LUK 6:27-36

Love Your Enemies

27But to you who hear I say: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, [6:28] bless those who cursing you, pray for those who mistreat you. [6:29] To the one striking you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from the one taking away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic also. [6:30] To everyone asking you, give; and from the one taking away what is yours, do not ask it back — do not ask it back. [6:31] And just as you desire that men do to you, do to them likewise — to them likewise. [6:32] And if you love those who love you, what credit is it to you? For even sinners love those who love them. [6:33] And if you do good to those doing good to you, what credit is it to you? For even sinners do the same. [6:34] And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is it to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, that they may receive the same amount. [6:35] But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. [6:36] Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful — is merciful."

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, reciprocity governed social interactions. Patronage systems and honor-shame dynamics dictated that favors were exchanged with the expectation of return. To love enemies and lend without expecting repayment would have been countercultural, even scandalous. The (cloak) and (tunic) were essential garments; surrendering both would leave a person exposed and vulnerable, violating societal norms of self-preservation. Striking someone on the cheek was a deliberate act of humiliation, often targeting the right cheek with the back of the hand. Offering the other cheek would subvert the aggressor’s intent, refusing to escalate violence. Blessing those who curse and praying for abusers would have been seen as relinquishing the right to retaliate, a radical departure from the lex talionis (eye for an eye) ethic. The call to imitate God’s (grace) in loving even the ungrateful challenges the transactional mindset of Greco-Roman and Jewish reciprocity systems.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

LUK 6:27

KJV: But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
BSB: But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
Koinōnos: But to you who hear I say: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

LUK 6:28

KJV: Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
BSB: bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Koinōnos: bless those who cursing you, pray for those who mistreat you.

LUK 6:29

KJV: And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
BSB: If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well.
Koinōnos: To the one striking you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from the one taking away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic also.

LUK 6:30

KJV: Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
BSB: Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back.
Koinōnos: To everyone asking you, give; and from the one taking away what is yours, do not ask it back — do not ask it back.

LUK 6:31

KJV: And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
BSB: Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Koinōnos: And just as you desire that men do to you, do to them likewise — to them likewise.

LUK 6:32

KJV: For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
BSB: If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
Koinōnos: And if you love those who love you, what credit is it to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

LUK 6:33

KJV: And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
BSB: If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.
Koinōnos: And if you do good to those doing good to you, what credit is it to you? For even sinners do the same.

LUK 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.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is it to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, that they may receive the same amount.

LUK 6:35

KJV: But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
BSB: But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
Koinōnos: But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

LUK 6:36

KJV: Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
BSB: Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Koinōnos: Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful — is merciful.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

LUK 6:29

cloak:The word translated 'cloak' refers to the outer garment, a large piece of cloth worn over other clothing, which often served as a blanket at night and was legally protected from being taken as collateral.
tunic:The term used here for 'tunic' describes the inner garment, worn next to the skin, which was a basic necessity for daily life.

LUK 6:32

credit:The word translated 'credit' here carries the sense of favor, gratitude, or a special blessing, implying a recognition of something beyond mere reciprocal action.

LUK 6:35

expecting in return;:The phrase translated 'expecting in return' implies lending without any hope or expectation of getting the loan back, highlighting a radical generosity.