Luke 6 34

Luke 6:34 kjv

And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

Luke 6:34 nkjv

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.

Luke 6:34 niv

And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.

Luke 6:34 esv

And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.

Luke 6:34 nlt

And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

Luke 6 verses

Luke 6 34 Meaning

Luke 6:34 challenges the common human tendency to perform acts of generosity with an underlying expectation of repayment or benefit. Jesus teaches that lending with the expectation of getting back the same amount, or any amount, is not a practice that earns divine commendation or credit from God. This is because even those who are not God's followers—referred to as "sinners"—engage in such transactional behavior, driven by reciprocal gain. The verse sets a foundational principle that true Christ-like giving transcends self-interest and reciprocal relationships.

Luke 6 34 Context

Luke 6:34 is situated within Jesus' "Sermon on the Plain" (Lk 6:17-49), a core exposition of His ethical teachings, akin to Matthew's Sermon on the Mount. This section, specifically verses 27-36, lays out Jesus' radical commands concerning love and generosity. It follows His instructions to love enemies (Lk 6:27), turn the other cheek (Lk 6:29), and give to those who ask (Lk 6:30).

Verse 34 deepens the comparison between the standard of Jesus' disciples and that of "sinners" or the common world. Jesus explicitly challenges a transactional view of human relationships and charity. In His culture, as in many, a common principle was reciprocity—you do good to others with the expectation that they, or society, will repay you in some form, whether financially, socially, or by reputation. Jesus declares that merely mirroring this reciprocal giving, even in acts of lending, earns no special credit in God's eyes because it does not surpass the ordinary practices of ungodly people. The overarching theme is to elevate believers to a standard of selfless, imitative-of-God's love that goes beyond any form of quid pro quo.

Luke 6 34 Word analysis

• And if you lend (Καὶ ἐὰν δανίζητε - Kai ean danizēte): From Greek danizō, meaning "to lend (money)." It refers specifically to giving something with the expectation of getting it back.
• to those from whom you expect repayment (παρ' ὧν ἐλπίζετε ἀπολαβεῖν - par' hōn elpizete apolabein): This phrase is key. Elpizō means "to hope, expect." Apolabein means "to receive back, obtain back." The emphasis is not on the act of lending itself (which can be good), but on the motive and expectation driving it. It refers to a calculated giving where the motivation is the recovery of the principal.
• what credit is that to you? (ποία ὑμῖν χάρις ἐστίν - poia hymin charis estin?): Charis (χάρις) typically means "grace, favor, gift." In this interrogative context, it refers to divine favor, commendation, or spiritual merit. Jesus questions what divine recognition or reward such an action yields if it is purely reciprocal, no different than secular transactions. It suggests a lack of exceptional, God-honoring motivation.
• Even sinners lend to sinners (καὶ γὰρ οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἁμαρτωλοῖς δανίζουσιν - kai gar hoi hamartōloi hamartōlois danizousin): Hamartōloi (ἁμαρτωλοί) here refers to those living outside the scope of God's revealed will or the "unrighteous," common people who do not adhere to God's standard. This group serves as a baseline for ordinary, human, self-interested behavior.
• expecting to be repaid in full (ἵνα ἀπολάβωσιν τὰ ἴσα - hina apolabōsin ta isa): Apolabōsin (receive back) ta isa (the equal/same). It reinforces the previous phrase's meaning. The motivation of worldly people for lending is the assured return of the same value.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment": This clause describes an ordinary, prudent financial transaction. While practical in a worldly sense, Jesus points out its spiritual emptiness when measured against a higher standard. The expectation of return as the motivation disqualifies it from being an act of radical, God-like love.
• "what credit is that to you?": This rhetorical question highlights that such a transaction does not impress God or earn divine commendation. It’s a challenge to examine one's motivations for generosity. If it's for earthly gain or recognition, it lacks spiritual value in the heavenly ledger.
• "Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full": This comparison provides the stark contrast. Jesus states that the very practice His disciples might think is charitable is merely the lowest common denominator of human interaction. Worldly people engage in this type of lending purely for mutual self-interest. This challenges disciples to rise above the world's standard and exemplify God's selfless love.

Luke 6 34 Bonus section

The teaching in Luke 6:34 implies that true spiritual reward comes from acts that are selfless, beyond what humanity's natural inclinations dictate. It's not about making a poor person a debtor in a human sense, but about empowering them or meeting their need as a pure act of grace, similar to God's own gracious provision. This also challenges legalistic interpretations of the Mosaic Law concerning lending (like Deut 15:7-11 or Ex 22:25 which forbid charging interest to fellow Israelites), as Jesus' standard transcends mere adherence to regulations and goes to the heart's motivation. It highlights that an action, however outwardly good, loses its divine merit if its true driving force is self-benefit or human reciprocity rather than genuine, selfless love reflecting the Father's kindness.

Luke 6 34 Commentary

Luke 6:34 is a powerful call to radical, non-reciprocal love and generosity. Jesus unpacks the core teaching of "loving your enemies" by illustrating it in the practical act of lending. While lending money can be a charitable act, Jesus is specifically challenging the underlying motivation. He points out that lending with the expectation of getting back the exact amount (or any amount) does not demonstrate a higher moral standard; it is merely an exchange rooted in self-interest, practiced even by those considered "sinners" or outside of God's ways.

The divine "credit" or "charis" Jesus speaks of is not gained through acts that merely mimic common human prudence or self-serving benevolence. True discipleship involves giving and lending not from a spirit of anticipated return, but from a spirit of pure, unconditional love that reflects God's own character. God gives abundantly to all, even the ungrateful and evil (Lk 6:35), without expecting anything back in kind from His creation. By demanding that His followers lend without expectation of return, Jesus is elevating their practice to imitate the generous, overflowing nature of God. This teaching therefore discourages any form of transactional righteousness where one's good deeds are motivated by a calculated reward system, earthly or otherwise. Instead, it urges a radical benevolence driven by selfless love, anticipating only God's unmerited grace as the ultimate "return."