Luke 6:27-29, 36
The Gospel of Luke • Sermon • Submitted
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-We’re going to begin reading in Luke 6:27 this morning
I encourage you to follow along in your Bibles.
We’ve finished our study of the Beatitudes...
…but remember that we’re still in the Sermon on the Mount.
I point that out because it’s important that we see...
…the connectedness of this section...
…to that counter-intuitive instruction that Jesus gave in the Beatitudes.
Here too, in today’s text...
…He continues to challenge our natural way of thinking...
But, He goes further and deeper than our thoughts...
Here, he uproots the native inclinations of our hearts!
-These next two weeks, we’ll be looking at some very difficult texts.
Not difficult to understand
Difficult to obey!
So, let’s read the section in it’s entirety...
…and ask for the Lord’s grace...
We’re all going to need it (myself included)
Luke 6:27–36 (ESV)
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.
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Pray
4 minutes
Verse 27:
-I want you to notice, first of all, and be reminded of...
…who it was, that our Lord was addressing here.
He says:
Luke 6:27 (ESV)
27 . . . I say to you who hear...
Remember who He was talking to?
Luke 6:20 (ESV)
20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said...
Remember, He had:
Called the Twelve Apostles
(The foundation stones for His theocratic Kingdom)
Stood with them and performed many attesting signs and wonders.
Begun to give instructions regarding the true nature...
...of the Kingdom that was being inaugurated
We referred to the Beatitudes (many times before)...
as the “ethics of the Kingdom of God.”
It’s important that we understand that those ethics...
…weren’t/aren’t delimited to the Beatitudes.
They continue on into our verses.
We see that (grammatically) in the first word of verse 27:
Luke 6:27 (ESV)
27 “But I say to you who hear...
Do you see the connection?
Jesus had said before:
Luke 6:22 (ESV)
22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!
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And we saw that this was indeed a “when”...
…and not an “if.”
Our Lord told us to expect it.
-Now, with such an expectation...
…where do our hearts and minds usually go?
In other words, If we know that fierce opposition is coming...
…how do we prepare ourselves for it (naturally-speaking)?
We prepare to defend
We prepare to launch counter-measures
We don’t have to be taught that...
It happens instinctively
But this is not the ethic of the Kingdom of God.
Once again, we see that God’s ways...
…are NOT man’s ways.
Jesus tells us to respond like this:
Luke 6:27 (ESV)
27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies...
Matthew’s account makes the juxtaposition even greater:
Matthew 5:43 (ESV)
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
The common thinking of the day:
Some stated it expressly
Matthew 5:44 (ESV)
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies...
-Now, there’s a lot of important grammar in these verses.
First of all, you need to know that the word “Love” in verse 27:
Is in the imperative mood (command)!
Do you see the difficulty there already?
Secondly, the word “Love” is:
A verb!
What’s that?
R.C. Sproul explains the significance for us:
In our culture we think of love in passive terms. Love is something over which we have no control. Love is something that happens to us, spontaneously—zing go the strings of our hearts.
In New Testament categories, however, love is not something primarily that happens to us. Love, rather, is a duty, a requirement. Love has more to do with activity than it has to do with feeling.
What Jesus is saying simply is this, ‘Be loving to your enemies.’ We may not be able to control how we feel about them, but we certainly can control what we do about those feelings - R.C. Sproul
Brethren, he’s not wrong.
Look at the way the inspired apostle defined “love.”
He defines the noun “love,” . . .
…not with adjectives (describe nouns)...
…but with verbs (action words).
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (ESV)
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
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All of these descriptors refer:
NOT to the way you feel about someone
BUT how you treat them!
So, can you “Love your enemies?”
Yes!
You may not be able to feel good about them emotionally...
…but you can:
by the grace of God
through the Spirit of God
in accordance with the word of God...
…LOVE THEM!
What does that look like in a nutshell?
Look at the end of verse 27:
Luke 6:27 (ESV)
27 ...Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
-Now, many think that Jesus is commanding something novel (new) here.
That He is improving upon those rigid moral precepts of the Law.
That isn’t true.
And we’ve seen this all along, haven’t we?
God’s Moral Standards are based upon his nature, and are therefore:
Eternal
Unchanging
Look at:
Exodus 23:4–5 (ESV)
4 “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him.
5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.
Proverbs 25:21–22 (ESV)
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
22 for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
This is perverted by many
In their depravity they see this as the prescribed path to vengeance!
That’s missing the forest for the trees!
The point is for you to NOT seek your vengeance...
…but deal righteously with those who try to harm you...
…and that this act of sincere forbearance will:
Be criteria for their divine judgment
Be criteria for your reward!
It cancels itself out if you’re TRYING to set them on fire!
Paul explains this for us in Romans 12.
First of all he says:
Romans 12:14 (ESV)
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
Romans 12:17–21 (ESV)
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
It isn’t “good” if it’s just a facade for vengeance!
Remember what James wrote?
James 1:20 (ESV)
20 ...the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
And John wrote:
3 John 11 (ESV)
11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.
Paul said similarly:
1 Thessalonians 5:15 (ESV)
15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
Peter said this:
1 Peter 3:9 (ESV)
9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
Wonder where Peter got that from?
Luke 6:28 (ESV)
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
You are to seek the well-being of the one who seeks your undoing!
That’s sobering isn’t it!
Here’s what happens when we do:
We cannot long continue to hate someone we are constantly bringing before God’s throne of grace.
As we pray we begin to recognize that our enemies need the same things we need: forgiveness for sin and the power to lead a holy life. - Reformed Expository Commentary
Now, you may say:
“I thought you said that love is defined by what you do...
…not how you feel?”
I did...
And it is...
But, our actions can never be entirely separated...
...from the motivations behind them.
The heart always matters!
Remember what Jesus said:
Matthew 18:35 (ESV)
35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
-Christ, of course is the ultimate example of verse 28.
And, we’re going to discuss Him at the end.
But, notice for now, Stephen’s obedience to this command:
First, remember what it was:
Luke 6:28 (ESV)
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
Now see its fruit:
Acts 7:60 (ESV)
60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
That’s what He calls us to, brethren!
To that extreme!
-But… our encounters aren’t always life or death, are they?
Well, look at the practical examples Jesus gives in verse 29:
Luke 6:29 (ESV)
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.
This is a grave assault on your pride and dignity!
Matthew’s account provides us with additional insights:
Matthew 5:38–41 (ESV)
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
Three points here:
1.) Don’t pursue personal vengeance
We read this before:
Romans 12:19 (ESV)
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
2.) Don’t even demand justice for yourself!
Paul said:
1 Corinthians 6:7 (ESV)
7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?
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It’s better for you or I to suffer an injustice, than for:
Christ’s name to be profaned!
This is not to say we allow others to suffer injustices...
…BUT OURSELVES!
It’s self-sacrifice
NOT the sacrifice of others!
3.) Return evil with good
Don’t just not resist
Don’t just endure
But build them up at your own loss!
In other words:
Be gracious to them!
Why?
Luke 6:36 (ESV)
36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
That’s the ultimate point of it all.
The citizens of the Kingdom of God...
…are called to reflect the image of their King!
Peter said this:
1 Peter 2:19–23 (ESV)
19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
Oh, brethren don’t miss the irony here:
Jesus exemplified these commands in almost exact detail.
Matthew 27:27–31 (ESV)
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him.
28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,
29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.
31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.
Forcing Him to carry his own cross, mind you.
Yet, Peter (an eye witness) tells us:
1 Peter 2:23 (ESV)
23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
Instead, How did the faithful man respond?
He blessed and didn’t curse.
He prayed for them:
He prayed:
Luke 23:34 (ESV)
34 . . . “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” . . .
Brethren, this is what it looks like to love your enemy.
This is the example we are to imitate.
And brethren, this is the ethic...
…that has brought us salvation.
Why do I say that?
Because at one time in our lives...
…every one of us was positioned as an enemy of God!
The apostle Paul explains:
Romans 5:6–11 (ESV)
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
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This is why you’re saved, Christian!
Because God loved His enemies!
Now, what’s left for us, but to:
Go and do likewise
Pray
Ask Brothers to come up.
The Lord’s Supper:
The Lord’s Supper is a symbol (among other things) of reconciliation.
It is a perpetual reminder to us of the means of our reconciliation with God:
The Broken Body of Christ
The Poured-Out Blood of Christ.
It is also a reminder of our reconciliation with each other.
It reminds us that we are:
a community of faith
a family (a real one)
who eat at the same dinner table
adore the same Father.
Commanded by Our Father, and our elder Brother and Lord...
…to be at peace with one another...
…and to strive to make every relationship right.
So, as you partake this morning:
Consider what Christ has done to procure you a seat at this table...
Consider what you need to do to follow His example.
Go Down.
Pray First
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Pray and Partake
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Pray and Partake
Well, Amen.
Paul Concludes:
1co11.26
1 Corinthians 11:26 (ESV)
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
And Even so, Come Lord Jesus!
Come Quickly!
Amen?
What’s our final hymn, brother?