Luke 6:27-36
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 are abusive to you.
29 Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic from him either.
30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.
31 Treat people the same way you want them to treat you.
32 If you love those who love you, what credit 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 credit 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 in order to receive 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 Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil people.
36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Victory through Love
The love for the enemies
Anyone who desires to follow Jesus must walk as He walked. Yet how difficult it is to live in love. The crowd who heard Jesus’ teaching, “Love your enemies,” likely felt resistance. Considering that Palestine at the time was under Roman rule, this statement was truly revolutionary. In fact, what Jesus brought was a revolution of love. In Greek, there are four words used to express love. Jesus did not call for “storge” (natural affection), “eros” (romantic love), or “philia” (brotherly affection), but for “agape,” an unconditional love. He taught, “Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also.” If this is carried out literally, it is possible to drift away from the very spirit of love (ref. John 18:22). This should be interpreted as teaching an attitude of the heart. Even when we are insulted, we should not be filled with a spirit of revenge but be prepared to endure further insult. Is there someone that you are waiting for an opportunity to retaliate? Remember that doing so is an act of handing your heart over to Satan.
The golden rule of life
The famous rabbi Hillel spoke of love in the negative form: “Do not do to others what you would not want done to you.” But Jesus taught, “Treat people the same way you want them to treat you” (v 31). When taking revenge or retaliation become the central matter, the sense of forgiveness is forgotten. And it is heartbreaking to see. If we try to resolve problems through force, we will leave behind seeds of future calamity. This is because an endless cycle of vengeance arises between enemies who have gathered strength. Have you been practicing the “Golden Rule of Life” in your workplace, in your home, and in your church? As I read Jesus’ teaching, what I am personally grateful for is that I don’t have to become a person of love by my own strength. For someone like me, who lacks love, that would be impossible. Jesus gives us not only the command but also the power to obey it. Jesus is now speaking to you and me: “Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love” (John 15:9).
Today's prayer
Father God of Jesus Christ, I acknowledge that I have no love within myself. I will remain in the love of Jesus. Please give me a heart of forgiveness, a heart that loves even my enemies. Let me walk today with the Golden Rule as my greatest weapon. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.