6:33a–b

If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus used this rhetorical question to emphasize that you will not receive any credit in this situation. He said that when you do good only to those who do good to you, it is no credit to you.

Translate this emphasis using the same form (question or statement) that you used in 6:32a–b.

you do good to those who do good to you: In Greek, the same verb occurs twice here; the Berean Standard Bible translate its as do good in both instances. Other versions translate it slightly differently in each case. You could do that in your translation, or you could use the same verb or verb phrase if that is natural in your language. For example:

you do good to those who are good to you (New International Version)
-or-
you are good to those who are good to you
-or-
you help those who help you (God’s Word)

what credit is that to you?: This is exactly the same clause as 6:32b. See the notes on 6:32a–b.

General Comment on 6:33a–b

In some languages, it may be natural to change the order of 6:33a and 6:33b. For example:

33bWhat credit/praise do you deserve 33afor doing good to those who do good to you?

6:33c

There is a textual issue in 6:33c regarding a conjunction here that is often translated as “for.”

(1) Some Greek manuscripts do not include this conjunction.

(2) Other Greek manuscripts do include this conjunction. For example:

For even sinners do the same. (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible)

The earliest and most reliable manuscripts do not have this conjunction. Many English versions also do not translate it here. However, it is not possible to tell whether the English versions are following these early manuscripts or whether are omitting the conjunction for reasons of style. You may supply such a conjunction if it is natural in your language.

Even sinners do the same: The clause Even sinners do the same gives the reason why there is no credit in doing good to people who do good to you. Sinners also do good to those who do good to them. So it is clear that this is not exceptional and does not cause a person to deserve special favor. Another way to translate this is:

Even sinners love people who love them (Contemporary English Version)

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