Tuesday, June 30, 2020

The writings of Luke the physician starting with his version of the gospel - Luke 6:27-36 comments: love your enemies




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. 29  And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. 30  Give to every man that asketh of 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  For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33  And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34  And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35  But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36  Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

The blessing now turns to instruction in the Christian attitude toward living and the nuts and bolts of how we are to interact with the world. Verse 27 is backed up by several Old Testament verses under the Law given to Moses.

Exodus 23:4  If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. 5  If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.

There is a principle under the Law of not rejoicing when one’s enemy suffers and to do good to one’s enemies but Jesus clarifies it by taking it one step further, calling on His followers to love those who hurt them and use them.

Verse 29 reminds me that in some of the more backward cultures in America there is a thing called, “takin’ your manhood,” where a guy will slap another guy just to see if he will respond in kind or back down when dominated. If the person doesn’t retaliate with a fist he’s surrendered his manhood and dignity. It is like how men would challenge each other to a duel and to preserve your manhood you had to accept.

Remembering that Jesus could have called on legions of angels to protect Him from the Cross…

Matthew 26:53  Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

And that He told His disciples to carry a sword for protection…

Luke 22:36  Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. 37  For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. 38  And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

…it is clear that the context of this command is important for understanding. This is about power under restraint, having the right to do a thing but for the Lord’s sake, for eternity’s sake, not doing it. This is one of the hardest parts of the Christian walk after trusting and loving God.

This is not about just being a doormat for people to walk on and wipe their feet. The key to this passage is in the “Golden Rule” starting in verse 31. Considering what we have done to God and how He constantly forbears exacting our just desserts He is only asking us to have the same mercy and grace that He does to others. This doctrine is not acceptable to many, especially those who want the benefits of eternal life and yet don’t want to obey Christ. These aren’t suggestions. Like the Ten Commandments and the Law given to Moses these are God’s standard of righteousness. You can pretend that you are close to God because you don’t curse, drink, do drugs, or look at porn, do work a job, support your family, pay your taxes, and obey the law but this is where the proverbial rubber hits the road.

The first test of this would be to see if you can display this behavior within your own family, to your own spouse and children, and then outward from there. This is not possible without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the proof or fruit of which is…

Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

For those of us who demand our “propers” and get angry when we feel slighted or not appreciated this is a huge challenge. But, it’s not over. Christ isn’t finished. Verses 35 and 36 helps us understand why bad people are allowed to flourish in this world, or so it seems. It really rankles us who have been their victims.

Jeremiah 12:1  Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore [why, or for what reason] doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?

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