How Does Jehovah Call His People to Imitate His Mercy Through Love of Enemies?

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Luke 6:35 states, “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” This verse forms part of Jesus’ teaching in what is often called the “Sermon on the Plain” (Luke 6:20–49), a passage parallel in many respects to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew. In it, Jesus delivers a radical call to live with active mercy, selfless generosity, and divine likeness—even toward those who hate or mistreat us. Luke 6:35 teaches that true faithfulness to Jehovah is demonstrated not merely by love toward the lovable, but by imitating His mercy toward those who are undeserving.

The command begins plainly: “But love your enemies.” The conjunction “but” stands in contrast to the natural human inclination to love only friends and return harm for harm. In the previous verse (Luke 6:34), Jesus highlights how even sinners lend to those from whom they expect repayment. However, His disciples are to be different. They are to love even those who are hostile toward them. The Greek word used for “love” here is agapaō—a love of will, purpose, and action. It is not based on emotion or reciprocity but on a deliberate choice to seek the good of another, even an adversary.

This love is to be expressed through tangible actions: “do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.” To “do good” (agathopoieite) emphasizes active beneficence—not just avoiding harm, but seeking to benefit even one’s enemies. Lend without expectation does not mean irresponsible stewardship, but rather reflects a heart not enslaved to materialism or bitterness. The command challenges believers to let go of revenge, pride, and self-interest, choosing instead to reflect Jehovah’s mercy.

The next phrase, “Then your reward will be great,” points to the future blessing promised to those who obey Jehovah’s commands faithfully. While human love often seeks immediate return or affirmation, divine love looks to the approval and reward that comes from God alone. This reward is not guaranteed to be material or earthly—it refers ultimately to the reward of eternal life and the favor of God. Matthew 5:12 adds, “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.” This reward is certain, but only for those who persist in faithfulness and obedience until the end (Matthew 24:13).

Jesus then affirms, “and you will be children of the Most High.” This does not refer to automatic adoption as children by merely doing good, but rather reflects the principle of likeness—those who act in the character of God demonstrate that they belong to Him. To be called a “child of the Most High” means to share in His character. Just as children often resemble their parents, true disciples must resemble Jehovah in their conduct. This resemblance is what Jesus emphasizes. The term “Most High” (Hypsistos) points to Jehovah’s exalted position as the supreme ruler over all creation (cf. Genesis 14:18–22; Psalm 7:17). Imitating His mercy is not an optional behavior—it is part of what it means to belong to Him.

The final line explains why this behavior is fitting: “because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” This is one of the most profound descriptions of Jehovah’s mercy in the New Testament. He extends kindness not only to the righteous or the thankful but to the ungrateful (acharistos) and the wicked (ponēros). Jehovah provides rain and sun to all (Matthew 5:45), sustains the lives of those who curse Him, and delays judgment to give opportunity for repentance (2 Peter 3:9). His kindness is not based on the worthiness of the recipient but on His own unchanging character.

This standard of mercy reflects the consistent pattern of divine instruction. Proverbs 25:21 teaches, “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.” Romans 12:20 quotes this same instruction, showing that love for enemies is not a New Testament novelty but a reflection of God’s eternal moral law. To forgive, serve, and pray for one’s enemies is not weakness—it is divine strength, shown in trust that Jehovah is the righteous judge and will vindicate the faithful.

Furthermore, this kind of love defeats evil with good. Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” The believer does not wage war with the tools of the world—anger, vengeance, retaliation—but with righteousness, mercy, and truth. By loving enemies, the disciple refuses to descend into bitterness and, instead, becomes a vessel of God’s grace.

Ultimately, Luke 6:35 calls believers to rise above natural instincts and imitate Jehovah’s mercy. His love is not conditioned on human merit. He acts for the good of even the worst of men, not because they deserve it, but because it is His nature to be gracious. To reflect this kind of love is to live as a true child of the Most High—trusting Him to reward obedience, to judge righteously, and to bring glory through the faithfulness of His people.

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About the author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).