Love Your Enemies
TRANSLATION
(27) “But to you who are listening I say (that you should) love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, (28) bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. (29) If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes away 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 again. (31) Do to others as you would have them do to you.
(32) “And if you love those who love you, what benefit is that for 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 for you? For even sinners do the same. (34) And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to receive back the same amount. (35) But love your enemies, and do good and lend to them, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind toward the ungrateful and the evildoers. (36) Be merciful just as your (heavenly) Father is merciful.
(37) “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (38) Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured out in your lap. For with the same measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
OBSERVATIONS
The many repetitions in these verses plus the patterns and cadences in which they occurred help us discern the thrust of some of Jesus’ most famous and controversial statements. The most frequently repeated word was “love” (six uses in vss. 27, 32, & 35). “Your enemies” occurred twice (vss. 27 & 35). “Do good” is found four times (vss. 27, 33, & 35), “benefit” twice (vss. 32 & 33), and “sinners” four times (vss. 32, 33, & 34). In the final three verses the repetitions continued in more cadenced patterns: “merciful” (vs. 36), “judge…condemn…forgive” (vs. 37), and “give…measure” (vs. 38).
Jesus’ call to radical obedience which involves loving our enemies and doing good to those who hate us was based on the following rationale: because God has shown us his unmerited grace in granting us forgiveness, he has every right to expect that we would treat others with the same love he has shown to us. And when we do this, he promises to reward us.
OUTLINE
I. Loving our enemies and doing good to the hateful is what Jesus expects of his disciples. (27-31)
II. God rewards those who live this way because by doing so they manifest his glory. (32-38)
IDEA STATEMENT
When we obey Jesus’ commands to love our enemies and do good to the hateful, he promises to reward our attempts to display his gracious character.
APPLICATION
Jesus called his disciples to live perfect lives. To support this, Peter, the leader of the apostles, wrote in his first epistle, “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Pet. 1:15 & 16 quoting Lev. 11:14 & 15). Such a high standard of godliness would certainly include loving our enemies, doing good to the hateful, as well as living by the “golden rule” as Jesus taught in this passage. Most of us rightfully wonder if such perfection is possible for believers to attain in this life.
Three factors make such godliness possible, two of which are mentioned in this passage. The first is gratitude to God who has treated us with unmerited grace. Paul put it this way in Romans 5: “God shows his love for us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Two verses later Paul called us “enemies…reconciled to God by the death of his son” (Rom. 5:10). If God has treated us with such grace, our gratitude to him requires that we treat others in the same way.
Along with gratitude, a second factor that should motivate us to godly living is the promise of generous rewards (vs. 35). This is supported by the two uses of the word, “benefit” (vss. 32 & 33). When we pursue godliness in our lives, we increasingly become the recipients of his overflowing kindness (vs. 38). While this should never serve as the primary reason for our seeking to be godly, it should still help to motivate us to do what is pleasing in his sight.
A third and critical factor not mentioned in this passage is the supernatural enablement Christ has promised to provide for those endeavoring to live this way, namely, the indwelling Holy Spirit. This resource had not yet been disclosed to the disciples when Jesus challenged them to love their enemies and do good to those who hate them. However, as Jesus promised in the Upper Room Discourse, the Holy Spirit would soon come with power on the Day of Pentecost enabling his disciples to live godly lives. As we walk by the Spirit, yielded to him, following his lead and trusting in his grace, his indwelling presence makes possible a lifestyle that far exceeds ordinary expectations.