,pl
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- αγαθοποιουντας: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,m
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- ποια: PRON,dat,sg,f
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- χαρις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- αμαρτωλοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- αυτο: PRON,acc,sg,neut
- ποιουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Matthew 5:46-47 (verbal): Closely parallels the same challenge to merely reciprocal goodness: 'For if you love those who love you... do not even the tax collectors do the same?' — same argument and contrast with 'sinners.'
- Luke 6:32 (verbal): Immediate parallel within Luke's Sermon on the Plain: the preceding statement uses the same rhetorical question about loving those who love you and notes that 'even sinners' do so, forming a matched pair with 6:33's point about doing good.
- Luke 6:34 (structural): Continuing the same series of contrasts in Luke 6:32–34: 6:34 repeats the rhetorical pattern ('if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive... even sinners lend to sinners'), showing the recurring structure criticizing merely reciprocal ethics.
- Matthew 7:11 (thematic): Related theme that even flawed people give good gifts to their children ('If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts...'): both passages use common human behavior as a baseline to call disciples to higher, non‑reciprocal goodness.
- Romans 12:20-21 (thematic): Paulic echo of doing good beyond mere reciprocity toward enemies ('If your enemy is hungry, feed him... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good'), reflecting the New Testament ethic that surpasses ordinary 'sinner' behavior.
Alternative generated candidates
- And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
- And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
Luke.6.34 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εαν: CONJ
- δανισητε: VERB,aor,act,subj,2,pl
- παρ᾽ων: PRON,gen,pl,masc
- ελπιζετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- λαβειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- ποια: PRON,dat,sg,f
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- χαρις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- αμαρτωλοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- αμαρτωλοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- δανιζουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- ινα: CONJ
- απολαβωσιν: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,pl
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- ισα: ADJ,acc,pl,neut
Parallels
- Matthew 5:46-47 (verbal): Similar rhetorical challenge: if you love/lend only to those who love you, what reward/credit is that? Matthew pairs the question with the observation that even tax collectors do the same.
- Luke 6:33 (structural): Immediate parallel in Luke’s Sermon: the same pattern of thought and nearly identical contrast—doing good or lending only to those who can repay yields no special merit.
- Luke 6:35 (thematic): Continues the teaching by stating the counter-ethic: love enemies and lend expecting no return, showing the intended radical ethic behind the rhetorical question.
- Luke 14:12-14 (thematic): A related teaching on giving without expectation of repayment or reciprocal favor: invite the poor and those who cannot repay, and you will be repaid at the resurrection—echoes the ethic of disinterested generosity.
Alternative generated candidates
- And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back the same amount.
- If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back the same amount.
Luke.6.35 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- πλην: PREP
- αγαπατε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- εχθρους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- και: CONJ
- αγαθοποιειτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- και: CONJ
- δανιζετε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- μηδεν: PRON,acc,sg,n
- απελπιζοντες·και: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- εσται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- μισθος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- πολυς: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εσεσθε: VERB,fut,act,ind,2,pl
- υιοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- Υψιστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- αυτος: PRON,nom,sg,3,m
- χρηστος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- επι: PREP
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- αχαριστους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- πονηρους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Luke 6:27-28 (structural): Same teaching context in Luke's Sermon—commands to love enemies, do good, bless and pray for persecutors; directly parallels the imperative ethic in 6:35.
- Matthew 5:44-48 (verbal): Jesus' command to 'love your enemies' and call to be like the Father (be perfect/sons of your Father) closely parallels Luke's call to love enemies and the promise of being 'sons of the Most High.'
- Matthew 5:45 (thematic): Explains God's universal kindness—He causes sun and rain for evil and good—parallels Luke's rationale that God is kind even to the ungrateful and wicked.
- Romans 5:8 (thematic): Paul's statement that God shows his love by acting for sinners (Christ died for the ungodly) echoes the theme that God's kindness extends to the undeserving, supporting Luke's characterization of God's goodness toward the ungrateful and wicked.
Alternative generated candidates
- But love your enemies, do good, and lend without expecting anything in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and to the wicked.
- But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and to the wicked.
Luke.6.36 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- γινεσθε: VERB,pres,mid/pass,imp,2,pl
- οικτιρμονες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- καθως: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- οικτιρμων: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- εστιν·: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 5:7 (thematic): Shares the theme of mercy—'Blessed are the merciful'—linking mercy as a central Christian virtue and promise of receiving mercy.
- Matthew 5:48 (structural): Uses the same imperative-plus-divine-model pattern ('be ... as your Father in heaven is ...'), here 'be perfect... as your Father is perfect,' paralleling Luke's 'be merciful... as your Father is merciful.'
- Ephesians 4:32 (verbal): Commands compassionate, forgiving behavior 'as God in Christ forgave you,' echoing Luke's 'as your Father is merciful'—theological parallel of imitating God's mercy/forgiveness.
- Leviticus 19:2 (allusion): Old Testament background formula ('Be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy') provides the generic scriptural pattern of ethical imitation of God's character that Luke applies to mercy.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
- Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you.
Bless those who curse you; pray for those who insult you.
If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and if anyone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic.
Give to everyone who asks you; and from the one who takes your goods do not demand them back.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is kind to the ungrateful and to the wicked.
Be merciful, therefore, even as your Father is merciful.