SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:42
Al que te pidiere, dale; y al que quisiere tomar de ti prestado, no se lo rehuses.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:42
Verse 42. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow] To give and lend freely to all who are in need, is a general precept from which we are only excused by our inability to perform it. Men are more or less obliged to it as they are more or less able, as the want is more or less pressing, as they are more or less burthened with common poor, or with necessitous relatives. In all these matters, both prudence and charity must be consulted. That God, who makes use of the beggar's hand to ask our charity, is the same from whom we ourselves beg our daily bread: and dare we refuse HIM! Let us show at least mildness and compassion, when we can do no more; and if we cannot or will not relieve a poor man, let us never give him an ill word nor an ill look. If we do not relieve him, we have no right to insult him.
To give and to lend, are two duties of charity which Christ joins together, and which he sets on equal footing. A rich man is one of God's stewards: God has given him money for the poor, and he cannot deny it without an act of injustice. But no man, from what is called a principle of charity or generosity, should give that in alms which belongs to his creditors.
Generosity is godlike; but justice has ever, both in law and Gospel, the first claim.
A loan is often more beneficial than an absolute gift: first, because it flatters less the vanity of him who lends; secondly, it spares more the shame of him who is in real want; and, thirdly, it gives less encouragement to the idleness of him who may not be very honest. However, no advantage should be taken of the necessities of the borrower: he who does so is, at least, half a murderer. The lending which our Lord here inculcates is that which requires no more than the restoration of the principal in a convenient time: otherwise to live upon trust is the sure way to pay double.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 42. Give to him that asketh thee , etc.] To every man, ( Luke 6:30) whether Jew or Gentile; friend or foe; believer or unbeliever; a good, or a bad man; worthy or unworthy; deserving or not, that asketh alms, whether food or money; give it freely, readily, cheerfully, according to your abilities, and as the necessity of the object requires: for such rules are always supposed, and to be observed; and though all are to be relieved, yet the circumstances of persons, and their relation to men, are to be considered, and special regard is to be had to the household of faith. And from him that would borrow of thee, turn not away ; refuse him not, turn not away from him with a frown, or without speaking to him, or with a denial; look upon him with a pleasant countenance, cheerfully lend him what he wants, whether he be a Jew, from whom it was not lawful to take usury, or a stranger, from whom it, was lawful to take it, yet take it not; lend him freely, hoping for nothing again, ( Luke 6:35) which must not be understood of not hoping for the money lent, for then it would be giving, and not lending; but of not hoping for any reward for lending it: and indeed the money itself is not to be hoped for again, when the circumstances of the borrower are such, that he is not able to make a return.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 38-42 - The plain instruction is, Suffer any injury that can be borne, for the sake of peace, committing your concerns to the Lord's keeping. And the sum of all is, that Christians must avoid disputing and striving. I any say, Flesh and blood cannot pass by such an affront, let the remember, that flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God and those who act upon right principles will have most peace an comfort.
Greek Textus Receptus
τω 3588 T-DSM αιτουντι 154 5723 V-PAP-DSM σε 4571 P-2AS διδου 1325 5720 V-PAM-2S και 2532 CONJ τον 3588 T-ASM θελοντα 2309 5723 V-PAP-ASM απο 575 PREP σου 4675 P-2GS δανεισασθαι 1155 5670 V-AMN μη 3361 PRT-N αποστραφης 654 5652 V-2APS-2S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
42. Borrow (danisasqai). Properly, to borrow at interest.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
5:42 {Turn not thou away} (me apostrafeis). Second aorist passive subjunctive in prohibition. " this is one of the clearest instances of the necessity of accepting the spirit and not the letter of the Lord's commands (see vv.#32,34,38). Not only does indiscriminate almsgiving do little but injury to society, but the words must embrace far more than almsgiving" (McNeile). Recall again that Jesus is a popular teacher and expects men to understand his paradoxes. In the organized charities of modern life we are in danger of letting the milk of human kindness dry up.
