Matthew Henry on Luke 6:27-36
These verses agree with Mat 5:38, to the end of that chapter: I say unto you that hear (Luk 6:27), to all you that hear, and not to disciples only, for these are lessons of universal concern. He that has an ear, let him hear. Those that diligently hearken to Christ shall find he has something to say to them well worth their hearing. Now the lessons Christ here teacheth us are,
I. That we must render to all their due, and be honest and just in all our dealings (Luk 6:31): As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise; for this is loving your neighbour as yourselves. What we should expect, in reason, to be done to us, either in justice or charity, by others, if they were i…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 6:27
(See on Mat 5:44-48; Mat 7:12; and Mat 14:12-14.)
Adam Clarke on Luke 6:32
For sinners also love those that love them - I believe the word ἁμαρτωλοι is used by St. Luke in the same sense in which τελωναι, tax-gatherers, is used by St. Matthew, Mat 5:46, Mat 5:47, and signifies heathens; not only men who have no religion, but men who acknowledge none. The religion of Christ not only corrects the errors and reforms the disorders of the fallen nature of man, but raises it even above itself: it brings it near to God; and, by universal love, leads it to frame its conduct according to that of the Sovereign Being. "A man should tremble who finds nothing in his life besides the external part of religion, but what may be found in the life of a Turk or a heathen." The Gospe…
Read the whole note in the consoleJohn Gill on 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 (u),
"an Israelite is obliged to do good to an Israelite his companion, and to lend without usury: this is kindness and goodness,…