35. He says, "Do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and
[5] Lastly, true bountifulness involves expecting no recompense in return. As Christ states in Luke 6:34, giving with the expectation of receiving in return, as sinners do, is not praiseworthy. However, your heavenly Father does not act in this way, as Christ affirms in verse
35. He says, "Do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High." In this statement, Christ implies a reason why God gives in this manner: because He is so great and exalted that our actions cannot benefit Him, as David states in Psalm 16:2, "My goodness extends not to you." He is too lofty to receive any benefit from our actions.
Furthermore, the thankfulness He requires is but an acknowledgement of our duty and is for our own good (Deuteronomy
10:12).
(2) That covers the first point—what goodness and bounty entail, and how God is truly good and the only source of it. However, this attribute of God, along with its effects, extends not only to Adam in paradise but also to us, the fallen sons of men. As the apostle says,
God extends and displays a further richness of patience and longsuffering towards us, qualities that the devils do not partake in and that the righteous angels and other sinless creatures are incapable of. As Christ affirms in Luke 6:35, in His blessings to us,
God is kind to those who are evil and ungrateful. Mercy surpasses goodness since it always takes into account misery, and because all creatures are subject to a form of misery (Romans 8:20-22)
—"bondage and decay"—His tender mercies extend to all His works.
However, patience goes beyond mercy, just as mercy goes beyond goodness. Patience is not only exercised toward creatures in misery but also toward sinners. It encompasses three further aspects:
[1] It not only means that those individuals to whom God shows kindness and mercy offend and wrong Him, but also that God
Himself is acutely aware of and affected by these wrongs, being provoked to anger. Without this awareness and sensitivity, it cannot be considered patience. As stated in 2 Peter 3:9, God's delay is not due to slackness; He does not sit in heaven as an idol god who disregards the actions occurring on Earth or is indifferent to how people treat Him. Instead, He is patient and longsuffering, fully perceiving the wrongs committed against Him. He is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11); it takes great effort for Him to restrain Himself. Even when He forbears and refrains from punishment, He exercises an attribute, a virtue toward them, namely, patience, which is akin to holding fire in one's bosom.
[2] However, patience is not limited to merely forbearing and restraining anger. God grants the time He forbears individuals for, providing them an opportunity to repent during that time, demonstrating His mercies as a means to lead them to repentance.
This is evident in the following passage from 2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." Likewise, in Revelation 2:21, it is referred to as "time to repent." All the blessings He bestows are given as instruments and guides to lead people to repentance, as stated here.
In Matthew 18:29, the plea "Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything" implies a request for an extended period and an acceptance of payment when it is brought, with the debtor being allowed to remain out of prison in order to settle the debt.
[3] Lastly, another aspect of His patience is His waiting and expectation for people to come in and repent. Luke 13:7 speaks of a figurative tree: "For three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none." There was an expectation, a longing, a