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 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.
Reflection
Few things in life are more difficult or counterintuitive than loving our enemies. The gospel alone, with its staggering promises of great reward (Luke 6:35), offers the power we need for this Christlike behavior. The Word of God tells us of these promises, so that by meditating on them we might grow in our faith and find the strength to love others in the same way that we have been loved (1 John 4:11).
Ephesians 4:25-32
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Reflection
Paul highlights five areas of life that require us to replace one action with another. We must replace lies with truth (Eph. 4:25), sinful anger with righteous anger (vv. 26–27), stealing with hard work (v. 28), rotten talk with wholesome talk (vv. 29–30), and bitterness with compassion (vv. 31–32). The motivation for these actions is more than a simple “God said so.” We pursue this lifestyle for the good of our neighbor (vv. 25, 28–29), for the pleasure of God (v. 30), and in light of God’s forgiveness and love in Christ (v. 32; 5:1–2).
Psalm 111:2-4
2 Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. 3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. 4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful.
Loving our enemies requires a God-given ability to have mercy on them despite their sin and failures. Ask God to help you appreciate his mercy more deeply so that you will be motivated to give it more freely to others.