Luke 6:27-38

Applebury's Comments

Regulations for Conduct
Scripture

Luke 6:27-38 But I say unto you that hear, Love your enemies do good to them that hate you, 28 bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you. 29 To him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and from him that taketh away thy cloak withhold not thy coat also. 30 Give to every one that asketh thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32 And if ye love them that love you, what thank have ye? for even sinners love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them that do good to you, what thank have ye? for even sinners do the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? even sinners lend to sinners, to receive again as much. 35 But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. 36 Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful. 37 And judge not, and ye shall not be judged: and condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: release, and ye shall be released: 38 give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.

Comments

Love your enemies.Some of the things that Jesus said must have seemed difficult if not impossible. Love your enemies. But they hate you and curse you and spitefully use you! They strike you on the cheek and even take away your property. How can you love them? The answer lies in the meaning of love. Jesus did not say Have the same feeling toward an enemy as you have for a friend. Love, according to this context, requires one to bless one's enemies and pray for them and do good to them. Turn the other cheek, when one strikes you. If he takes your garmentit could be done by law Exodus 22:26give also the one that he could not legally take.

These directives are difficult, but not impossible to comply with. In essence, they suggest God's love for the world, and Jesus-' attitude toward those who mistreated Him. On the cross He prayed, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.

Paul defines love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Love suffers long and is kind. We can be kind to an enemy. And strangely, an act of kindness may sometimes change an enemy into a friend.

as ye would that men should do to you.This suggests that it might be easier to be kind to an enemylove himif we would put ourselves in his place. An honest effort to understand the other person's viewpoint might help to remove the enmity. This rule was based on the law and the prophets (Matthew 7:12). Jesus went a step farther in His teaching to the apostles when He said, A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you. See John 13:34. Peter also said, Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently (1 Peter 1:22).

and ye shall be sons of the Most High.Jesus illustrated the issue of love for enemies by the fact that God sends the rain on the good and the bad alike (Matthew 5:43-48). Then He said, Ye therefore shall be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. Men say, That's a worthy goal, but impossible of attainment. But did Jesus give a command that can-'t be obeyed? What does be perfect mean? In this context it means complete or mature. Just as the Father sent the rain on the good and the badthere are no othersso His children are to love their friends and their enemies; and that is perfect in the sense of completeness, for there are no others.

Jesus did not mean sinless when He said, Be perfect. As long as we live, we canalthough we ought not tocommit sin (1 Corinthians 10:12).

The sermon that Luke reported was slightly different from the one Matthew reported. According to Luke, Jesus said, Ye shall be sons of the Most High, for He is kind toward the unthankful and evil. Then Jesus said, Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

And judge not.This is expanded in Luke 6:41-45 and in Matthew 7:1-5. Jesus was speaking of hypocritical judging. But He also said that you can tell false prophets by their fruits. On another occasion He said, Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgments (John 7:24).

And why not judge? For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.