Thank you for the biblical question on Luke 6:35, “When Jesus at Luke 6:35 instructed his followers “to lend without interest, not hoping for anything back,” did he mean that they should not ask back even the principal?”
As I read the context of the passage, Jesus is teaching his followers to go beyond the letter of the law. He is teaching to love the unlovely and even one’s enemies. The followers of Jesus are to reflect the graciousness and mercy of God on them for they are also sinners so they are to demonstrate the graciousness and mercy to their enemies.
The broader text says this, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 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. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (NIV).
If you knew that person cheated you intentionally, you would consider him an enemy. You want revenge or at least justice for your losses. The Law would allow for recompense of one’s loss.
By treating your enemy with compassion and grace when he doesn’t deserve, it may cause him to ponder his own selfish actions. If I just gave him his “just dessert”, nothing changes in the relationship, but if I give him something that he doesn’t deserve, my relationship to him/her has changed. I am not bound by that person’s evil behavior.
Jesus teaches that if a person was to lend to someone who doesn’t have the mean to repay the lender or doesn’t replay the lender, the lender is not short changed at all. It may appear so on earth that I didn’t get my money back. I took a loss is our mentality, but Jesus is saying that in reality you have invested into heavenly treasure. God will not overlook your generosity to your enemy or a person in need. Don’t just loan it to him. Have the mentality, “I give it to you.”
This doesn’t mean that one is to be naïve in one actions. This does not mean that anyone can take advantage of one’s mercy. There is a difference when one who refuses to work but wants just charity and one who works but doesn’t have enough to provide for one’s family. For a person or family who is trying their very best but is unable to meet all their family obligations, then believers are to consider giving him the money instead of loaning him the money. That person will thank God for your compassionate heart. He may try to do his very best to “repay” you, but it is unlikely that he will be able to do so since he doesn’t have the wages to save up to repay you.
I don’t believe Jesus is commanding his followers that one must do this, but he encourages his followers to do so for he knows that God may bless the giver for his kindness to one of his children. Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is giving. Don’t just count pennies or dollars. You are helping a family to get back on their feet even if that person is your enemy.
If one just wants his recompense back on earth, he can demand it, but there will be no reward in heaven for that transaction.
SUMMARY: Do you want your reward on earth or do you want your reward in heaven? Which is more valuable to you?
-Kingston