Visitor Comments
Give freely with out condition. Help everyone and do not expect to be repayed at all. Do not expect repayment for favours given in the past.
- Brian
As a follower of Jesus I've just recently fully understood that I came here with nothing material, and when I leave here it will be the same. God owns everything, and anything that he gives me materially while I'm here I am to be a conduit of His to freely and cheerful give back to Him, and to others. God does not charge us interest on what we in essence borrow from Him, but yet bestows us with enumerable dividends. We would all do well to give like God.
- 1of2
This is not so much about money but about help in general. It saying many times people give with the thought that they should be repaid with interest. For example, I helped you when your family was starving please come manicure my yard for me. If you help those who cannot possibly give you the information/food/time/love in return you are following the directions of Jesus!
- justlooking
As In Islam, no usury. Do not lend. GIVE! Give to the needy and with no expectation of a return
- Thief37
Also, this is immediately effective on the behavior to instill not seeking. It doesn't really matter what one is seeking; it is the seeking itself, be it for interest on a loan or any ego-based thing, it is still of ego, pettiness, smallness, "me-ness."
- E. Grove
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Scholarly Quotes
Gerd Ludemann writes: "the logion has a parallel in content in Matt. 5.42b/Luke 6.30. But the theme of interest recalls the antipathy of Thomas to merchants (cf. 64.12). However, this does not exclude the possibility that it was already contained in the tradition that Thomas is using." (Jesus After 2000 Years, p. 636)
Comparing Thomas to Matthew and Luke, Koester finds that the Thomas form is more original: "The ending of Luke 6:34 ('Even sinners lend to sinners . . .') is a secondary addition in analogy to the ending of the preceding saying Luke 6:33 ('Even sinners do that'). Matt 5:42 reads, 'Give to the one who asks you, and do not refuse one who wants to borrow from you.' This may have preserved the wording of the original saying better than Luke 6:34, and Thomas's version can be best explained as a development of this form." (Ancient Christian Gospels, p. 90)
Funk and Hoover write: "Thomas records a saying that is parallel to Matt 5:42b: 'Don't turn away the one who triest to borrow from you.' Thomas' version may well be the earlier version since it is absolute: lend to those from whom you can't expect to get your capital back." (The Five Gospels, p. 522)
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