Luke 6:34 (WEB)

Passage

If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much.

Nearby Context

Luke 6:32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

Luke 6:33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

Luke 6:34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much.

Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.

Luke 6:36 “Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "lend", "hope", "receive", "credit", "even", and "sinners". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "lend" and "hope", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 33's "If you do good to those who..." into verse 35's "But love your enemies and do good...", so "lend" and "hope" belong inside that flow. In Luke context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "lend" and "hope" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.