Luke 6:32
“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Jesus points out that simply loving those who love you offers no real spiritual "credit." The world already operates this way; even those considered "sinners" naturally reciprocate affection. Therefore, this kind of limited love doesn't elevate you or reflect God's character.
Jesus is teaching His disciples about a higher standard of love than the world practices, right after He chose the twelve apostles. He's contrasting the "ordinary rule of man" with a divine way of living, challenging them to move beyond simply reciprocating kindness to only those who are kind to them. This sets the stage for His radical command to love enemies and do good to those who hate them.
Jesus is calling us to a radical kind of love, one that doesn't just mirror what we receive. But what does that truly look like?
Jesus confronts us with a simple, yet challenging question in Luke 6:32: 'If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you?' He’s pointing out that even people without God – whom He calls 'sinners' – do this naturally. Loving those who are kind to you is easy; it’s a transaction, a mutual benefit. It’s the default setting of human relationships. But God’s love, and therefore our love as His followers, is meant to go far beyond this. It’s about extending love even when there's no immediate personal gain or expectation of return.
Jesus asks about 'thanks,' but what kind of recognition is He really talking about?
The word Jesus uses for 'thanks' here, 'charis,' can mean favor, gratitude, or even a reward. Jesus isn't asking if you expect a pat on the back from the world. Instead, He's questioning the motivation behind your love. Are you loving in a way that expects something in return from others, or are you loving in a way that aligns with God's selfless love? When our love is only for those who love us back, we're essentially seeking our 'reward' or 'thanks' from the same limited circle. True Christian love, however, seeks its satisfaction in pleasing God, not in the applause of others.
Jesus challenges us to rise above the 'dead level' of everyday human interaction. How do we do that?
The cultural norm then, as often now, was to reciprocate kindness. If someone was good to you, you were good to them. If they weren't, you might ignore them or be unkind back. Jesus declares that this 'ordinary rule of man' isn't good enough for His followers. He contrasts this with a 'Divine' way of living – returning good for evil, and loving those who may not love you back. This isn't about being naive; it's about adopting God's perspective. God's love extends to everyone, regardless of their actions or our feelings towards them. Our standard must be higher than habit, custom, or personal preference.
Understand the original words
agapaō · Greek Verb
A self-sacrificial, intentional, and unconditional love that seeks the highest good of another, modeled perfectly by God's love for humanity.
hamartōlos · Greek Noun
A general term for those who miss the mark of God's perfect standard; in a moral sense, it refers to those living in opposition to God's will and law.
charis · Greek Noun
The inherent value or divine favor associated with an action or state; often used to denote grace or that which is pleasing and acceptable to God.
This passage in Matthew presents a very similar teaching, highlighting that loving only those who love you doesn't set you apart from the common practices of the world, even tax collectors.
Romans 5:8Paul's profound statement that God demonstrates His steadfast love by sending Christ while we were still sinners directly mirrors the radical, undeserved love Jesus calls us to.
1 John 4:7This verse grounds the call for radical love in God's very nature, emphasizing that love originates from God and that those who do not love do not know Him.
Luke 10:27This verse, part of the Good Samaritan parable's conclusion, shows that true neighborly love extends beyond one's own group, even to those considered enemies or outsiders, echoing the spirit of Luke 6:32.
pulpitLuke 6:32: "For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them."
Verses 32, 33. - For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. There are three manners of return, as Augustine - quoted by Archbishop Trench in his 'Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount' - observes, which men may make one to ano…
jfbLuke 6:12-49: "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."
Lu 6:12-49. The Twelve Apostles Chosen—Gathering Multitudes—Glorious Healing.12, 13. went out—probably from Capernaum.all night in prayer … and when … day, he called, &c.—The work with which the next day began shows what had been the burden of this night's devotions. As He directed His disciples to pray for "laborers" just before sending themselves forth (see on…
Jesus points out that simply loving those who love you offers no real spiritual "credit." The world already operates this way; even those considered "sinners" naturally reciprocate affection. Therefore, this kind of limited love doesn't elevate you or reflect God's character.
Jesus is teaching His disciples about a higher standard of love than the world practices, right after He chose the twelve apostles. He's contrasting the "ordinary rule of man" with a divine way of living, challenging them to move beyond simply reciprocating kindness to only those who are kind to them. This sets the stage for His radical command to love enemies and do good to those who hate them.
Jesus is teaching His disciples about a higher standard of love than the world practices, right after He chose the twelve apostles. He's contrasting the "ordinary rule of man" with a divine way of living, challenging them to move beyond simply reciprocating kindness to only those who are kind to them. This sets the stage for His radical command to love enemies and do good to those who hate them.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Luke 6:32 is available in the Sola app.
"“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them." — Jesus points out that simply loving those who love you offers no real spiritual "credit." The world already operates this way; even those considered "sinners" naturally reciprocate affection. Therefo…
