Knowing the Word in Luke 6:27-36, Love Your Enemies
- Feb 7, 2019
- 2 min read
Jesus’ command to love your enemies is uncompromising. Followers of Jesus cannot love selectively or forgive selectively. True love is found in their words and in their prayers. When Jesus mentions a strike on the check, he is talking about a punch in the jaw, not a mere slap on the cheek. He speaks about an attitude. When we are injured, we are not to seek revenge. Jesus is looking for a readiness among his followers to be proactive and give, give, give of themselves to others.
27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Prayer:
O God of love, we pray thee to give us love:
Love in our thinking, love in our speaking,
Love in our doing, and love in the hidden places of our souls;
Love of our neighbors near and far;
Love of our friends, old and new;
Love of those with whom we find it hard to bear,
And love of those with whom we take our ease;
Love in joy, love in sorrow;
Love in life and love in death;
That so at length we may be worthy to dwell with thee,
Who art eternal love.
William Temple, 1881-1944
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