![]() Compared to what most of us have heard, the words of Jesus are (literally) out-of-this-world. After the first service on Sunday, a man commented to me that everything the world teaches us about human relationships is wrong. Let’s stop for a moment and observe these are truly radical sayings by Jesus. And you may love your enemies and they may still be your enemies tomorrow morning. After all, you may forgive someone who was a jerk and they may still be a jerk after you forgive them. That’s not why you forgive others and that’s not why you love your enemies. Don’t go around thinking that you deserve something in return. Be willing for others to take advantage of you. Then like any good preacher, Jesus repeats his main point just in case we haven’t gotten it yet: “Love your enemies.” And do good even to people who you know will treat you rudely in return. But if that’s not enough, Jesus anticipates our major objection: “I love people who love me.” As Frank Burns said on the TV show MASH, “It’s nice to be nice to nice people.” Sure it is, but that doesn’t win any points with the Lord. Then we have Luke’s version of the Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated. If someone steals your money, do not demand it back. If a beggar comes to you, give him something. ![]() If they take your shirt, give them your jacket too. If someone strikes you, turn the other cheek. We can ignore what he says if we want to, but we can’t deny that he said it. But in case we have any doubts about this, consider the way this command is explained:īut even if that is not enough, Jesus gives us some examples so we can’t weasel our way out of the truth. Even when we hear it in church, it is extremely difficult to believe that Jesus really means what he says. This may be the most difficult thing Jesus ever said. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:27-36 ESV). 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. 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. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 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. “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
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