The Sermon on the Plain: Love for Enemies

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 To the one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from the one who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic also. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and from the one who takes away your things, do not ask for them back.[a] 31 And just as you want people to do[b] to you, do the same[c] to them.

32 “And if you love those who love you, what kind of credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if[d] you do good to those who do good to you, what kind of credit is that to you? Even the sinners do the same! 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive back, what kind of credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, so that they may get back an equal amount! 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend expecting back nothing, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful![e]

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 6:30 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  2. Luke 6:31 Literally “would do”
  3. Luke 6:31 Literally “likewise”
  4. Luke 6:33 Some manuscripts have “For even if”
  5. Luke 6:36 Some manuscripts have “also is merciful”

27  But alla I say legō to you hymeis who ho are listening akouō to me: Love agapaō · ho your hymeis enemies echthros; do poieō good kalōs to those ho who hate miseō you hymeis, 28 bless eulogeō those ho who curse kataraomai you hymeis; pray proseuchomai for peri those ho who threaten epēreazō you hymeis. 29 To the ho one who strikes typtō you sy on epi the ho cheek siagōn, offer parechō the ho other allos also kai; and kai from apo the ho one who takes airō your sy · ho coat himation, do kōlyō not withhold kōlyō even kai your ho shirt chitōn. 30 To all pas who ask aiteō of you sy, give didōmi, and kai from apo the ho one who takes airō away what ho belongs to you sos, do not demand apaiteō it back .

31  And kai as kathōs you wish thelō that hina others anthrōpos would do poieō to you hymeis, · ho do poieō so homoiōs to them autos. 32 And kai if ei you love agapaō those ho who love agapaō you hymeis, what poios credit charis is it eimi to you hymeis? For gar even kai · ho sinners hamartōlos love agapaō those ho who love agapaō them autos. 33 And kai if ean you do good agathopoieō to those ho who love agathopoieō you hymeis, what poios credit charis is that eimi to you hymeis? Even kai · ho sinners hamartōlos do poieō the ho same autos. 34 And kai if ean you lend daneizō to those from para whom hos you hope elpizō to receive lambanō, what poios credit charis is that eimi to you hymeis? Even kai sinners hamartōlos lend daneizō to sinners hamartōlos that hina they may receive apolambanō · ho in return isos. 35 But plēn love agapaō · ho your hymeis enemies echthros, and kai do good agathopoieō, and kai lend daneizō, expecting nothing mēdeis in return apelpizō. Then kai your hymeis reward misthos will be eimi · ho great polys, and kai you will be eimi sons hyios of the Most High hypsistos, for hoti he autos is eimi kind chrēstos to epi the ho ungrateful acharistos and kai evil ponēros.

36  Be ginomai compassionate oiktirmōn, just kathōs as · kai · ho your hymeis Father patēr is eimi compassionate oiktirmōn.

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