Teaching the Disciples: How To Love Like Jesus

Good morning!

Last week, we began this section that many of us know as the Sermon on the Mount, as referred to by Matthew, or as Luke calls it, the sermon on the plane.

As we discussed, that sermon was given to the disciples, those chosen by Jesus and who chose to follow him.

That means this teaching is also for those of us who profess to be followers of Jesus.

In these messages, Jesus teaches the disciples about the Kingdom of God.

The first one we covered last week was about honor and shame.

We learned that what the world and our culture say is honorable or shameful is very different from what God considers honorable or shameful.

I don’t think people would be shocked by that idea when said that way.

However, we quickly see the difference when we dig into what blessing means.

Blessedness from a Kingdom perspective is defined by God’s presence, not the temporary physical things of this world.

We learned that when we face undesirable circumstances when walking in obedience, we are blessed because we have God’s full attention.

God sees our situation and is working things out for our very best.

That may not mean he is going to do something at that moment, but we can rest assured that in the end, we will receive the full blessing of God.

In the inverse, the disciples were warned against the things that bring shame.

In our world, shame is defined as being less than or having less than others.

In the Kingdom, shame is brought about by focusing on yourself.

Through Jesus' life and ministry, we see his entire focus was on God and people.

His life was the fulfillment of the two greatest commands.

To love God and to love others.

In this sermon to his disciples, Jesus articulates that our actions' perfection does not achieve closeness to God.

Closeness to God results from abiding in God and loving others as God loves them.

Let’s read today’s passage and discover what that looks like.

Luke 6:27–36 CSB

27 “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back. 31 Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. 32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

The heart of today’s message and Jesus’ sermon is the need for love.

We will discuss this more in-depth when we get to this part of Jesus’s story, but Jesus gives the disciples a new command just before his death.

It is recorded in John 13:34-35.

John 13:34–35 CSB

“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

The Hymn popularized this idea: They’ll know we are Christians by our love, written and released in the ’60s.

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord And we pray that our unity will one day be restored And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love Yeah they'll know we are Christians by our love

We will work with each other, we will work side by side We will work with each other, we will work side by side And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love Yeah, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

Jesus is trying to redefine what it means to be a believer, a man or woman of God.

The most basic characteristic of God is love, and the same should be true of his children.

We are the sons and daughters of God, and our character should reflect that of our father.

This sermon's goal for the disciples is to help them understand God’s love toward all people.

Jesus begins this section with some incredibly challenging commands.

Luke Luke 6:27

The importance of these commands is evident in that they are Jesus’ first direct commands in the Gospel

There are four specific commands that Jesus gives the disciples regarding who and how to love.

Love your enemies.

Do good to your enemies.

Bless your enemies.

Pray for your enemies.

Before going any further, we can all agree that this is incredibly hard to do.

Amen?

These are the commands given in the first two verses of this section.

Luke 6:27-28.

Defining some keywords in these commands would be helpful to know what Jesus is saying.

I don’t know about you, but this is not the kind of thing that I want to misunderstand.

Love ἀγαπάω (agapaō ) - 1. to love (care) — to have a great affection or care for or loyalty towards. 2. To love (Christian) — to have a strong, non-carnal affection and love for a person and their good as understood by God’s moral character, especially characterized by a willing forfeiture of rights or privileges on another person’s behalf.

The love Jesus refers to puts the other person's well-being before your own.

Life Group Question: Is this definition of love what you have experienced in church life, or is it different?

Life Group Question: How can this kind of love affect the people in your life who don’t know Jesus?

This kind of love is not often expressed or experienced by the world.

Even in the best relationships, times of selfishness still pop up.

This is why it is paramount that we understand that this kind of love cannot happen apart from God’s presence.

The other word we need to define is enemy.

Who falls under that category?

Enemy ἐχθρός -οῦ, ὁ; (echthros) - a personal enemy. Hebrew equivalent: אֹיֵב (ʾōyēb), n. enemy (warfare). Aramaic equivalent: עָר (ʿār): adversary, foe, a political or military enemy

Whether you are using the Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic form, the meaning is quite obvious: Jesus is talking about loving someone so opposed to you that they are willing to go to a literal war against you and your people.

The lemmas of all three words point to the relationship between people.

Life Group Question: What is the significance of these definitions referencing our relationships with people?

Let’s take a moment and marinate in this for a moment.

Jesus tells his disciples to love those who want to kill them and their loved ones.

I’ll be the first to admit that doesn’t seem right!

Surely, this isn’t what Jesus meant to say.

Surely, there is a place in the Kingdom for justice!

There is, but we are not involved in that process.

Justice is between the offender and the one they have offended, God.

You might be wondering how Jesus could ask that of anyone.

Consider for a moment the life that Jesus lived.

Consider that Jesus was ridiculed, tortured, and crucified for crimes he did not commit.

He took the punishment that we were owed upon himself so that we could understand the love God has for people.

Jesus is telling his followers that we are not only recipients of his love and mercy but to freely give that love and mercy to those who hate us.

Life Group Question: What part of this is the most challenging for you?

Life Group Question: How can your prayer life change your feelings about it?

Life Group Question: In what ways will you respond to your “enemies” even if your feelings don’t change?

Life Group Question: In what ways will this kind of love change your personal ministry and the ministries of TGP?

Luke 6:27–28 CSB

27 “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Jesus doesn’t just give us these commands with explanation.

He gives us the commands and some examples of what that looks like.

Love your enemies.

Look with me at the first half of verse 29.

Luke 6:29a (CSB)

If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also.

This is not a new command or idea that Jesus is teaching.

This idea is introduced in the Old Testament.

Leviticus 19:18 CSB

18 Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.

Jesus is taking this idea of what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself” and bringing stinging clarity to what that means from God’s perspective.

We know that there were Old Testament laws for justice. (An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.)

Jesus’ teaching shows that this was the bare minimum.

What is greater is to be more concerned for the other person’s heart than yourself.

This is not so much about passivity in the face of evil.

It is about concern for the other person and what has led them to this action.

In verse 29, Jesus also speaks to someone who takes away your coat and adds that we should also give them our shirt.

Luke 6:29b (CSB)

And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either.

The language here is legal, and taking a person’s coat would have been a legal offense because it was considered necessary for survival.

In this example, there is an implied thought that if the person takes it, they must need it.

If they need your coat, give them your shirt too so they are not without it.

Do good to your enemies.

Luke 6:30–31 CSB

Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back. Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them.

This is where the “Golden Rule” is derived from.

In the Kingdom, God asks us to treat our enemies equally or better than we are willing to treat ourselves.

Talk about an upside-down Kingdom!

Let’s continue being honest with ourselves.

This is going to be incredibly difficult.

But look at what one of my commentaries pointed out.

Luke Luke 6:31

The Golden Rule is essentially another way of saying, “Love your neighbor”; and, as the following verses clearly show, this love of one’s neighbor, which involves doing not feeling, goes beyond simple reciprocity toward one’s friends.

Love involves doing, not feeling.

Love can transform our actions from doing to feeling, but feeling is not required for us to begin loving.

When we think about loving as Jesus tells us to, we need to realize that it is a choice, not a feeling.

Remember what Jesus has done for all humanity.

While we were still living in sin and rebellion, God sent his son Jesus to live sacrificially so that we could know the love of God.

Romans 5:8 CSB

But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God blessed us with the opportunity for redemption.

He didn’t leave us dead in our sins.

He blessed us.

In response to that blessing from God, we should do the same.

Bless your enemies.

Luke 6:32 CSB

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.

The intention is that God will reveal himself through his people when we go above and beyond what the world expects.

Again, they will know we are believers by the way we love.

What greater blessing could we bestow upon someone than to show them the same love that the father has shown us!?

God is telling his disciples to live with the same kind of generosity that God has.

Luke 6:33–36 CSB

If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

When Jesus taught this to the disciples, he was with them, living by example.

We have the Holy Spirit that lives in us to guide us into this living and loving that Jesus role models.

We will not be able to do this in our own power.

It must begin with prayer.

That is why Jesus tells us to...

Pray for your enemies.

When we pray for others, the first thing that happens is a change in our own hearts towards that person.

That interaction with God on the other person’s behalf allows God to let us see that person the way that God does.

As we abide in Jesus our hearts are transformed by his and we start to see that person in a new light.

Luke Luke 6:36

Luke’s readers, just as Jesus’ disciples, are to love their neighbors regardless of whether they are friends or enemies. Whereas feeling positively toward one’s enemies and “liking” them are indeed impossible at times, Luke helps us to understand that we can love our enemies by willing good toward them, by doing good in return for evil, by blessing instead of cursing, and by praying for them.

Luke Luke 6:36

Often even the ability to will good for one’s enemies may seem impossible, but Luke believed that the same Spirit who empowered Jesus (Luke 4:14) dwells in believers and can empower them to choose love for enemies. Thus Pentecost keeps this from being simply an impossible ideal.

Living in this way is possible, but it is something that we must choose to do in response to God’s love and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The idea of living and being willing to give as any person has need is at the heart of Jesus’ ministry.

It is at the heart of the New Testament church.

The willingness to give up everything for others with the same willingness that the disciples left everything and the same willingness with which Jesus gave up his life is at the heart of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

We cannot mistake the life that Jesus has called us to with what the world calls a “Christian Life.”

We are not called to be comfortable and look out for ourselves.

Jesus has taught us to live sacrificially for the sake of others.

By living this way we can reveal the love of God to others and share the good news that Jesus gave up everything so that all people can be redeemed.

Consider Paul’s word to the church in Rome regarding their conduct with others.

Romans 12:9–21 CSB

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. 10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. 11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. 20 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. 21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

We have two options.

We can live according to the world and pretend that we are something we are not.

Or, as Paul would say, being conquered by evil.

2. We can follow Jesus’ lead and live a life that is worthy of His name.

God has put us in the places we work, play, and live so that we can reveal his mercy, grace, and love.

Those people won't hear the gospel if we are focused on ourselves and our comfort.

They won’t experience the love of God.

But if we live as Jesus has taught us to live, they will not only experience God’s love, but they will come to know that love for themselves.

God has asked us, his sons and daughters, to take up our crosses and follow Jesus.

One day, we will stand before God and give an account of what we have done on earth.

Matthew records Jesus teaching on this in chapter twenty-five.

Matthew 25:31–46 CSB

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. “ ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’ “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink; I was a stranger and you didn’t take me in; I was naked and you didn’t clothe me, sick and in prison and you didn’t take care of me.’ “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help you?’ “Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

If you follow Jesus, the kind of life Jesus teaches about is not optional.

We don’t get to pick and choose what parts of his teaching are valid for us.

If we are representatives of the Kingdom of God, we must honestly represent that Kingdom.

Sadly, there are thousands of people in the church, both lay and leadership, who will get that second response from Jesus.

Looking the part and talking like you know Jesus isn’t what Jesus taught his disciples to do.

He teaches that we live like He did.

We give of ourselves by living for others.

But the beauty of it is that Jesus chose ordinary, common people and did amazing things in and through their lives.

He wants to use ordinary, common people like you and me to accomplish his work.

As followers of Jesus, this is what we signed up for.

We “gave” our lives to him when we asked him to be our Lord.

We are the ambassadors of the Kingdom of God, the sons and daughters of the living King, the ones chosen to represent the Kingdom.

If we submit to Jesus by following his teachings, he will do amazing things throughout our lives.

Through this body of Christ, we can and will change the world as we love, like Jesus.

Let’s pray

Announcements:

PDC celebration tonight - It is going to be so wonderful!

Discuss appropriate dress?

Please park on the south side of the building, maybe in the grass, so that we can make room for their members and guests.

Tithes and Offerings