But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Here Jesus summarises his earlier exhortation on the meaning of love, where love is agapao in Greek (ἀγαπάω). The whole discourse provides the nature and extent of a Christian's love (JC Ryle). Here we have Jesus' summary of one aspect. Jesus had commenced saying: "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise." (Luke 6:27-31). However, in this summary he shows the benefit for those that love; a Christian's reward is in heaven, and it will be great for the obedient one. John encourages Christians to work diligently to ensure the fall reward is not lost (1 John 1:8). And this is our duty.