Love Your Enemies

Is it possible…NO!

today we are about to jump into something that will challenge us deeply at our core.

> previous passage (Lk 6:22 ““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!”) ends with us being told we will be hated… Jn 15:18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.”

> the world will hate us because it is in their nature to hate God.

> Mans nature, humans nature, peoples nature is sinful. Gn 3:14-19

> A lot to get through so lets go.

Luke 6:27–36 (ESV)

“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. 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. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 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. 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. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

> this is the holy word of God.

Lets Pray.

> I was challenged this week when getting ready for this message.

not because I didn't want to prepare for it, or because it was hard, nothing like that.

> This challenged me because we must walk the walk not just talk the talk.

What Jesus is instructing us here is not merely to talk the talk, it takes action.

Lets dive in.

Luke 6:27–31 (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.

So right away we can see this word that sticks out, this word LOVE. What does this word mean?

In the original greek language there were three groups for the word love. In the old testament the word love came from the group

φιλέω (phileō)

This word when translated means (verb). to love, like, or kiss. Describes an affection ranging from general emotion to deep love.

>typically this loves comes from the root word φίλος (philos) which means friend. So when we see this word love used it usually means a love between friends but can also be used to describe love between spouses, relatives, and also love for God.

>The second group comes from the greek word

ἀγαπάω (agapaō)

Which translated means (verb). to love. Involves a deep level of affection and intimacy.

This verb is the usual Septuagint translation of Hebrew אָהַב (ʾāhab, “to love”). It occurs frequently in the NT, much more often than φιλέω (phileō, “to love”). The verb agapaō can describe Jesus’ love for people (Mark 10:21), the Father’s love for Jesus (John 3:35), human love for God (Mark 12:30) and a broader range of love between people, including love for one’s neighbor and even one’s enemy (Matt 5:43–46).

>But this love is still not the one used here because both these words of love (Phileo, and agapao) can also be used in a negative way (“Love of money”, “Love for the things of this world” etc.).

>And both these can be used in a non theological context.

>The word used here for love is a word we all might have heard before and this word is only used in a positive and theological context. This word is

(ἀγάπη, agapē)

The NT writers use the noun agapē to refer to the love of God (Rom 5:5; 2 Thess 3:5) or of Christ (John 15:10; Rom 8:35). This use of the noun is epitomized in the affirmation that “God is love” (ὁ θεὸς ἀγάπη ἐστίν, ho theos agapē estin; 1 John 4:8, 16).

Luke Jesus Teaches About Loving Enemies / 6:27–36 / 57

Agape love is shown even when the one loved has no merit for that love. It is love that must be chosen and willed.

Follow me real quick, here in verse 27 we see Christ mention Love, this love is not one of a natural sense.

>Not a love that in essence can be done....on our own power...

>Title of message today is Love your enemies, simple, sub-title = “is that possible…answer…NO!”

>is what Jesus just layed out before us impossible to achieve? at its core…yes it is.

>Can you love someone who robbed you, what about, physically attacks you? what about someone who talks bad about you, which in itself might be the worst one?

>sticks and stones quote.

Verses 27-31 are unachievable, on our own, so how do we achieve them, it takes a super natural power that helps us live these verses out.

>Jesus explained to his disciples that they must live by a higher standard than the world’s.

>While the Pharisees sought Jesus’ death because he refused to keep their regulations regarding cleanliness and the Sabbath observance, Jesus was teaching standards of living that were far higher than anything the Pharisees could imagine.

> The difference was that the Pharisees were performing their acts in order to be good enough for God;

>Jesus knew the standards were impossible to reach on human strength alone.

>Jesus did not ask people to act this way in order to be good enough for God.

>But people who have accepted Christ as Savior have the Holy Spirit’s help to accomplish what is otherwise impossible.

Luke 6:27–31 ESV

“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. 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. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

>Talk about why Jesus is mentioning this.

>he is making it relatable to them.

>This was a sever offense, slap in this verse is actually translated to punch on the jaw.

>we all have experienced agape from God.

>“God so loved the world” even while people were sinful and rebellious. God willed to love his people and sent his Son to die for them, not because they deserved it or had any merit, but only because of God’s love.

>Those who have experienced God’s love understand what it means to be loved undeservedly.

>People who were once enemies of God and have joined his family can understand what it means to love your enemies. Mt 12.30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

>Only with the help of God’s Spirit can his people do good to those who hate them, pray for the happiness of those who curse them, and pray for those who hurt them

> Rm 12.14-21 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 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.” 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.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

>When we as believers are hated, cursed, and hurt, we are to respond with love.

>we need the holy spirit to achieve this, this is what is required of us as christ followers.

>The message here is to forgive,

>Proverbs 10:12 “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.”

> Paraphrase “hatred looks for a fight, and refuses to smooth things over, love desires peace.

>The righteous are motivated by love.

>Jesus mentioned seven aspects of unconditional love. These actions, not done naturally by human nature, require supernatural enabling—and are thus proof of true righteousness:

(1) Love your enemies.

(2) Do good to those who hate you.

(3) Bless those who curse you.

(4) Pray for those who mistreat you.

(5) Do not retaliate (v. 29a).

(6) Give freely (vv. 29b–30).

(7) Treat others the way you want to be treated (v. 31).

This kind of love marks one off as distinctive (vv. 32–34), and as having the same characteristics as the heavenly Father (v. 35).

I conclude with this

Luke 6:32–36 (ESV)

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 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. 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. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

>its made clear, there is nothing special in loving those who love us, or to help those who help us, that is a given.

>no, living above the standard, us loving those who do not love us, doing good for those who do wrong to us, and praying for happiness upon those who wish negative on us. that brings a great reward and slots us in as sons/daughters of the most high...

>we are to be like christ, not just in name (Christians) but in our characteristics and actions, remember what being a disciple means....

When you come to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Lord and Savior, he gives you a supernatural love that allows you to love your enemy whom you normally would not love.

Billy Graham

Love to Him will breed a love for all His sheep and your love for them will give you power over them.

Charles Spurgeon

1 John 4:19 (ESV)

We love because he first loved us.

Love, because Christ loved you...love because christ loves you...

Holy Spirit Take Over.....