Luke 6 30

Luke 6:30 kjv

Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

Luke 6:30 nkjv

Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.

Luke 6:30 niv

Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.

Luke 6:30 esv

Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.

Luke 6:30 nlt

Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back.

Luke 6 verses

Luke 6 30 Meaning

Luke 6:30 conveys a core principle of radical Christian generosity and non-retaliation. It commands believers to give freely to anyone who asks, embodying an open-handed and benevolent spirit. Furthermore, it instructs against demanding back personal possessions taken by others, fostering a disposition of detachment from worldly goods and reliance on God's provision and justice rather than personal rights or vengeance. This teaching emphasizes an inner heart posture of unconditional love and sacrificial giving, reflecting the nature of God's grace.

Luke 6 30 Context

Luke 6:30 is part of Jesus' "Sermon on the Plain" (Luke 6:17-49), which mirrors parts of Matthew's "Sermon on the Mount." This discourse presents foundational ethical teachings for His disciples and outlines the principles of life in the Kingdom of God. Preceding verses (Luke 6:27-29) command followers to love their enemies, do good to those who hate them, and to turn the other cheek. Verse 30 directly continues this theme of radical love and non-retaliation, pushing believers far beyond conventional societal norms or retributive justice (like "an eye for an eye"). It stands in contrast to the natural human inclination to protect property, seek repayment, or exact revenge. Historically, in a society with significant poverty and vulnerability, where justice systems could be corrupt or inaccessible, Jesus' teaching challenges His followers to depend on God rather than earthly systems for security and restitution. It critiques a possessive worldview and emphasizes a Kingdom ethic where personal rights are surrendered for the sake of higher divine principles and imitation of God's character.

Luke 6 30 Word analysis

• Give (δίδωμι - didōmi):

  • Meaning: To grant, bestow, offer, supply.
  • Significance: This is an active and intentional command. It implies a willing and generous transfer without expectation of return, going beyond mere charity to encompass a profound sharing of resources. It speaks to an uncalculating benevolence.

• to everyone who asks you (παντὶ τῷ αἰτοῦντί σε - panti tō aitounti se):

  • Meaning: "To all the one asking you."
  • Significance: "Everyone" emphasizes universality, regardless of the person's merit, worthiness, or motive. It includes beggars, the truly needy, and potentially even exploiters, though the context here emphasizes a spirit rather than blind obedience to all demands. The emphasis is on the giver's heart. It challenges common discernment practices and promotes unreserved generosity.

• and from him who takes away (καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ αἴροντος - kai apo tou airontos):

  • Meaning: "And from the one lifting away/taking away."
  • Significance: "Takes away" suggests active removal, possibly theft, forceful appropriation, or unjust acquisition, rather than merely borrowing. It describes an adverse action against one's property. The use of the present participle ("the one who is taking away") indicates a continuous or characteristic action, or simply referring to the perpetrator.

• your goods (τὰ σά - ta sa):

  • Meaning: "The things of you," "your possessions," "what is yours."
  • Significance: Refers to personal property and material belongings. Jesus includes what is intimately considered "mine," emphasizing the personal cost and surrender involved in following this command. It makes the teaching intensely personal and directly challenging to a sense of entitlement.

• do not ask them back (μὴ ἀπαιτῇς - mē apaitēs):

  • Meaning: "Do not demand back," "do not reclaim," "do not ask for return." The "μὴ" (mē) signifies a prohibition or negative command.
  • Significance: This is the most radical part. It's not just "don't violently recover" but "don't even verbally request or demand restitution." It requires surrendering personal rights to retribution or recovery of loss. It means entrusting the matter of injustice to God rather than seeking personal legal or forceful redress. It is a call to break the cycle of retaliation and resentment, reflecting profound trust in God's ultimate justice and provision.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Give to everyone who asks you": This phrase sets a high standard for proactive, open-handed generosity, reflecting a selfless and unconditional benevolence that transcends societal judgments of who "deserves" help. It demonstrates a trust in God as the ultimate provider.
  • "and from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back": This highly challenging instruction goes beyond merely enduring wrong. It forbids the natural desire for recompense or justice for material loss. It cultivates an inner freedom from attachment to worldly possessions and actively chooses to forego personal rights to recover property, leaning instead on divine providence and non-retaliation.

Luke 6 30 Bonus section

This verse implicitly challenges the human propensity towards "Lex Talionis" (law of retaliation – an eye for an eye), even in cases of material possession. While the Old Testament did have laws regarding restitution for theft, Jesus here is moving beyond the legal minimums and common human impulses, setting a standard for personal conduct within the Kingdom of God that is deeply transformative. This command encourages a re-evaluation of what constitutes true "security" – shifting it from accumulated possessions to an unshakable trust in God's providence. It promotes a life of spiritual freedom, where one is not bound by the anxiety of loss or the drive for recompense. The underlying principle is God's own nature, which gives without calculation and without demanding return (Luke 6:35, Matt 5:45), thus inviting believers to become imitators of their heavenly Father. It suggests that losing physical possessions, in God's economy, can lead to gaining spiritual treasures (Matt 6:19-20).

Luke 6 30 Commentary

Luke 6:30 is a challenging, radical teaching on the nature of Kingdom discipleship. It calls for an extraordinary level of generosity and non-retaliation that stands in stark contrast to human instinct and secular justice systems. The command to "give to everyone who asks" is not a call for financial irresponsibility, but a spiritual injunction against a possessive heart and a lack of faith in God's ability to provide. It encourages an open hand, fostering dependence on God rather than accumulating for self-security. The instruction "do not ask them back" when goods are taken demands a surrender of personal rights and a conscious choice to forsake retribution. This ethic moves believers beyond merely passive endurance to an active disposition of forgiveness, demonstrating profound detachment from earthly treasures and an ultimate reliance on God's sovereignty and justice. This teaching defines what it means to truly "love your enemies" (Luke 6:27), not by engaging with them on their terms of conflict, but by unilaterally applying a higher, divine standard of love, forgiveness, and trust. It's about mirroring God's character who gives freely (Matt 5:45) and does not take vengeance. It is about fostering an inner purity of heart where the desire for revenge or restitution is replaced by a benevolent spirit.For example, consider how this applies to a situation where a close relationship involves unfair financial taking; the instruction urges not to pursue demanding it back but rather trusting God with the relational reconciliation or the justice of the situation, showing a greater value for peace and spiritual principle over material recovery. Or in a broader sense, living a life of radical generosity in one's community, ready to share what one has without meticulously accounting for every contribution or anticipating specific returns.