Epiphany 7
Notes
Transcript
Luke 6:27–36 (NIV)
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do 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 repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Friend 163
Enemy 391
How popular are movies about revenge? A recent search showed over 1000 films have been made in which the main plot is a character seeking revenge on someone who has wronged them. Popular titles include Ben-Hur, Cape Fear, Charlie’s Angels, The Hunger Games/Mockingjay, Moby Dick, and Unforgiven. We relate to the main character because they are victims and sometimes we believe we have been victimized and we pull for them to defeat those who have mistreated them especially when it seems as though justice is not being served through normal channels. Very seldom do we see movies about someone who has been wronged who makes it their life goal to love, pray for, and do good to those who have wronged them. That is why Jesus’ teaching about how to treat our enemies needs to be reviewed. Popular culture (people watch more movies than read the Bible) teaches a different approach toward how to deal with this very real problem in our lives.
We are commanded in the Bible live at peace with each other.
Romans 12:17–21 (NIV)
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
But that same passage confirms that whether we like it or not, we may have enemies.
A quick search of the Bible showed me that forms of the word “friend” came up 168 times.
A quick search on forms of the word “enemy” camp up 391 times. Obviously, God’s word is concerned about interacting with people known as our enemies.
Jesus teaches us the same thing. He assumes we will have enemies. In fact, he teaches Matthew 10:34–36 (NIV)
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— 36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
Undoubtedly, you have experienced this yourself. (examples)
I am not referring today about enemies in times of war because that is not the type of enemy Jesus is referring to. He is talking about those people we are in disagreement with and who are antagonistic toward us. It should go without saying that we are not to be enemies toward others. God does not teach his children to be haters and violent people who stir up disagreements and who abuse others verbally or physically. If that is the type of people we are, we need to repent of such sinful activity and look to God for hearts filled with love and compassion and genuine concern for others.
The types of enemies we are talking about today are those who oppose us either directly or behind our backs who disagree with us.
It may be the over competitive gamer who makes playing games a challenge instead of a fun time to get together.
It may be the neighbor who intentionally disrespects our property lines.
It may that family member who believes we are being favored at their expense.
It may be that person who just is antagonistic or even that person who strongly disagrees with our faith and Christian lifestyle.
I heard a quote several days ago that says the more strongly we hold to our beliefs, the more enemies we will have.
And it seems that those who are closest to us can become our greatest enemies.
Cain killed his brother, Abel.
Esau hated Jacob.
Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery.
Saul tried to kill David.
Judas betrayed Jesus.
Even St. Paul couldn’t work with Mark because of a disagreement they had.
So the question isn’t whether or not you will have enemies, the question is “What are you going to do about it?” Or “How Does God Command us to Treat our Enemies?” THEME
Options
Tolerance: Can’t we all just get along. But at times this is done at the expense of the truth.
Agree to disagree: We back down on our convictions because we don’t want to force the issue.
Be victims: Sometimes the person who is mistreated can see no alternative but to just take it.
Ignore them (Isolationists)
Retaliate: This is the solution often portrayed in films and which we often secretly long for. St. Paul warns against it in Romans.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
His solution is the same as the one commanded by Jesus. Do good to them.
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
You will recognize this verse as “The Golden Rule”.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do 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 repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
As Frank Burns once said on M*A*S*H* “It's nice to be nice to the nice”. Jesus knew that too. But it is godly to be nice to those who aren’t nice. It calls for a special gift given by God on how to deal with enemies. Jesus reminds us of how forgiving our God is. He himself showed this when he was on trial as St. Peter reminds us.
20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
And we know how Jesus prayed “Father, forgive them” as he was dying on the cross.
I know of several examples in recent history of how individuals victimized by their enemies found the strength to follow Jesus’ commands here.
When the war ended, his battle began. Based on Laura Hillenbrand's bestselling book, UNBROKEN: PATH TO REDEMPTION begins where Unbroken ends, sharing the next amazing chapter of Olympian and World War II hero Louis Zamperini's powerful true story of forgiveness, redemption, and amazing grace.
The film begins where the movie Unbroken concludes, sharing the next chapter of the story of Olympian and World War II veteran Louis Zamperini. Haunted by nightmares of his torment, Louie sees himself as anything but a hero.Then, he meets Cynthia, a young woman who captures his eye-and his heart. Louie's quest for revenge drives him deeper into despair, putting the couple on the brink of divorce until Cynthia experiences Billy Graham's 1949 Los Angeles Crusade, where both find faith in Jesus Christ, a renewed commitment to their marriage; and, Louie finds forgiveness for his wartime captors..
Even if you have never heard of this book, you have heard of the story of Joseph. He is the classic example of doing centuries before Jesus teaches it what to do when we are mistreated.
Jesus teaches us why we are to do this.
Jesus teaches us to model the actions of our Father in heaven who is kind and compassionate toward his enemies. Note what he did for us while were were still his enemies.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
