“A Model of Genuine Love”

Good morning, we are so glad that you are here with us this morning. I hope that you have brought your Bible today. Turn with me to Luke chapter 6. Today I want to share with you a model of genuine love. In fact, our text tells us that we are to love those who are our enemies.

During the American Revolution, Peter Miller who was a Baptist pastor, lived in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, and enjoyed the friendship of George Washington. In Ephrata also lived Michael Wittman, an evil-minded person who did all he could to oppose and humiliate the pastor. One day Michael Wittman was arrested for treason and sentenced to die. Peter Miller traveled seventy miles on foot to Philadelphia to plead for the life of the traitor.

"No, Peter," General Washington said. "I cannot grant you the life of your friend."

"My friend!" exclaimed the old preacher. "He's the bitterest enemy I have."

"What?" cried Washington. "You've walked seventy miles to save the life of an enemy? That puts the matter in different light. I'll grant your pardon." And he did.

Peter Miller took Michael Wittman back home to Ephrata--no longer an enemy but a friend.

Loving your enemies is one of the toughest things to do and it was also one of the most radical things that we hear the Lord teach about. This mandate goes against what we see happening in our very own culture and it definitely went against what was happening in the culture and time of Christ. Listen to these words that Christ said to a lawyer in Luke chapter 10.

Luke 10:27 ESV

27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

During this time the Pharisees had a very narrow view of what Jesus was speaking about and their understanding of loving your neighbor or even loving your enemy. Their understanding of this was too only love their fellow Jewish people. The mandate to love one’s neighbor did not apply to Gentiles or other foreigners who were outside their camp. What Jesus is really doing here is helping us to understand the main idea of the Great Commandment. Think about is this way. Remember Paul says in Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 3 that we were by nature children of wrath. We were the enemies of God, but God being rich in mercy showed us a great love. He loved us when we were not so lovely. Jesus showed us mercy when we sinned against Him. Jesus never returned evil for evil. I want you to see this today and understand this so that we can see God’s wonderful pattern to Him people is the same pattern that Christ taught us to display to those around us. Luke chapter 6 and let’s begin in verse 27.

Luke 6:27–36 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. 32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit 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 benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 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 get back the same amount. 35 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. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

In this text here the Lord is addressing His message who hear or are listening to His message and will obey what He has to say. We know that there are many folks who are not willing to hear what God’s Word has to say because they would rather stay in their sin than turn from it and obey God. So, this message reveals to us that the Lord’s true disciples are marked by their genuine love even toward their enemies. Let’s look at 5 areas of supernatural love.

1. The Instructions to Love.

In verse 27 we see the Lord’s instructions given to love your enemies. Many Jewish people saw this teaching as shocking and unacceptable. But what exactly did Jesus mean here? This could be better translated as be loving toward your enemies. Instead of seeking revenge or trying to get back at them for some type of wrong they have done, show them love and remember what God says.

Deuteronomy 32:35 ESV

35 Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’

Jesus goes on to show us exactly how we can do this, how we can actually love our enemies. He gives us several examples.

A. Do good to those who hate you.

Instead of trying to get revenge on you enemies do something good for them. The word good here means that we will do something to benefit our enemies.

Romans 12:21 ESV

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

We can do good to our enemies because we are reminded of all that Christ has done for us. Now this does not mean that we agree with our enemies that their sinful lifestyle is ok because often times when we proclaim the truth to them they will lash out at us, however we can still love them and even serve them. The important thing to keep in mind here is that the gospel is at stake here and as believers we need to show love to the lost.

B. Bless those who curse you.

We not only show love by what we do, we can show love by what we say. And we can say good things even as others may respond by gossip, cursings, or just evil words. What happens to your flesh when someone comes along and curses you out??? What is it that we naturally want to do? We want to curse them right back. We want to give them a dose of their own medicine. In our own flesh if somebody wants to harm us, we don’t want to do good to them. This is why we see in verse 28 the importance of blessing those who curse us and even praying for them. During the time of Christ many of His followers were cursed, shunned, and made fun of. This is why the Lord’s message is so important here, because we as believers need to have an attitude of concern and compassion to share the love of Christ to the lost.

C. Pray for those who abuse you.

Finally, Jesus commanded His followers to pray for those who mistreat us. More specifically we should be praying for their salvation. If there is someone who is your enemy, a coworker, boss, or whoever, take the next 21 days and try praying for them. Pray for them every single day. Some great things may happen in your relationship with them, but you can be sure that great things will happen in your own heart because you are obeying Christ. Pray for those who curse you, don’t agree with you, and even abuse you.

2. The Response of Love.

Luke 6:29–30 ESV

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.

The question that so often is asked when we think about how to love others and especially love someone who is difficult to love is how should I properly respond to what others do to me? Here in verses 29-30 the Lord gives us 4 pictures of how to act when our enemies come against us with harshness or abuse.

A. Whoever strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also.

This was the classical way that Jewish people would insult someone. They would use the back of the hand to strike someone. Now please here me, Jesus was not forbidding that His followers defend themselves when dangerously attacked. And of course governments have been put into place to protect their citizens from evil action. However, Jesus warned his disciples that they would be put out of the synagogue and ridiculed, but instead of retaliating, they could accept the mistreatment and continue to love those who oppressed them.

Jesus himself modeled this when He was unjustly humiliated during his trial.

John 18:22–23 ESV

22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”

As believers we can still show love towards our enemies even when they respond to us with angry words and hostility.

B. Whoever takes away your coat do not withhold your shirt either.

During this time there would have been many people who owned only one coat. This would have also served as a blanket for them when they slept. So, if someone were to take your coat, this would have been considered a serious offense for these people. For those of us who are Christ’s disciples if we see others in need we can give to them even if that results in losing our coats and garments. If someone comes to you and asks you for help, help them. This is a great way to show love to others who have little or nothing.

C. Verse 30 tells us to give to everyone who begs from you.

This third picture that the Lord uses here helps us to see the importance of lending or giving to others. Scripture does not deny the loaning of money for interest. What it does deny is usury or burdensome interest. This type of heavy interest can exploit people in need. If you want to better understand usury, look at the interest rates on your credit cards. There is an assumption here that the person asking is in need of something. Even if the person who needs something cannot pay us back or repay a loan this should not keep us as believers from lovingly meeting needs.

D. From one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.

The last picture that Christ gives us is what happens when someone steals from us or takes something from a believer? What are we to do? We as believers are not to retaliate, but we should continue to show love and not demand that the stolen item be returned. No matter what the wrong is we should not respond with revenge. Peter reminds us of a great principle to be reminded of.

1 Peter 2:23 ESV

23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

3. The Rule of Love.

Luke 6:31 ESV

31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Here in verse 31 we come to what is known as the Golden Rule. The Principle here is rather simple. If somebody needs it, give it to him, even if it means that you are not getting anything back. In other words, don’t use the help of your brother for you own profit. Jesus shows us here a selfless love. This type of love, this rule of love focuses on the well- being of others. The love that Christ commands here is to treat others the way that we would want to be treated by others. Only believers are able to love this way because of the love of God that has been poured out into our hearts by His Spirit.

4. The Center Piece of Love.

Here in verses 32 through 34 Christ shows us the center piece of love. The love which we need to have is a supernatural love that comes through Christ rather than a self-serving love. There are many times that we love others or do something nice for others because someone has done something for us. The Lord uses 3 examples here for us. Notice in verse 32 the word “sinners.” This refers to unbelievers or those who are outside the kingdom of God. Their love is reciprocal, because they love those who love them. But we as Christ’s disciples are to show love even when it is not reciprocated.

The first example the Lord gives us is this. If you love those who love you what benefit is that to you? The love that believers have for others should set us apart from the rest of the world. We show love to our enemies to those who curse us and abuse us. We also should do good to others even if it is not shown to us. This type of love is contrasted with sinners who only do good if good is shown toward them. Finally, Jesus asked if you lend to those from who you expect to receive what credit is that to you? Jesus is not speaking here of lending to someone who will never repay a loan, since God’s Word teaches us that everyone should pay their debts. The point here is lending to people to create an obligation. This is another example of reciprocal love. We are to show a Christ-like love towards others so that they will be led to Christ and God will be glorified.

5. The Blessings of Love.

Luke 6:35–36 ESV

35 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. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Christ has shown us a wonderful model of genuine love compared to a selfish love that an unbelieving world exemplifies. As the Lord’s disciples we are to love our enemies, not just too love others who do good things for us. We are to lend to others expecting nothing back in return. This type of love is not normal or natural because it goes against worldly wisdom. But when we love the way that Jesus loved we begin to see the blessings that Christ promised and the reward is great. The reward here that we see is not an eternal or heavenly reward that we see in verse 23. When we as Christians show an unconditional love, sinners will be shocked. In fact, this type of love shows that we are son of the Most High.

We as believers are to be like Christ and when we show kindness, mercy and love toward others we are imitating what Christ has shown toward us. Jesus himself was kind to the ungrateful and evil so too should we. God our Father is merciful. God’s mercy causes Him to withhold judgement that we as sinners deserve. God is patient not wishing that any perish but that all would come to repentance. When we as believers love like God does, we demonstrate the kindness and mercy to a watching world that Christ has truly changed our lives. We model a genuine love that Christ has shown to us.

Closing: As we live in such an angry and vengeful world it is difficult to show love to others. It truly takes the heart change that Christ brings to help us love others and to especially love our enemies. Even though the world around us does not understand the God for whom we live and trust, nor do they understand His very words that does not allow us to be insensitive or harbor ill will toward them. We should love doing good things, we should have a desire to pray for those whom we don’t see eye to eye with and pray for their salvation. This means that we are not hiding out but engaging with our lost world, our lost family and friends. We are to love in such a way that is different from the way sinners love. By failing to love, we fail to see the kind, loving and merciful nature of our God. This is no where better seen that the Lord’s love for His bride the church. Christ loved His bride so much that He gave His life for us. Because Christ first loved us, we can and should love those around us. Because Christ gave we too can give! We can do these things because we have seen and experienced the joy of Christ, and we should be motivated to give to to others.

Close in Prayer:

Turn over to Matt for Communion.