And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
If you're only nice to people who are nice to you, what's so special about that? Even people who don't follow God do the same thing.
Real love shows up when it's not earned or expected.
📚 Historical Context
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is delivering the Sermon on the Plain to his disciples and a large crowd in first-century Galilee, where he contrasts ordinary human behavior with the higher ethical standards of God's kingdom. This verse specifically challenges the common practice of reciprocal kindness, pointing out that even those who reject God engage in such exchanges, urging followers to pursue a more profound love. It reflects the cultural context of Jewish society under Roman rule, where mutual favors were expected but fell short of divine expectations.
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