The Love of Enemies (Matthew 5:39-48 *, Matthew 7:12 *). While Mt.'s main point is the contrast between legal and true righteousness, Lk.'s main point is that true righteousness is love; he contrasts the spirit of selfishness with the spirit of love. Luke 6:27 f. is fuller than Matthew 5:44 and is put in the forefront. Note the differences from Mt. in Luke 6:29 b (robbery instead of lawsuit) and Luke 6:30 b. These injunctions seem primarily in keeping with the anticipation of a speedy end of the age and the early advent of the Kingdom of God. To apply them literally to-day would be to invite anarchy. We are bound to regard them not as precepts but as illustrations of principles, to look beyond the letter to the spirit, which is that resistance of evil and refusal to part with our property must never be a personal matter; so far as we are concerned we must be willing to suffer still more and surrender still more. Love knows no limits but those which love itself imposes. When love resists or refuses it is because compliance would be a violation of love, not because it would involve loss or suffering (Plummer).
Luke 6:31-36. Following the plan of Luke 6:27-30, Lk. now gives the Golden Rule and a series of applications.
Luke 6:32. Love has the same meaning as do good to (Luke 6:33); thank is literally favour, i.e. Divine reward.
Luke 6:34 f. Lk. only. never despairing, i.e. of the heavenly recompense. The variant in mg. might be rendered not robbing any man of his hope, i.e. disappointing no one. sons of the Most High; the reward is that in the Kingdom those who fulfil these injunctions shall become sons of God, like the angels (cf. Matthew 13:43).
Luke 6:36. merciful: Mt. perfect. your father: only here and Luke 12:30; Luke 12:32.