A Lofty Sermon From a Level Place Pt.2 Luke 6:27-36

Introduction:

Today we are continuing in our series through the Gospel of Luke we’ve titled “The Son: From the manger to the cross.” We are in the middle of a sort of miniseries where we are going through Luke’s account of perhaps the most famous sermon in human history “The Sermon on the Mount.” This is pt.2 of “A Lofty Sermon From a Level place.”

Last week in our time together, we saw where Jesus drew a comparison between those who are believers and those who are not. This parallel was drawn based upon how the believer and the non-believer see themselves. The believer is blessed because he sees himself as a poor and hungry beggar who comes before God weeping and broken over his sinful condition in order to receive salvation. He is hated by the world, but loved by God. The unbeliever however, sees himself as rich and full. Laughing with delight because he has need of nothing and is beloved by the world around him. However, a “woe” is placed on him for he will spend eternity in hell.

Today the Lord continues his sermon about salvation by moving on to discuss the one ethic that marks all genuine christians, that ethic is love.

Genuine believers have a hatred for their own sinful condition and a super-natural love for others, including their enemies.

Loving our enemies and doing good for those who hate us gets right to the heart of the gospel. It reflects exactly what Christ has done for us. Jesus loved us even when we were actual enemies of his holiness and grace.

Romans 5:6–10 NKJV

6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

To offer this kind of love is something that can only be done through Christ.

It is this “ethic of love” that we are going to examine together this morning as we see:

The ethic proclaimed. (v.27-31)

The ethic explained. (v.32-36)

1.) The ethic proclaimed. (v.27-31)

Luke 6:27 (NKJV)

But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies,...

Before we break down the commands of Jesus here in these two verses, let’s first examine that word “love”.

In english we have that one word “Love.”

I love frozen Reese Cups.

I love

I love my children.

I love my wife.

For the most part, english speakers understand that we do not love all of those things in the same way. But, if you were using the language in which Luke is writing (koine greek) you would have the choice of four different words to use for “love”

Storge- natural or parental affection affection.

Eros- Romantic affection. The kind of passionate love supposed to be enjoyed within the confines of marriage.

Philia- friendship or fondness.

Agape- deliberate love. The kind of love rooted in the will. Deep, continuous, growing and ever renewing love.” The kind of love God has for us.

The first three “storge, eros, philia” all come naturally. You can “fall into eros”. You can develop philia based off of mutual interest. But “agape” love says “I choose to love this person, by God’s grace.”

Agape love is the kind of love Jesus is referencing here.

The christian is commanded to love his enemies with the supernatural kind of love not based on any merit.

A.This love is displayed in 3 ways:

1.) Through deeds

Luke 6:27 (NKJV)

...do good to those who hate you,

This is incredibly hard to do- to do something nice for someone who hates you. It certainly does not come naturally does it?

Human nature is reactive. If someone hates us, we give them reason too. But, doing good requires intentionality. It requires searching for ways to do good for them. We demonstrate the gospel when we do this. We become the hands and feet of Christ when we do good for those who hate us.

This doing good isn't superficial kindness. It refers to doing something that is inherently good. Something that will benefit our enemy.

Proverbs 25:21 NKJV

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

Romans 12:20–21 NKJV

20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Exodus 23:4–5 NASB 2020

4 “If you encounter your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you must return it to him. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall not leave it helpless for its owner; you must arrange the load with him.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 NKJV

15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

2.) Through words.

Luke 6:28 (NKJV)

bless those who curse you,...

The command here is to say good things in response to those who say evil things about us. This does not mean we don’t warn them of the consequences of their sin. But, it means when they revile us, we don’t revile them back.

Proverbs 15:1 NKJV

1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

When someone pours abusive words upon you, we are to respond with heartfelt blessing.

3.) Through prayers.

Luke 6:28 (NKJV)

...and pray for those who spitefully use you.

It is virtually impossible to be angry or have harsh feelings against someone when you are actively praying for their salvation and well being.

This is what Jesus did himself as he hung dyeing on the cross.

Luke 23:34 NKJV

34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.

Stephen Acts 7:59-60

Acts 7:59–60 NKJV

59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Praying for those who persecute you has a safeguard for you as well. It will keep you from being hostile and reactionary to them along with curbing any bitterness that will pop up.

Application: This kind of love that goes out of its way to do good things, speak kind words and pray for our enemies is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. It is not what comes natural.

B.) The natural human response

The desire for retaliation and vengeance is rooted deep within our sinful hearts.

For most people it’s:

You slap me, I’ll break your neck.

You take my shirt, I’ll chop off your hand.

Joseph Stalin

“To choose one’s victim, to prepare one’s plan minutely, to slake an implacable vengeance, and then to go to bed—there is nothing sweeter in the world” (“Death in the Kremlin: Killer of the Masses” [Time magazine, March 16, 1953; http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,935828-7,00.html; accessed 12 January 2010]).

The old testament law required limited retaliation to an equitable penalty at least.

“Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe…fracture for fracture, disfigurement for disfigurement… Exodus 21:23-25, Leviticus 24:20, Deuteronomy 19:21

This was at least civilized and fair. But, Jesus commanded the exact opposite though.He went far beyond the normal societal conventions and said radical things like

Luke 6:29–31 NKJV

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.

Jesus isn't somehow calling for people to be walking doormats. NO! But, he is demanding a loving Christlike attitude that is not vengeful but is instead generous and giving.

This is what has been commonly called the “golden-rule.” To respond positively to those who seek our harm. To treat others the way in which we wish to have been treated. To not return vengeance for vengeance.

Is it unnatural? Yes.

Is it unconventional? Yes.

Is it possible to live in such a way. Yes, with Gods help.

2.) The ethic explained. (v.32-36)

In v.32-36, Jesus provides explanation of why this radical new ethic of love is far greater than anything we can do in our own sinful human abilities.

Notice what he says:

Luke 6:32–34 NKJV

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.

A.) There is no lasting eternal benefit to the kind of love that comes easily.

It’s easy to love those who love us.

It’s easy to do good to those who do good for us.

It’s easy to lend to those who lend to us.

This isn't “agape” love. This is self congratulative reciprocal morality.

It’s no big deal to love those and do good to those who return the favor.

Even sinners (unbelievers) do that. That kind of love is indistinguishable from those who do not have Christ. This kind of love does not demonstrate the gospel. It will not lead anyone to Christ because it does not bear any marks that a person has been regenerated by Christ.

But, the demonstration of “agape” love does.

B.) There is lasting eternal benefit to agape love.

Luke 6:35–36 NKJV

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.

Sons of the most high- Is a Hebrew way of saying we will be like the most high. We will be like God.

To love our enemies is to be Christlike and to be Christlike is to be like God.

When we do good to our enemies; When we bless those who curse us; When we pray for those who are abusive toward us; we are formed into the likeness of Christ and it is that likeness that is our reward.

When we love with the supernatural love of Christ it validates the gospel at work in us and points people to Jesus.

Conclusion:

Supernatural love is the clear mark of a disciple of Christ. If Christ is truly upon the throne of our hearts then we can:

Love our enemies through deeds, words and prayer.

We can only practice supernatural, unconventional love if we have Christ as our savior.