Luke 6:36 — Community Reflections

LUKE 6:36 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful — the summary command: be merciful (oiktirmones, compassionately merciful) as your Father is merciful. The Father's mercy is the standard for the disciples' mercy — not a human-achievable goal but the divine character as the aspiration. The parallel to Matthew 5:48 (be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect) communicates that perfection and mercy are the same thing: the complete expression of the Father's character.

Church Fathers on Luke 6:36

The Lord had said that we must love our enemies, but that you might not think this an exaggerated expression, regarding it solely as spoken to alarm them, he adds the reason, saying, For if you love them which love you, what thank have you? There are indeed several causes which produce love; but spiritual love exceeds them all. For nothing earthly engenders it, neither gain, nor kindness, nor nature, nor time, but it descends from heaven. But why wonder that it needs not…
Chrysostom · 4th century

But he not only condemns as unprofitable the love and kindness of sinners, but also the lending. As it follows, And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thank have you? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
Bede · 8th century

Now philosophy seems to divide justice into three parts; one towards God, which is called piety; another towards our parents, or the rest of mankind; a third to the dead, that the proper rites may be performed. But the Lord Jesus passing beyond the oracle of the law, and the heights of prophecy, extended the duties of piety to those also who have injured us, adding, But love your enemies.
Ambrose · 4th century

Read all 11 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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