27 “But I say to you who hear, (A)love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, (B)pray for those who are abusive to you. 29 (C)Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your [a]cloak, do not withhold your [b]tunic from him either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. 31 [c](D)Treat people the same way you want them to [d]treat you. 32 (E)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 (F)And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 35 But (G)love your enemies and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be (H)sons of (I)the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil people. 36 [e]Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 6:29 Or outer garment
  2. Luke 6:29 A long shirt worn next to the skin
  3. Luke 6:31 Lit Do to
  4. Luke 6:31 Lit do to
  5. Luke 6:36 Or Prove yourselves merciful

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”