Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't just saying to be generous; he's highlighting the radical nature of giving without expecting return, even when things are taken unjustly. The phrase "ask them not again" goes beyond just not demanding stolen goods back; it means releasing the claim and the expectation of getting it back, trusting God to handle it.
Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is laying out a radical new ethic for his followers, directly contrasting it with the Old Testament law of "an eye for an eye." He has just spoken about loving enemies and praying for persecutors, and now he's providing practical applications of this revolutionary love, extending it to how his disciples should handle material possessions and generosity towards those in need. These commands about giving and not demanding back what's taken are part of a larger teaching about selfless love that aims to overcome evil with good.
Jesus' command to 'give to everyone who begs' sounds almost impossible. How can we possibly meet every need, and why would Jesus push us to such generosity?
The Heart of True Giving
Jesus isn't laying down a strict financial policy here. He's calling for a radical generosity that flows from a heart transformed by God's own giving. When we truly grasp how much God has given us—forgiveness, love, new life—our instinct shifts from hoarding to sharing.
This isn't about emptying your pockets indiscriminately. As Augustine wisely noted, sometimes the best 'gift' isn't material, but a spiritual truth that heals the soul. The core principle is to release our grip on possessions and to give freely when needs arise, trusting that God will provide for us as we provide for others.
What does it mean to not 'demand back' what's taken? This sounds like giving up our rights entirely. Is Jesus really telling us to be doormats?
Peace Over Property
The command to not demand back what's taken isn't about inviting theft. Instead, it's a profound call to prioritize inner peace and our relationship with God over material possessions and our 'rights'.
Think about the original context: Roman soldiers or tax collectors might unjustly seize goods. Demanding them back could lead to more conflict, personal anger, or entanglement in earthly disputes. Jesus calls us to a higher path – to patiently suffer the loss, trusting God to vindicate us or meet our needs. It's about choosing spiritual well-being over earthly possessions, understanding that our true treasure is not here.
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Jesus' words in Luke 6:30 were radical, especially within a context of Roman occupation and potential exploitation by tax collectors and soldiers. His teaching calls for a generosity and non-resistance that goes against natural human inclinations for self-preservation and retribution.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew) or Sermon on the Plain (Luke), outlining radical ethical teachings for His followers.
c. 30 AD
Roman Occupation of Judea
Judea is under Roman rule, with Roman tax collectors and soldiers present, sometimes seen as oppressors by the Jewish population.
c. 33 AD
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
The pivotal events of Christianity, demonstrating ultimate self-sacrifice and the power of God over suffering and death.
c. 40s-60s AD
Early Church Expansion
The message of Jesus spreads rapidly through the apostles and early believers, forming communities that grapple with living out His teachings.
c. 60s AD
Writing of Luke's Gospel
Luke, a physician and companion of Paul, writes his account of Jesus' life and teachings, likely for a Gentile audience.
This parallel passage in Matthew's Gospel directly echoes Jesus' teaching, showing the consistent emphasis on selfless generosity and the principle of giving without expecting repayment.
Romans 12:20Paul expands on this radical generosity, urging believers to 'heap burning coals on his head' by doing good to enemies, which is a profound, active expression of the non-retaliation and giving spirit found in Luke 6:30.
1 Corinthians 6:7This verse addresses the tendency to sue one another, directly relating to the 'taking away goods' aspect of Luke 6:30, by admonishing believers against resorting to secular courts when wronged, highlighting the call to bear loss patiently.
1 John 3:17-18John connects material giving with genuine love, stating that if we see a brother in need and close our hearts, God's love doesn't remain in us, reinforcing the practical, active nature of the command to give found in Luke 6:30.
barnesLuke 6:30: "Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again."
See Matthew 5:42 .
clarkeLuke 6:30: "Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again."
Ask them not again - Or, Do not beg them off. This probably refers to the way in which the tax-gatherers and Roman soldiers used to spoil the people. "When such harpies as these come upon your goods, suffer the injury quietly, leaving yourselves in the hand of God, rather than attempt even to beg off what belongs to you, lest on their part they be provoked to seize or spoil more, and le…
Jesus isn't just saying to be generous; he's highlighting the radical nature of giving without expecting return, even when things are taken unjustly. The phrase "ask them not again" goes beyond just not demanding stolen goods back; it means releasing the claim and the expectation of getting it back, trusting God to handle it.
Jesus is laying out a radical new ethic for his followers, directly contrasting it with the Old Testament law of "an eye for an eye." He has just spoken about loving enemies and praying for persecutors, and now he's providing practical applications of this revolutionary love, extending it to how his disciples should handle material possessions and generosity towards those in need. These commands about giving and not demanding back what's taken are part of a larger teaching about selfless love that aims to overcome evil with good.
Jesus is laying out a radical new ethic for his followers, directly contrasting it with the Old Testament law of "an eye for an eye." He has just spoken about loving enemies and praying for persecutors, and now he's providing practical applications of this revolutionary love, extending it to how his disciples should handle material possessions and generosity towards those in need. These commands about giving and not demanding back what's taken are part of a larger teaching about selfless love that aims to overcome evil with good.
"Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back." — Jesus isn't just saying to be generous; he's highlighting the radical nature of giving without expecting return, even when things are taken unjustly. The phrase "ask them not again" goes beyond jus…
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Last reviewed October 2026