³⁷ And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”

Then Jesus said to him, ^(A)“Go and do likewise.”

The Outworking of Love

^16 (A)By this we know love, ^(B)because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. ¹⁷ But ^(C)whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

¹⁸ My little children, ^(D)let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

²¹ For ^(A)to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for ^[a]us, ^(B)leaving ^[b]us an example, that you should follow His steps:

⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(A)that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become ^(B)rich.

^32 (A)“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ^34 (B)And 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. ³⁵ But ^(C)love your enemies, ^(D)do good, and ^(E)lend, ^[a]hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and ^(F)you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. ^36 (G)Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

²³ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! ^(A)For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and ^(B)have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

¹⁰ In this is love, ^(A)not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son ^(B)to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, ^(C)if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

¹⁵ For ^(A)I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. ^16 (B)Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. ^17 (C)If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.