Interpreting Luke 6:33-34 on Giving and Lending
Luke 6:33-34, from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), states: "If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount" [1]. This passage is part of Jesus's broader teaching on love, generosity, and the nature of discipleship, often referred to as the Sermon on the Plain in Luke's Gospel.
The immediate literary context of these verses is Jesus's instruction to "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:27-28 NASB). He then provides specific examples of this radical love, such as turning the other cheek and giving to anyone who asks [4]. The verses about lending follow this pattern, contrasting the actions of Jesus's followers with those of "sinners" [1]. This section culminates in the command to "be merciful, just as your Father is merciful" (Luke 6:36 NASB), echoing the idea that believers should imitate God's kindness [5].
Historically, the Mosaic Law prohibited charging interest on loans to fellow Israelites, particularly to prevent the exploitation of the poor (Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35-37; Deuteronomy 23:20) [5]. Jesus's teaching in Luke 6:33-34 builds upon this, pushing his followers beyond merely adhering to the letter of the law. He challenges them to lend without the expectation of repayment, a standard that goes beyond even the practices of "sinners" who lend with the explicit goal of receiving back what they lent [1, 5].
The key terms in these verses revolve around "lending" (δανείζετε, daneizete) and "receiving" (ἀπολαβεῖν, apolabein). The Greek word for "lend" here implies providing something with the expectation of its return [1]. The phrase "what credit is that to you?" (ποία ὑμῖν χάρις ἐστίν, poia hymin charis estin) questions the moral or spiritual merit of actions motivated by self-interest [1]. John Gill notes that the expectation of receiving back what was lent, or even usury, was a common practice among both Jews and Gentiles [7]. Adam Clarke emphasizes that making a neighbor "purchase" assistance by expecting repayment is to profit from their misery [9].
The major exegetical decision in interpreting these verses lies in understanding the extent of Jesus's command regarding lending. Some interpretations, like that of John Gill, suggest that "hoping for nothing again" means lending to those from whom, "in all appearance, it is never to be expected again," implying a despair of seeing either principal or interest returned [6]. This perspective highlights the radical generosity Jesus demands, extending even to enemies [6]. Tyndale House notes that Jesus instructs his followers to "lend . . . without expecting to be repaid," aligning this with acting as "children of the Most High" who imitate God's universal kindness [5].
This passage has functioned in Christian tradition as a call to radical generosity and selfless love. It challenges believers to move beyond transactional relationships, even in acts of charity. The principle articulated here—doing good even to those who do evil—is seen as a reflection of God's own character, who is kind to all people [5]. This teaching is cross-referenced with other New Testament passages that emphasize forgiveness and kindness, such as Ephesians 4:32, which speaks of being kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving one another [2, 3]. The broader context of Luke 6, which includes commands to "give, and it will be given to you" (Luke 6:38 NASB), reinforces the idea that Christian giving is not about earthly returns but about aligning with divine generosity [8].
Sources
- Luke “Luke 6:34 (NASB) — "If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.”
- OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Eph.4.32 → Luke.6.35 (confidence: 31 votes)”
- OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Eph.4.32 → Luke.6.37 (confidence: 28 votes)”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 5:42: Give to him that asketh thee,.... To every man, Luk 6:30 whether Jew or Gentile; friend or foe; believer or unbeliever; a good, or a bad man; worthy or unworthy; deserving or not, that asketh alms, whether food or money; give it freely, readily, cheerfully, according to your abilities, and as the necessity of the object requires: for such rules are always supposed, and to be observed; and though all are to be relieved, yet the circumstances of persons, and their relation to men, are to be considered, and special regard is to be had to the household of faith. And fr”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 6:34: 6:34-36 The law of Moses prohibited charging interest on loans to other Israelites in order to prevent exploitation of the poor (Exod 22:25; Lev 25:35-37; Deut 23:20). Jesus further instructed his followers to lend . . . without expecting to be repaid. By doing good even to those who do evil, we act as children of the Most High and imitate our Father in heaven, who is kind to all people (cp. Rom 5:8).”
- Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 6:34: But love ye your enemies,.... As before urged in Luk 6:27 and do good and lend; not to your friends only, but to your enemies; hoping for nothing again; either principal or interest, despairing of seeing either; lending to such persons, from whom, in all appearance, it is never to be expected again. The Persic version renders it, "that ye may not cause any to despair": and the Syriac version, "that ye may not cut off", or "cause to cease the hope of men"; and the Arabic version, "that ye do not deceive the hope of any" that is, by sending such away, without lending t”
- Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 6:33: And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive,.... The same again, as from their brethren the Jews; or usury, as from the Gentiles: what thank have ye? and yet they looked upon this, in the first instance of it, as a very great kindness, and act of goodness, as appears from the above citation: for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again; or "what is equal", and answerable to what they have lent them; that is, the same, or what is equivalent to it.”
- Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 6:38: Give, and it shall be given - "Christian charity will make no difficulty in giving that which eternal truth promises to restore. Let us give, neither out of mere human generosity, nor out of vanity, nor from interest, but for the sake of God, if we would have him place it to account. There is no such thing as true unmixed generosity but in God only; because there is none but him who receives no advantage from his gifts, and because he engages himself to pay these debts of his creatures with an excessive interest. So great is the goodness of God, that, when he might ha”
- Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 6:34: Of whom ye hope to receive - Or, whom ye expect to return it. "To make our neighbor purchase, in any way, the assistance which we give him, is to profit by his misery; and, by laying him under obligations which we expect him in some way or other to discharge, we increase his wretchedness under the pretense of relieving it."”