Luke 6:27-38
Luke 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Luke 6:29 And unto him that smite you on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that take away your cloak forbid not to take your coat also.
The Cloak is an outer coat worn while traveling and used as cover at night.
Exodus 22:26 If you at all take your neighbor’s raiment to pledge, you shall deliver it unto him by that the sun goes down: 27 For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he cries unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
The Coat is the garment worn under the cloak.
Luke 6:30 Give to every man that ask of you; and of him that takes away your goods ask them not again.
This verse refers to the tax collectors and soldiers who regularly use their position and power to take, as they so desired. Christ is saying for life’s sake abide by the tyrant and live. God is the judge.
Also, we must take into account the forgiveness that God has given to us through Jesus Christ.
Matthew 18:29 And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you desired me: 33 Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you?
It also must take into account those who refuse to do for self and look to others for substance.
Proverbs 19:15 Slothfulness cast into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
Proverbs 19:24 A slothful man hides his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
Proverbs 21:25 The desire of the slothful kills him; for his hands refuse to labor.
Proverbs 22:13 The slothful man says, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
Luke 6:31 And as you would that men should do to you, do you also to them likewise.
The Golden Rule:
Leviticus 19:17 You shall not hate your brother in your heart: you shall in any wise rebuke your neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him. 18 You shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
Luke 6:32 For if you love them which love you, what thank have you? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if you do good to them which do good to you, what thank have you? for sinners also do even the same.34 And if you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what thank have you? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
Christ’s threefold interpretation of love.
- Agape love is above the selfish love of sinners.
- Our doing good is above that of sinners.
- We lend with a different attitude than sinners.
Question: Can we live by these principles in a modern world?
Luke 6:35 But love you your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Here Christ lays out our principles as Christians. We are to be different from the world in thinking.
Paul writes:
Philippians 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfill you my joy, that you be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Lending
Proverbs 19:17 He that has pity upon the poor lends unto the Lord; and that which he has given will he pay him again.
Nevertheless, the borrower is under obligation to repay.
Psalm 37:21 The wicked borrows, and pays not again: but the righteous shows mercy, and gives.
Luke 6:36 Be you therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
As people cause us grief for their wrongdoing and take advantage of us, we must learn to be patient with them and show them mercy. Everyone is not advanced in Christ as we are.
James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Luke 6:37 Judge not, and you shall not be judged: condemn not, and you shall not be condemned: forgive, and you shall be forgiven:
Romans 2:1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whosoever you are that judge: for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you that judge do the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And think you this, O man, that judge them which do such things, and do the same, that you shall escape the judgment of God?
In the study of the Looking Glass Self, people often accuse others of the things they do, for that is what they know, think and do.
Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why behold you the mote that is in your brother’s eye, but consider not the beam that is in your own eye? 4 Or how will you say to your brother, Let me pull out the mote out of your eye; and, behold, a beam is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of your own eye; and then shall you see clearly to cast out the mote out of your brother’s eye.
The importance of forgiveness
Mark 11:25 And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Love, mercy and justice are in our on hands, the measure by which God will yield unto each of us.
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