And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
Doing good only to those who do good to you earns no thank and is no proof or special mark of being a child of God, because sinners do even the same. Even sinners whose hearts are not utterly closed to God's Spirit respond to kindness with kindness and return love for love, though they may also return hate for hate. Membership in God's family is proved not by earthly rank or birth or nationality or religious privilege, but by a love that embraces all humanity and shares God's nature.
The true standard is to love enemies, to do good and lend hoping for nothing again without expecting repayment, and to be merciful as the Father in heaven is merciful, for He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil. Only the Spirit of God gives love in return for hatred, producing this disinterested kindness toward the unthankful and evil. Christlike love is not limited to congenial people or a few favorites but extends to those who need kindness and affection, including those least likely to repay it. Those who live this way will receive great reward and will be the children of the Highest, and this disinterested love is the insignia of heaven's royalty by which they reveal their high estate.
Obeying this keeps believers from backbiting, falsely accusing, thinking evil, misconstruing words, and speaking evil of those God is using. It identifies them with Christ in uplifting others, restoring their God-given nobility, and speaking encouraging, pleasant, agreeable words. This is required of all who claim to be sons and daughters of God upon whom His light is shining.
Doing good only to those who do good to you earns no thank and is no proof or special mark of being a child of God, because sinners do even the same. Even sinners whose hearts are not utterly closed to God's Spirit respond to kindness with kindness and return love for love, though they may also return hate for hate. Membership in God's family is proved not by earthly rank or birth or nationality or religious privilege, but by a love that embraces all humanity and shares God's nature.
The true standard is to love enemies, to do good and lend hoping for nothing again without expecting repayment, and to be merciful as the Father in heaven is merciful, for He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil. Only the Spirit of God gives love in return for hatred, producing this disinterested kindness toward the unthankful and evil. Christlike love is not limited to congenial people or a few favorites but extends to those who need kindness and affection, including those least likely to repay it. Those who live this way will receive great reward and will be the children of the Highest, and this disinterested love is the insignia of heaven's royalty by which they reveal their high estate.
Obeying this keeps believers from backbiting, falsely accusing, thinking evil, misconstruing words, and speaking evil of those God is using. It identifies them with Christ in uplifting others, restoring their God-given nobility, and speaking encouraging, pleasant, agreeable words. This is required of all who claim to be sons and daughters of God upon whom His light is shining.