The Gospel according to Saint Luke presents us with one of the most sublime, challenging, and spiritually transformative teachings in human history.
Found within Christ’s Sermon on the Plain, this passage shatters worldly logic, subverts fallen human morality, and invites every soul into the fullness of eternal life.
To the modern mind, loving one’s enemies and giving without expecting return appears unreasonable or even foolish.
Yet, within the strict Orthodox Christian tradition, these words are not a mere set of ethical suggestions or social rules. They constitute the precise royal road to divine sonship, inner liberation, and deification.
Luke 6:31-36 Scripture Reading
Below is the authentic Gospel text, preserved in its traditional English phrasing:
[31] And as you would that men should do to you, do you also to them in like manner.
[32] And if you love them that love you, what thanks are to you? for sinners also love those that love them.
[33] And if you do good to them who do good to you, what thanks are to you? for sinners also do this.
[34] And if you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what thanks are to you? for sinners also lend to sinners, for to receive as much.
[35] But love ye your enemies: do good, and lend, hoping for nothing thereby: and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the sons of the Highest; for he is kind to the unthankful, and to the evil.
[36] Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Why Does the Church Select Luke 6:31-36 for the Second Sunday of Luke?
In the Orthodox liturgical cycle, the reading of the Gospel of Luke commences immediately following the Feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Holy Cross in mid-September. This placement is profoundly intentional.
Having just venerated the holy Tree upon which our Lord Jesus Christ offered Himself for the salvation of mankind, the Holy Church places before us the spiritual blueprint of the Crucified life.
On the Second Sunday of Luke, the Church presents Luke 6:31-36 to remind us that taking up our cross is not an abstract concept. It is defined precisely by how we relate to those around us, especially those who cause us grief, injury, or pain.
As we transition into the Autumn season and move toward the Nativity Fast, the Church guides us step by step up the spiritual ladder.
The primary purpose of this Gospel appointment is pedagogical. Our Saviour begins with a foundational rule of human decency and progressively elevates our soul to the heights of divine perfection:
- The Foundation: The Golden Rule establishes peaceful, just, and harmonious human coexistence.
- The Transcendence: Christ demands that we move beyond transactional, self-interested love and embrace selfless grace toward all, including our enemies.
- The Perfection: Christ reveals our ultimate goal, which is to become merciful as our Heavenly Father is merciful, thereby attaining divine sonship.
By placing this Gospel at the start of the Luke reading cycle, the Church ensures that our faith remains anchored in active love, self-denial, and genuine spiritual labor.
Spiritual Commentary on the Holy Gospel
The Golden Rule: Elevating the Pre-Christian Law
Christ begins His instruction with a universal principle: “And as you would that men should do to you, do you also to them in like manner“.
This statement is widely known as the Golden Rule, yet its Christian formulation represents a monumental leap forward in spiritual consciousness.
In pre-Christian times, ancient philosophers and Old Testament wisdom recognized a similar principle, but typically expressed it in a negative form: “What you hate, do to no one“. That negative formulation merely restrained harm. It commanded men to refrain from evil, theft, lie, or murder.
Christ, however, completely redefines human relationships by expressing the command positively. He does not merely tell us to avoid harming others; He commands us to actively initiate goodness.
Whatever respect, honesty, patience, forgiveness, and kindness we desire to receive from others, we must be the first to extend to them. If we long to be understood when we stumble, we must first understand others when they fall. If we desire fairness, honesty, and honor, we must offer these unreservedly.
This positive formulation shifts our orientation from passive self-preservation to active, outward-moving love. It lays the absolute groundwork for social justice, peace, and spiritual health within the community.
Yet, as vital as the Golden Rule is, Christ makes it clear that it is merely the entry point into the Christian life.
The Transcendence of Love: Beyond Fallen Human Reciprocity
Christ exposes the insufficiency of natural, worldly virtue: “For if you love them that love you, what thanks are to you? For sinners also love those that love them”.
Fallen human love is inherently transactional. It operates on a system of exchange, mutual benefit, and emotional investment. We tend to love those who validate us, support us, or bring comfort into our lives. We extend favors to those from whom we expect future reciprocity.
Christ points out that even those far removed from God’s grace engage in this level of affection. Merchants, tax collectors, and sinners easily love those who serve their self-interest.
The Gospel call, however, demands an absolute transcendence of this fallen mechanism. Christian love is not a reaction to the worthiness or kindness of the recipient; it is an overflowing manifestation of the grace of God dwelling in the heart.
True Christian love embraces everyone without religious, national, social, or personal distinctions. It reaches out to the ungrateful, the hostile, and those who have caused us direct harm.
When we love our enemies, pray for those who slander us, and perform good deeds without calculating returns, we break the endless cycle of vengeance and pride that grips the fallen world. We demonstrate that our joy and security do not depend on human approval, but on the unshakeable kingdom of God.
The Secret of “Hoping for Nothing Thereby”: Healing Modern Despair
One of the most striking phrases in this Gospel reading is Christ’s command: “do good, and lend, hoping for nothing thereby”.
In our contemporary culture, modern man suffers from unprecedented rates of anxiety, burnout, loneliness, and clinical despair. We live in an era dominated by hyper-individualism, transactional relationships, and constant performance tracking.
People give affection, time, and service with hidden expectations. When spouse, friends, children, or colleagues fail to meet those heavy expectations, the result is resentment, anger, emotional collapse, and a feeling that life has lost its meaning.
Despair often arrives as the painful aftermath of unfulfilled human expectations. When we live under the subconscious belief that the world or other people “owe” us validation, gratitude, or loyalty, we continually set ourselves up for heartbreak.
In an attempt to soothe this deep inner emptiness, modern culture turns to pharmaceutical remedies, commercialism, endless travel, or short-lived pleasures. Yet, the root cause remains untouched: our inability to love unconditionally and our refusal to surrender our demands upon others.
Christ’s directive to hope for nothing in return is the ultimate spiritual liberation from this cycle. When we expect nothing from creation, we can no longer be disappointed, betrayed, or driven to despair.
We give because God has given to us.
We forgive because we have been forgiven. We love because love is the very essence of our reborn nature.
To behold the fullness of this selfless love visibly manifested throughout church history is a profound spiritual experience. Consider the iconic depiction in The Christ Pantocrator of Saint Catherine’s Monastery, one of the oldest Byzantine religious icons, dating from the 6th century AD.
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When we cease demanding that others serve our self-image or satisfy our ego, our relationships are transformed.
We no longer choke the people around us with our demands.
Instead of punishing those who fall short, we offer them patience, second chances, and gentle guidance. We begin to mirror the steadfast, immovable peace of Christ.
The Goal of Human Existence: Becoming Sons of the Highest and Achieving Theosis
The culmination of Christ’s teaching in this passage reveals the ultimate destiny of human life: “and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the sons of the Highest… Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful”.
In Orthodox Christian theology, salvation is not merely a legal acquittal or a passive entry into paradise after death. It is Theosis—divinization or deification.
Man was created in the image of God and is called to attain the divine likeness. By grace, human beings are meant to participate in the uncreated energies of God, becoming by grace what God is by nature.
Christ does not state that fasting, bodily asceticism, or lengthy prayers alone will make us like God.
While those spiritual disciplines are essential tools for purifying the passions, the single virtue that directly assimilates man to God is divine mercy and active compassion.
God causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, pouring out His providential care upon the unthankful and the wicked.
When a Christian acts with this same non-judgmental, boundless mercy, he reflects the divine character. In that moment, the Holy Spirit dwells richly within him, sealing his adoption as a true son of the Heavenly Father.
Divine mercy in the human heart is the visible proof of the divine life abiding within.
Practical Applications in Daily Orthodox Christian Life
Spiritual commentary is profitable only when translated into concrete action. Living out Luke 6:31-36 requires daily intention, self-denial, and relentless reliance on God’s grace. Here is how we can apply these gospel truths in our daily lives:
1. Praying for Those Who Offend Us
The first and most direct step toward loving our enemies is praying for them by name.
When someone hurts us, insults us, or acts with hostility, our fallen nature demands immediate retaliation or bitter condemnation. Instead, we must bring their name before God in our daily prayers.
Ask the Lord to bless them, grant them repentance, save their souls, and grant them peace.
It is spiritually impossible to maintain hatred toward someone for whom you sincerely pray every day. Prayer softens the hardness of our heart, disarms demonic enmity, and opens a channel for God’s grace to heal both parties.
2. Relinquishing Emotional and Material Expectations
Examine your motives in your family, professional, and church life. Are you doing good deeds simply to be appreciated, praised, or validated? Are you keeping a mental ledger of all the favors you have extended to others?
To practice “hoping for nothing thereby,” intentionally perform hidden acts of kindness. Help someone who can never repay you. Do chores or offer support without mentioning it to anyone.
When you perform a good deed and receive no thank-you or recognition in return, rejoice, because your reward is preserved intact in heaven by the God who sees in secret.
3. Overcoming Relational Conflict and Maintaining Boundaries
A common question arises when meditating on this Gospel: Does loving our enemies mean we must allow malicious, corrupt, or destructive people to continuously harm us or drag us into sin?
The Orthodox tradition offers a balanced, wise perspective. Loving our enemies means we purge all personal malice, bitterness, hatred, and desire for revenge from our heart. We forgive them entirely.
However, this does not require us to maintain close, intimate companionships with individuals who actively corrupt our soul, live in open immorality, or incite us to sin.
Scripture warns us not to be unequally yoked with those who pull us into darkness.
In such cases, the pious Christian maintains spiritual distance to guard the peace of his soul, while continuing to pray with deep grief, sympathy, and love for their salvation.
Forgiveness is mandatory; boundary-free intimacy with toxic or destructive influences is not.
4. Transformative Almsgiving and Mercy
Mercy must take tangible form through acts of material and spiritual charity. Almsgiving is not a luxury for the wealthy; it is a fundamental requirement for every Christian.
When we give financial aid, food, clothing, or time to those in distress, we must do so without condescension or judgment. We should not ask whether the poor person “deserves” our assistance, just as God does not ask whether we deserve the air we breathe or the grace that saves us.
By giving freely to the needy, we lend to Christ Himself, store up treasure in the kingdom of heaven, and cultivate the divine compassion that purifies our soul.
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The Supremacy of Divine Mercy Over External Asceticism
It is vital to understand the hierarchy of virtues presented in the Orthodox spiritual tradition. Fasting, keepings of vigils, prostrations, and strict adherence to rule are essential weapons in our spiritual warfare. They subdue the passions of the flesh, sharpen our spiritual senses, and train the will.
However, external asceticism is never an end in itself. If strict fasting and lengthy prayer rules do not produce a meek, merciful, gentle, and forgiving heart, they can easily fuel spiritual pride and self-righteousness.
We do not become like God by fasting alone, nor by preserving virginity alone, nor by making thousands of prostrations.
We become like God when we show mercy, when we feel deep compassion for the suffering of others, and when we extend unconditional love to those who least deserve it.
Mercy is the crown of all virtues. It is the definitive characteristic of the Christian heart.
Summary of Key Teachings in Luke 6:31-36
To consolidate our reflection on this profound Gospel passage, let us keep these fundamental spiritual principles at the forefront of our daily walk:
- The Golden Rule as an Active Command: We must proactively initiate the kindness, honor, and honesty we hope to receive from others.
- Transcending Fallen Morality: True Christian love is non-transactional and extends unconditionally to enemies, offenders, and the ungrateful.
- Freedom from Despair: By expecting nothing in return from people, we break free from disappointment, resentment, and modern psychological burnout.
- The Path to Theosis: Showing divine mercy to others is the primary means by which we become sons of the Highest and attain the divine likeness.
- Asceticism Serving Charity: Fasting and prayer are the soil, but active mercy, forgiveness, and unconditional love are the divine fruit.
Conclusion: The Call to Radical Gospel Love
The Gospel reading of Luke 6:31-36 sets before us a radical choice. We can remain trapped in the fallen, transactional logic of the world—loving only those who love us, judging our neighbors, demanding payback, and drowning in the resulting anxieties and heartbreaks of life.
Or we can answer the sublime call of our Lord Jesus Christ to rise above the fallen human state.
When we choose the path of Gospel mercy, we step into a realm of spiritual freedom and supernatural joy. We stop viewing other people as tools for our self-validation or targets for our anger. We begin to see every human being—friend or foe—as an icon of God, worthy of our love, patience, and prayers.
Let us examine our hearts today. Let us identify where we have harbored resentment, where we have demanded transactional payback, and where we have closed our hearts to those who have offended us.
Through sincere repentance, frequent participation in the Holy Mysteries of Confession and Holy Communion, and daily spiritual struggle, let us implore the Lord for a merciful heart.
May we be filled with the uncreated grace of the Holy Spirit, becoming true sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, who is kind to the unthankful and the evil, and whose mercy endures unto all ages. Amen.
