Luke 6:27–38 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. 37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Luke 6:27–38 ESV

This is the Gospel of our Lord! Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ!

Radical Love: Embracing Our Enemies

During World War II, many soldiers found themselves confronting not just enemies on the battlefield, but also in the hearts and minds of their countries. One memorable story involves a British and a German soldier who found themselves in a trench together. Instead of fighting, they decided to share a meal together, realizing they had more in common than they thought. This moment of humanity amidst conflict highlights how understanding and connection can turn enemies into friends, even in the direst situations.

This story made me start asking a couple questions.

Who is my enemy anyway?

Why do I think they are my enemy?

Often, we find ourselves being “enemies” with someone with whom we have no real issue with. Why is that?

Too many times, we are at odds because of “external factors” ~ barriers that people have allowed to divide us.

What are some of the barriers that divide us?

Racial Barriers

Political Barriers

Religious Barriers

Socio-economic Barriers

Moral Barriers

Radical Love: Embracing Our Enemies

Most barriers between us, only serve to divide us. This isn’t about a “political ideology” this is about recognizing that God is the Creator of all and seeks right relationship with all and further that “all” have right relationship with each other.

These barriers more often than not, are personal choices that we choose to keep us separated from each other and ultimately God.

But what if someone really does do something to hurt us, physically, emotionally or spiritually?

I think Joseph may have had an experience we can learn from:

1. Love through Forgiveness

Now, we all know the story of Joseph.

11 other brothers

He was the favorite

Dad gave him a coat of many colors

Kept him from doing the hard chores

His brothers were jealous of him and threw him in a pit

They were going to kill him

Decided to sell him into slavery and lie to dad and tell him that he was killed by a lion

Great guys! ~ you think you got family problems?

Joseph prospered in Egypt

Rose to the second most powerful man in the world at that point ~ second only to Pharaoh

A famine came into the land and Joseph had been very wise with Egypt’s resources.

People came from all over to buy from Egypt since they had an abundance

Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy - they didn’t recognize their brother ~ there’s more to the backstory - you can read it for yourselves

but this is where we find ourselves:

Genesis 45:3–11 ESV

3 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. 4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. 10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’

1. Love through Forgiveness

Joseph had two choices:

Revenge or Forgiveness

Joseph could have spent his life bitter about being sold into slavery.

What would have been the cost of Joseph remaining bitter?

Many lives would have been lost

He would not have been able to reconcile with his brothers and father.

A wise man was once asked, “Who is the most influential person in your life?”

His response:

“The most influential person in my life is the person whom I have chosen not to forgive.”

Un-forgiveness is really allowing someone to live “rent-free” in your head.

David had some understanding of this as well.

2. Trust in God's Justice

Saul repeatedly tried to kill David. His brothers weren’t much better than Joseph’s. His son Absolom was a scoudrel, yet David was able to write ~ and live:

Psalm 37:1–4 ESV

1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! 2 For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

2. Trust in God's Justice

Being angry because you were mistreated takes the “sword” of God’s justice away.

I tell my officers all of the time, if one of the inmates gets under you skin and you retaliate with a verbal barrage, you’ve gotten “your pound of flesh.” Don’t write ‘em up and expect me to exact another.

God is righteous! He is Holy!

Doesn’t He say:

Romans 12:19 ESV

“…Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

But God gives exceedingly wonderful promises like David found to be true:

Psalm 37:39–40 ESV

39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. 40 The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Us trusting in divine justice allows us to love enemies without losing hope.

We are then able to rely on God's wisdom, rather than personal vendetta, which leads to true peace and joy.

3. Transformation Through Love

Since we live here in the Heartland of America, we can understand Paul’s analogy:

1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50

1 Corinthians 15:37–38 ESV

37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body.

3. Transformation Through Love

Paul gives us some really great contrasts in regard to that which is planted.

1 Corinthians 15:42–44 ESV

42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

3. Transformation Through Love

One wheat plant yields many wheat kernels. Each of those when planted has the ability to yield a new plant ~ which yields more seed, thus creating an eternal cycle.

As we plant that which is ‘imperishable” ~ Jesus into our lives - and the lives of others, that which is perishable, us, takes on the “imperishable” nature of the Divine Christ!

Loving our enemies is a part of that spiritual transformation that Christ enables in us!

Understanding that Christ transformation is worked in those who are His disciples, we see with more understanding what He was saying in our Gospel reading this morning.

4. Love as Christ Loved

Understanding that Christ transformation is worked in those who are His disciples, we see with more understanding what He was saying in our Gospel reading this morning.

Luke 6:27–28 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.

Last week, we learned that Jesus’ target audience for these words wasn’t “the masses” who came seeking signs, wonders and miracles from Him, it was His disciples. Those closest to Him. Those whom had counted the cost of following Christ ~ Those who proved that faithfulness by being persecuted and many martyred for the cause of Christ.

Who was Jesus talking to?

Luke 6:32 ESV

32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

Jesus gives us a few directives in helping us mirror His very essence:

Luke 6:35–37 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. 37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

Now, let’s deal with one of the most misquoted Scriptures in the Bible:

Luke 6:38 ESV

38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Too many Pastors manipulate the people of God during offering time with this Scripture. ~ The context is key. We are in the context of “loving our enemies.” Now, I will admit, there have been times where it seemed the relationship I had with the church I served was ‘adversarial’ at best, but even still, offering time is not the time to whip out this passage. Let me be clear! God blesses those who give, but if a Pastor or minister throws this Passage at you during the offering, they weren’t paying attention in Seminary!

In this passage, Jesus was telling His disciples to be giving toward those - remember the context - that would have otherwise been considered “their enemies!” He was saying the more of a blessing you are, the more you will be blessed!

I love this quote from James Bryan Smith, the author of “The Good and Beautiful God.”

“I am one in whom Christ dwells and delights. I live in the unshakeable kingdom of God. The kingdom is not in trouble, and neither am I.” James Bryan Smith

As we approach the Table of God this morning, I wish to remind us, that although we may have heard a Word from God and sang songs about his goodness, this Table represents His Divine Presence and He has promised to meet with us here at this place ~ as often as do this…

Let us prepare our hearts…