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#4
Love Your Enemies
Luke 6:27-36
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
When it comes to sports, you’re supposed to trash-talk the other team and its fans. When a coworker makes you look bad in front of the boss, you’re supposed to make him look worse. When someone spreads a rumor about you, you’re supposed to retaliate and spread a more hurtful rumor about her. When someone blunders in a way that affects you, you’re supposed to gossip about the person. When a family member wrongs you again and again, you’re supposed to drop him—remove him from your life—and never forgive.
You’re supposed to? That’s the way the world expects you to act, and the same thinking resides in our sinful human nature. But Jesus calls us to a different approach. A radical approach. Jesus calls us to love, serve, bless, and pray. That’s easy enough with those we like, but Jesus calls us to do the same thing for our enemies. That includes those who trash-talk us, make us look bad, spread rumors, hurt us, and even hate us.
How do we do that in a world that says hate and anger is the answer?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Luke 6:27-28
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.”
Christ calls those who know Him and follow Him to live lives that reflect who He is. To follow Jesus means to be like Him, and that means we reflect His love through our actions and attitudes—even toward those who hate us—with no exceptions or escape clauses. We are to love unconditionally.
What does unconditional love look like?
- Forgive others. “Love your enemies,” and love begins with forgiveness. Forgiveness is hard, but it is completely doable. Jesus modeled perfect forgiveness on the cross. As He died in our place, He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Just as God forgives our sins, we should forgive others’ sins. Forgiveness frees up space in our heart where bitterness or hatred wants to take root. Forgiving others is a response to the forgiveness we have received from God. Since Jesus died for our sins, we can forgive others for the wrong they’ve done to us.
- Do good to others. “Do good to those who hate you.” Serving others requires faith to know the Lord is good and He works His goodness through us. Faith is active. Faith takes initiative. Faith seeks to please God by serving people who are difficult to serve— people who the world neglects or tells us not to love. They may have wronged us, but at the end of the day, they are still the ones we are called to love and serve. Nothing makes Christians stand out in our broken culture like Christ shining through us while we do good to those who have wronged us.
- Bless others. “Bless those who curse you.” Our words have the ability to speak life or death. “The tongue has the power of life and death” (Prov. 18:21). Wow! When we speak affirmation or praises, or speak well of our enemies, we are choosing to bless them by “speaking life” over them. Sincere affirmation of others frees us from a spirit of hatred. The more we affirm people, the more our hearts warm toward them, resulting in greater willingness to forgive.
- Pray for others. “Pray for those who mistreat you.” Jesus made a clear correlation between loving our enemies and praying for them, but why? Why do we need to pray for those who have wronged us? Because it’s not about us. It’s about our relationship with Jesus—living in Him and for Him. Prayer brings us closer to Jesus; therefore, it brings us closer to healing, and praying for those who hate us sanctifies us in humility. Praying for those who hurt us requires us to lay down our pride, which paves the way for an abundance of God’s grace in our lives.
Luke 6:29-31
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.”
Jesus communicated this truth through three examples.
1. If someone slaps your cheek. Slapping a person on the cheek was an insult, and Jesus said to let him slap you again; in other words, if a person insults you once, don’t be afraid to let him insult you again.
2. If someone takes your garment. Taking another person’s garment was a legal matter to a Jewish audience (Matt. 5:40). Luke was writing to a Gentile named Theophilus (Luke 1:3), so the Old Testament law on this matter (Ex. 22:26-27) would not have been important to him.
3. If someone takes your things. This implied taking someone’s things without permission. Even here, Jesus stressed a selfless approach to those who take advantage of us: “do not demand it back.” See it as a gift, not a loan.
Jesus gave the perfect summation of His teaching in verse 31: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Versions of this statement can be found in ancient literature, but they were stated negatively: “Whatever you would not like done to you, do not do to another.” Jesus gave us a positive command to follow, one that is grounded in love and mercy for the other person.
Sacrificial giving speaks unconditional, undeniable love to the recipient. It’s not surprising when we do that for a friend or loved one, but when we do it for someone bent on harming us, it can be life-changing.
Luke 6:32-36
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.”
One word describes the way the world thinks: expectations. We always expect something in return. I will treat you well if you treat me well. I will loan to you if you repay me. I will love you if you love me. We always expect something in return. For the follower of Christ, however, this isn’t enough. Instead, God is calling us to take our expectations out of the picture. Do good to the other person even if he is not good; love even if she doesn’t love you; loan without asking for repayment.
The only way to spread this kind of love is to love others as He loved us, spreading His glory throughout all of our relationships and situations—and that goes far beyond words. Others see it in our actions.
Jesus modeled a life of service (Matt. 20:28). Christ was a servant to all people, even those who wronged Him. We are to do the same. Though our culture encourages instant gratification and rarely promotes selfless acts, we are called to serve. As Christians, we are not here to be served, but to serve others. When we realize the magnitude of our sin, experience God’s love despite that sin, and begin to understand what He did for us, we can’t help but be transformed into servants to all people as well.
LIVE IT OUT
Loving others—especially our enemies—is hard, but it’s what we’re called to do. What will you do this week to love as Jesus loves?
Choose one of the following applications:
- Bless. If you’re continually around a person who is hard to love, be intentional in blessing them with a smile, a greeting, or some simple gesture of kindness.
- Identify. Write down the names of those who have wronged you. Convert that list of names into a prayer list. Pray for their needs and pray for God to move your heart to love and serve them. Ask God to help you see them as people He loves, people who were created in His image.
- Serve. Invest your time and energy in helping an enemy with something they could use some help with. Use the opportunity to point to Christ.
Living our lives to reflect the life of Jesus is what sets us apart. Our radical love for people through our words and actions points to the One who fills us with His love.
Hope to see everyone this Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
Teacher Notes:
Hope to see everyone this Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
Teacher Notes:
Video: THE GRACE OF GOD IN LES MISÉRABLES SCENE
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When it comes to sports, you’re supposed to trash-talk the other team and its fans. When a coworker makes you look bad in front of the boss, you’re supposed to make him look worse. When someone spreads a rumor about you, you’re supposed to retaliate and spread a more hurtful rumor about her. When someone blunders in a way that affects you, you’re supposed to gossip about the person. When a family member wrongs you again and again, you’re supposed to drop him—remove him from your life—and never forgive.
You’re supposed to? That’s the way the world expects you to act, and the same thinking resides in our sinful human nature. But Jesus calls us to a different approach. A radical approach. Jesus calls us to love, serve, bless, and pray. That’s easy enough with those we like, but Jesus calls us to do the same thing for our enemies. That includes those who trash-talk us, make us look bad, spread rumors, hurt us, and even hate us.
How do we do that in a world that says hate and anger is the answer?
An old song asks, “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” When it comes to following Jesus, the answer is, “Everything!” Jesus commanded us to love one another, and He said the key trait of His disciples is love (John 13:34-35). The apostle John said anyone who does not love does not really know God (1 John 4:8). Our Lord commanded us not only to love one another, but also to love our enemies.
Interestingly, Jesus took for granted that we would have enemies. He knew the world hated Him, and He warned His disciples that the world would hate them as well. The question is not whether you’ll have enemies, but how you respond to them.
Why did He command us to love our enemies? How is it possible for us to love them?
I. Loving those who hate us should be seen in our attitude and actions.
Luke 6:27-28
“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
What does it mean to love your enemies?
- It means responding to hatred with kindness. Do good to them, Bless them, and Pray for them.
Christ calls those who know Him and follow Him to live lives that reflect who He is. To follow Jesus means to be like Him, and that means we reflect His love through our actions and attitudes—even toward those who hate us—with no exceptions or escape clauses. We are to love unconditionally.
What does unconditional love look like?
- Forgive others.
- Do good to others.
- Bless others.
- Pray for others.
Who do you know that models Jesus’ teaching in these verses?
- Being a disciple of Jesus Christ calls for radical behavior, at least as compared to what the world expects. Our willingness to love even our enemies comes from an attitude of faith that firmly believes God is in control of all things. One way to make our enemies our friends is to bring blessing to their lives and to pray earnestly for them.
These are faith responses based on the conviction that:
1. God is in control of all things
2. He will provide security
3. He will act justly
4. The things we consider of upmost importance in this life really are not, and
5. In the end vengeance belongs to Him
In other words, we trust Him to care for us even as we face our enemies. These are difficult words to hear, let alone practice. We spend a lot of time creating exceptions to what Jesus said, explaining when the rule doesn’t apply. Jesus offered no explanations or exceptions.
II. Loving others may require action on our part.
Luke 6:29-31
“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. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Which of the statements seems easiest for you to live out? Which seems most difficult?
When have you seen someone living out these principles? (My son, Dave)
- The Christian life is a life of sacrifice; sometimes we may even be required to sacrifice the parts that are the most near and dear to us. Loving others, especially our enemies, will often require intentional sacrifice. These sacrifices may be in the areas of money, time, energy, or expectations. We certainly will need to sacrifice any pride or self centered thinking. But we can only give sacrificially of any of these things by knowing and walking with the Lord.
What does it mean to love your enemies?
- It means being slow to take vengeance. Those who love as Jesus expects will be more concerned for others than themselves. Believers are to take the initiative to treat others as they would want to be treated. (The Golden Rule)
- It is less about feelings and more about actions. Robert H. Stein says, “Often loving feelings follow loving actions much like a caboose follows an engine. Jesus’ commands, however, are addressed to the engine of the will and not the caboose of feelings.”
Does this mean we should let others take advantage of us?
- We must balance this teaching against other Scriptures. Paul warned against subsidizing laziness (2 Thess. 3:10). We must not do anything that will compromise our testimony. We must be careful of our own motives. Are you truly seeking justice, or do you just want revenge? Is it truly a matter of principle, or are you just trying to pacify your wounded pride?
What are the results of loving your enemies?
- It makes an impression on them. It might make them feel ashamed of the wrong they’ve done to you (Romans 12:20). It will prevent them from justifying themselves. It’s a powerful testimony to others.
III. Our love flows out of the love Christ has shown us.
Luke 6:32-36
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 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. 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. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
How have you seen God’s undeserved goodness and mercy displayed recently?
In what ways can our treatment of others help or harm our witness?
What are some characteristics of the kind of radical love Jesus is describing in these verses?
The reward for loving your enemies.
- You will receive a reward in heaven. Jesus did not mean this would be our ticket into heaven. We are saved by God’s grace, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Nevertheless, God’s grace does produce good works (Eph. 2:10). We will still have to give account to God (2 Corinthians 5:10). He will take note of when you did good to those who hated you, or when you gave to people who could not pay you back.
- You will bring glory to God. You will be an example of His mercy. You will demonstrate the meaning of unconditional love. You will have opportunities to tell others about Jesus.
- Followers of Jesus will be different: loving the unlovable, doing good to those who don’t appreciate it, and sharing with others without expecting anything in return.
- God will bless those who extend His love to others.
- When we practice God’s kind of love, we are showing others that we are children of God.
- God is kind, merciful, and compassionate to all people.
- We are to demonstrate mercy just as God our Father has shown mercy to us.
Conclusion: I like some parts of following Jesus better than I do others. I like knowing He is present with me in all things at all times. I like knowing the warmth of His love. I am grateful for His grace. I like the comfort of His peace. I like knowing that because of Him, I will go to heaven.
But did you notice that all those things I like about following Him are what He does for me?
Following Jesus is more than getting in line to get His wonderful blessings. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ makes demands on me as well. (the cost) That’s the part I don’t like. I like being in control. But following Jesus calls for me to submit to Him. And one great demand that causes me to struggle is His expectation that I am to love everybody – even my enemies, those people that hurt me or would like to hurt me if they had the chance. Do I have to do that – love them, I mean? Yes, but it’s not really a “have to” thing; even though it is what He expects. Doing the tough things that Jesus expects, that honor Him, and bring glory to the Father are not things I have to do, ought to do, or must do; they are things I get to do and want to do for Him.
How about you? Are you a follower of Jesus Christ? If so, what does that mean to you? What difference does it make in the way you live, including your attitudes and actions toward others; and particularly, someone you might classify as an “enemy”? Maybe you struggle with it like I do.
But what a joy to walk with Him and to serve Him day in and out. From that perspective, maybe the demands are not demands after all. They are opportunities; they are privileges – opportunities and privileges that have been given to me because of His great love, His love that he wants me to share – even with my enemies.
What do you like about following Jesus?
What are some of the hard places of being a disciple of Jesus where you struggle?
How well are you doing in the area of loving people you find difficult to love?
Name a person who is in some way your enemy. ______________________
What are you doing about the relationship?
How often do you try to do good for the person?
Have you prayed for that person today?
Read Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Why should that verse encourage you to take some action to reach out in love to someone you have avoided or just don’t like?
The story goes that shortly after the Civil War ended, a group of former Confederates paid a visit to President Lincoln. They were very defensive, but Lincoln’s friendly and genial manner quickly disarmed them. The meeting was quite pleasant, and the Confederate leaders left with a new respect for the man who had recently been their enemy. A northern Congressman later criticized the President for being so gracious, and he said Lincoln should have had them shot as traitors. Lincoln smiled and said, “Am I not destroying my enemies by making them my friends?”
When someone does you wrong, it’s only natural to want revenge. However, we are sinners by nature, so the “natural” response is not always God’s response. When you repay evil with evil, you only enable wrongdoers to justify themselves. Why not learn to love your enemies, and repay their evil with kindness? I admit it’s a tall order. It’s an area where I struggle and often fail. Nevertheless, it’s what our Lord demands us. After all, He showed us kindness when we did not deserve it. How can we do any less?
The Point: Love your enemies even as Christ has loved you.
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