35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
By further distinguishing Christ’s love from the love of the lost, Jesus said that believers should exercise unreciprocal love.
6:35
But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return;
This verse has three commands: love your enemies, do good, and lend. The first is to love one’s enemies, not merely to love those who love us. The second is to do “good” to them, even if they do not do good to us. Third, they are to “lend” to them without any strings attached. Believers are to expect nothing in return for their sacrificial love toward others.
and your reward will be great,
If Jesus’ disciples “do good, and lend,” they will receive a great reward. God will reward them, and men will see them as uniquely connected to Christ.
and you will be sons of the Most High.
Believers will show themselves sons of the sovereign God to the lost. God treats us in ways that we do not deserve. He is a God of grace, and we will be seen as people of grace.
For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
Believers will show themselves to be identified with God by being kind to those “unthankful and evil.” He is grace oriented in His giving.
6:36
Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
God’s character is the ethical standard for Jesus’ kingdom. He is merciful in His essence (Ro 2:4).
PRINCIPLE:
Treating the lost as Christ treats the lost validates one’s transformation by Him.
APPLICATION:
Jesus’ command to love is at the heart of His teaching. His disciples were to focus on this principle. The same principle found in Jesus was to be found in His disciples.
Jesus’ view of love transcends human love, loving people who love you. His love loves people who do not love Him.
