The Meaning of Luke 6:27 Explained

Luke 6:27

KJV: But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

YLT: 'But I say to you who are hearing, Love your enemies, do good to those hating you,

Darby: But to you that hear I say, Love your enemies; do good to those that hate you;

ASV: But I say unto you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  I say  unto you  which  hear,  Love  your  enemies,  do  good  to them which  hate  you, 

What does Luke 6:27 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 6:27-38 - How To Treat Our Fellow-Men
Luke's version of the Sermon on the Mount differs from that of Matthew, only as each views the great discourse from his own standpoint. By one it is viewed as the manifesto of the King; by the other, as the proclamation of "the Man Christ Jesus" to man.
Notice the secret of blessedness! Here is the draught-sketch of a life of abounding blessing, overflowing with mercy and lovingkindness. With what measure we mete out our love to men, they will measure back their love to us, using our own measures for the purpose.
Each of these Beatitudes is a gateway into blessedness. It is not that blessedness is the reward of virtue, but it is the necessary and invariable result. Only we must be good, because it is right and God-pleasing to be so, and the blessedness will be as natural as the bloom on the peach. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 6

1  Jesus reproves the Pharisees;
12  chooses apostles;
17  heals the diseased;
20  preaches to his disciples before the people: the beattitudes;
27  Love your Enemy
37  Do not Judge
43  A Tree and Its Fruit
46  The House on the Rock

Greek Commentary for Luke 6:27

But I say unto you that hear [Αλλα υμιν λεγω τοις ακουουσιν]
There is a contrast in this use of αλλα — alla like that in Matthew 5:44. This is the only one of the many examples given by Matthew 5 of the sharp antithesis between what the rabbis taught and what Jesus said. Perhaps that contrast is referred to by Luke. If necessary, αλλα — alla could be coordinating or paratactic conjunction as in 2 Corinthians 7:11 rather than adversative as apparently here. See notes on Matthew 5:43. Love of enemies is in the O.T., but Jesus ennobles the word, αγαπαω — agapaō and uses it of love for one‘s enemies. [source]
Which hear []
With the sense of hearingin order to heed: giving heed. Compare Matthew 11:15. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 6:27

1 Corinthians 4:12 Being reviled we bless [λοιδορουμενοι ευλογουμεν]
Almost the language of Peter about Jesus (1 Peter 2:23) in harmony with the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27. Being persecuted we endure (διωκομενοι ανεχομετα — diōkomenoi anechometha). We hold back and do not retaliate. Turn to Paul‘s other picture of his experiences in the vivid contrasts in 2 Corinthians 4:7-10; 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 for an interpretation of his language here. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 6:27 mean?

But to you I say to those hearing Love the enemies of you good do hating you
Ἀλλὰ ὑμῖν λέγω τοῖς ἀκούουσιν Ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν καλῶς ποιεῖτε μισοῦσιν ὑμᾶς

ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
λέγω  I  say 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
τοῖς  to  those 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀκούουσιν  hearing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
Ἀγαπᾶτε  Love 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀγαπάω  
Sense: of persons.
ἐχθροὺς  enemies 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐχθρός  
Sense: hated, odious, hateful.
ὑμῶν  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
καλῶς  good 
Parse: Adverb
Root: καλῶς  
Sense: beautifully, finely, excellently, well.
μισοῦσιν  hating 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: μισέω  
Sense: to hate, pursue with hatred, detest.