Luke 6:27-36
Love for Enemies
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Jesus' revolutionary teachings included the one to love one's enemies...This teaching challenges our societal norms and even our own expectations...It not only challenges our societal norms, it is very difficult personally for us to do...It contradicts the common understanding of "an eye for an eye" and instead calls for a radical act of love and forgiveness...
Jesus in this command is giving us His Command to Love...Jesus directly contradicts the traditional Hebrew idea of retaliation, demanding that we love even our enemies...
Jesus knows the very practicality of love...While this command may seem impractical, Jesus emphasizes its necessity for the survival of our civilization...
Jesus wants us to look at ourselves and do a self-examination...This self examination is much like the self examination He wants us to do in His Do Not Judge Command...Before loving our enemies, we must examine our own hearts and motives. ..Often, our animosity towards others may stem from our own shortcomings...
Jesus knows the great dangers of hate...Some people hate others and can give no reason for their hating...Hate leads to destruction and distorts our personality...Love, on the other hand, has the power to redeem and transform...
Jesus knowing God, and God is LOVE, knows the Redemptive Power of Love...By loving our enemies, we can break the cycle of hate and violence, leading to a more peaceful and harmonious world...
Jesus is challenging His followers to love their enemies, even those who persecute and mistreat them...He contrasts this with the common human tendency to love those who love us and to do good to those who do good to us...Jesus emphasizes that true love extends beyond our natural inclinations and involves actively seeking the well-being of our enemies...He uses the examples of turning the other cheek, giving to those who ask, and lending without expecting repayment to illustrate the selfless nature of true love...He promises that those who love their enemies will be rewarded by God and will be considered children of the Most High...
Jesus' command to love our enemies is a radical departure from traditional society and personal norms...It challenges us to rethink our attitudes towards those who oppose us, have a different view than ours, and to embrace a path of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation...Ultimately, Jesus' command to love our enemies is a call to live a life of compassion, forgiveness, and selflessness, reflecting the LOVE of God Himself...