Luke 6:31
in Luke 6Do to others as you would have them do to you.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
KJV
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
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This verse in Luke 6
Commentary
15 notes on this verseSo that, whatever was the ampler scope of His teaching, He received it all in His heritage of the nations. "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." In this command is no doubt implied its counterpart: "And as ye would not that men should do to you, so should ye also not do to them likewise.
This site's exposition
Love your enemies, do good
on Luke 6:27-31
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, Jesus says, reaching past Leviticus, which commands love for one's neighbor. The struck cheek and the taken cloak are examples of personal insult and legal seizure. Do to others as you would have them do to you states positively what most ancient teaching, Jewish and pagan alike, gave only as a prohibition.
This site's exposition
Do to others as you would have them do to you
The rule gathers up the commands of verses 27 to 30. John Gill calls it the sum of the Law and the Prophets, in agreement with Matthew 7:12. John Chrysostom finds it written already in the natural law within every person.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
(Hom. 13. ad Pop. Ant.) Now we have a natural law implanted in us, by which we distinguish between what is virtue, and what is vice. Hence it follows, And as ye would that men should do unto you, do ye also to them. He does not say, Whatever ye would not that men should do unto you, do not ye. For since there are two ways which lead to virtue, namely, abstaining from evil, and doing good, he names one, signifying by it the other also. And if indeed He had said, That ye may be men, love the beasts, the command would be a difficult one. But if they are commanded to love men, which is a natural admonition, wherein lies the difficulty, since even the wolves and lions observe it, whom a natural relation compels to love one another. It is manifest then that Christ has ordained nothing surpassing our nature, but what He had long before implanted in our conscience, so that thy own will is the law to thee. And if thou wilt have good done unto thee, thou must do good to others; if thou wilt that another should show mercy to thee, thou must show mercy to thy neighbour.
Rather is the nature preserved, though the life blushes; nor does Christ know other men than those with reference to whom He says, "Whom do men say that I am? " And, "As ye would that men should do to you, do ye likewise so to, them." Consider whether He may not have I preserved a race such that He is looking for a testimony to Himself from them, as well as l consisting of those on whom He enjoins the interchange of righteous dealing.
There are two ways, one of life and one of death; but a great difference between the two ways. The way of life, then, is this: First, thou shalt love God who made thee; second, thy neighbour as thyself; and all things whatsoever thou wouldst should not occur to thee, thou also to another do not do. And of these sayings the teaching is this: Bless them that curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for them that persecute you. For what thank is there, if ye love them that love you? Do not also the Gentiles do the same? But do ye love them that hate you; and ye shall not have an enemy. Abstain thou from fleshly and worldly lusts. If one give thee a blow upon thy right cheek, turn to him the other also; and thou shalt be perfect. If one impress thee for one mile, go with him two. If one take away thy cloak, give him also thy coat. If one take from thee thine own, ask it not back for indeed thou art not able. Give to every one that asketh thee, and ask it not back; for the Father willeth that to all should be given of our own blessings (free gifts).
Here is then a comprehensive precept, and an exhortation of life, all-embracing: "As ye would that men should do unto you, do ye likewise to, them." We may comprehend the commandments in two, as the Lord says, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy strength; and thy neighbour as thyself." Then from these He infers, "on this hang the law and the prophets."
A commentator
Desert FathersThe Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks · Written before 500.
proposed
Some of the hermits used to say, 'Whatever you hate for yourself, do not do it to someone else. If you hate being spoken evil of, do not speak evil of another. If you hate being slandered, do not slander another. If you hate him …
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
And as you would that men should do to you, do also to them likewise. Because charity is patient, kind, it not only bravely endures the injuries of an enemy but also most graciously anticipates the kindness of a friend. For reciprocating the love of …
For the perfection of benevolence it is also required that a person do good in all things: whence it is added: And as you wish that people would do to you, do also to them likewise. And note that he does not say: as they …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
And as ye would that men should do to you,.... In matters of justice and beneficence were they in your case, and you in theirs; do ye also to them likewise: a golden rule this, agreeably to the light of nature, and divine revelation, and is the sum and substance of the law and prophets; See Gill on Mat 7:12.
): As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise; for this is loving your neighbour as yourselves. What we should expect, in reason, to be done to us, either in justice or charity, by others, if they were in our condition and we in theirs, that, as the matter stands, we must do to them.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
Christ justifies his disciples in a work of necessity for themselves on that day, and that was plucking the ears of corn, when they were hungry on that day. This story here has a date, which we had not in the other evangelists; it was on the second sabbath after the first (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
The teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, in these verses — is confined to one great subject. That subject is Christian charity, or love. Charity, which is the grand characteristic of the Gospel — charity, which is the bond of perfectness — charity, without which a man is nothing in God's sight — charity is here fully expounded and strongly enforced. Well would it have been for the Church of Christ, if its Master's precept in this passage had been more carefully studied, and more diligently observed!
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
The teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, in these verses — is confined to one great subject. That subject is Christian charity, or love. Charity, which is the grand characteristic of the Gospel — charity, which is the bond of perfectness — charity, without which a man is nothing in God's sight — charity is here fully expounded and strongly enforced. Well would it have been for the Church of Christ, if its Master's precept in this passage had been more carefully studied, and more diligently observed! In the first place — our Lord explains the nature and extent of Christian charity. The disciples might ask: WHOM are we to love? He bids them to "love their enemies — do good to those who hate them — bless those who curse them — and pray for those who despitefully use them." Their love was to be like His own love towards sinners — unselfish, and uninfluenced by any hope of return. The disciples might ask: What was to be the MANNER of this love? It was to be self-sacrificing and self-denying. "If someone smites you on the one cheek — turn the other cheek to him as well." "If someone takes your cloak — do not stop him from taking your shirt as well." They were to give up much, and endure much — for the sake of showing kindness and avoiding strife. They were to forego even their rights, and submit to wrong — rather than awaken angry passions and create quarrels. In this they were to be like their Master — patient, meek, and lowly of heart. In the second place — our Lord lays down a golden principle for the settlement of doubtful cases. He knew well that there will always be occasions when the line of duty towards our neighbor is not clearly defined. He knew how much self-interest and private feelings, will sometimes dim our perceptions of right and wrong.
The words behind it
11 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| καθὼς | kathos | even as | G2531 → | 182 times |
| θέλετε | thelete | you desire | G2309 → | 208 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ποιῶσιν | poiosin | they may perform | G4160 → | 569 times |
| ὑμῖν | humin | to you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| οἱ | hoi | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἄνθρωποι, | anthropoi | men, | G444 → | 549 times |
| ποιεῖτε | poieite | do perform | G4160 → | 569 times |
| αὐτοῖς | autois | to them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ὁμοίως. | homoios | likewise. | G3668 → | 30 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
καθὼςeven as
kathosG2531 →182 times
θέλετεyou desire
theleteG2309 →208 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
ποιῶσινthey may perform
poiosinG4160 →569 times
ὑμῖνto you
huminG4771 →2973 times
οἱ<the>
hoiG3588 →19766 times
ἄνθρωποι,men,
anthropoiG444 →549 times
ποιεῖτεdo perform
poieiteG4160 →569 times
αὐτοῖςto them
autoisG846 →5565 times
ὁμοίως.likewise.
homoiosG3668 →30 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 22:39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
it leads to
- Leviticus 19:18
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Mark 12:31
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Luke 10:27–37
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
- Romans 13:9–10
The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Leviticus 19:18
Through
Matthew 7:12In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.
it leads to
- Romans 13:8–10
Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Galatians 5:13–14
For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
- Mark 12:29–34
Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.
- Matthew 22:39–40
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
- Romans 13:8–10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
About Luke
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 6; Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor Book 3; Desert Fathers, The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks; Didache, The Didache, Chapter 1; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Chrysostom, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, Against Marcion Book IV and Tertullian, Scorpiace.