Love your enemies
Luke 6:27-36
27 ΒΆ "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28. "Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
29. "To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him, who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.
30. "Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.
31. "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
32. "But if you love those who love you, what credit 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 credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
34. "And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.
35. "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil:
36. "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
Introduction to value series of the believer:
Purpose: To set values for unconditional believer. Obedience to the word is unconditional faith. We are saved by faith, yet there are works to do. James says faith without works is dead.
I. Love your enemies
Jesus spoke with authority.
Larry Lea said I quote “Read the red and pray for the power” My text comes from what Jesus said.
Verse 27: Only to those who hear: James states you must not only be a hearer but you must be a doer also.
1. Love your enemies
2. Do good to them that hate you/ do good for evil
3. Bless them that curse
4. Pray for those that spitefully use you
These are very difficult to master. These are all contrary to the flesh but are needful to be carried out.
II. To him that strikes the cheek
29. "To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him, who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. The word doesn’t say what to do after he strikes both cheeks.
What would or what did Jesus do?
Luke 23:33/34
33. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. Jesus never turns the other cheek –In meekness with no retaliation or revenge.
1 Peter 1:9. Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
Lev. 19.18: Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD
Seems that Stephen followed Christ example:
Acts 7:58-60
58. And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
59. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
We should be givers and not takers. As he purposes to give the cloak the inter clothing and tunic the outer garment as well.
III. Seeking the highest good from the highest motive
Look at verse 30:
Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
1. God requires it of us
Mark 11:26. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Mt 18:35
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
2. Noblest victory over our own self
Proverbs 16.32
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
3. Greatest victory over others
Romans 12:20-21
20. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good
As the heaping of "coals of fire" is in the Old Testament the figurative expression of divine vengeance.
Ps 140:10
Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits that they rise not up again.
Ps 11:6
Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
Heb 10:30
For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
IV. Golden rule effect
Gold is most precious of metals. The highest honor we can offer is like this precious metal of gold. With that kind of giving the evils of our life would disappear as the golden rule becomes more obvious in our lives.
1. Surpassing Excellency
a. Simply receiving him
b. Just/ fair every one can see it, every one can feel it in the light that is in him be not darkened
c. It is the right thing for him to do
2. It covers our entire range of our life
a. Action or inaction in the things we do or leave undone the rule lets us see and correct any errors.
b. The judgment we form of others- gives others the right to receive under the golden rule
c. Our speech – the king and true words we give our neighbor
d. Conduct –all dealings and doings in every kind of relationship.
V. The inspiration we need to fulfill it.
a. Ernest desire top follow Christ’s own example
b. A heart to do his will
c. Kind to our neighbors/ interest in their lives
VI. The highest motive and spirit of excellence
Verse 35:
35 "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the UN-thankful and evil:
1. The highest motive
a. Kneel in prayer on the behalf of them that are your enemies- those who persecute you.
b. Breath the very atmosphere of Magnanimity (new word I learn) means which God breathes in heaven as body soul and spirit, in the bestowing of gifts, generosity of spirit, generous in giving, forgiving.
c. Hatred of resentment and revenge, unselfish
d. The very spirit of God.
2. How to rule your life
A. By the very principles that God rules from heaven. God rules a boundless empire.
B. By loving his enemies/ you love your enemies
C. Your reward will be great/ children of the highest, the mind that is in him will be in you and you shall be perfected.
Mt 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as you’re Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Perfect—or complete. Manifestly, our Lord here speaks, not of degrees of excellence, but of the kind of excellence which was to distinguish His disciples and characterize His kingdom.
Closing-God crows us with his attributes (Sermon on the Mount) crows with virtue and grace of our character with glorious, regal, transcendent Excellency of an unquenchable, victorious lo
