Lukas 6:33

33 Und wenn ihr euren Wohltätern wohltut, was für Dank habt ihr davon? Denn die Sünder tun das auch.

Lukas 6:33 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 6:33

And if ye do good to them which do good to you
As one good turn deserves another:

what thank have ye?
what grace or goodness is there in such an action? what glory or merit is there in it?

for sinners also do even the same:
wherefore no man should conclude himself a righteous man, or better than sinners, on such an account: this is to be found among the worst of men, and is natural to them, unless they are brutes indeed, to be kind to such as are kind to them. And yet, this was the whole of the doctrine of the Jews about doing good to men: for so they say ^F21,

``an Israelite is obliged to do good to an Israelite his companion, and to lend without usury: this is kindness and goodness, and a greater good it is than a gift; for many men are ashamed to take a gift, and are not ashamed to take a loan: but not so an Israelite to a Gentile; for he is not bound to do good, or show kindness to him, or to lend him his money freely; for many of them hate the Israelites; but it must be owned, that if a Gentile does a kindness, or good, to an Israelite; the Israelite is also bound to show kindness to him, and do him good.''

In direct opposition to such narrow sentiments does our Lord deliver himself in this, and the following verses.

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 Kimchi in Psal. xv. apud Huls. Theolog. Jud. par. 1. p. 420.

Lukas 6:33 In-Context

31 Und wie ihr wollt, daß euch die Leute tun sollen, also tut ihnen gleich auch ihr.

32 Und so ihr liebet, die euch lieben, was für Dank habt ihr davon? Denn die Sünder lieben auch ihre Liebhaber.

33 Und wenn ihr euren Wohltätern wohltut, was für Dank habt ihr davon? Denn die Sünder tun das auch.

34 Und wenn ihr leihet, von denen ihr hoffet zu nehmen, was für Dank habt ihr davon? Denn die Sünder leihen den Sündern auch, auf daß sie Gleiches wiedernehmen.

35 Vielmehr liebet eure Feinde; tut wohl und leihet, daß ihr nichts dafür hoffet, so wird euer Lohn groß sein, und ihr werdet Kinder des Allerhöchsten sein; denn er ist gütig über die Undankbaren und Bösen.