Epiphany 7 2025

Luke 6:27–38 (NIV84)

27 “But I tell you who hear me: 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 strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 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 sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Listen to the following advice by St. Paul in Romans: Romans 12:18 (NIV84) If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

How realistic is this? Is it possible to live at peace with everyone? Historically, this has not been the case. As those who are familiar with the Bible, we are aware of many examples in which faithful people who tried were not able to live at peace with everyone. For example:

Cain and Abel

Abraham’s wife, Sarah, and his handmaid Hagar.

Noah’s son’s after The Flood.

Joseph and his brothers.

Samson and the Philistines (from our OT lesson several weeks ago)

David and Saul.

The prophets of Israel and the people of Israel.

Even Jesus would encounter one conflict after another in his ministry culminating in his arrest, sentencing, and death.

And it wouldn’t end there. Jesus taught his disciples: Matthew 10:34–39 (NIV84)

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.’ 37 “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

St. Paul himself would be an enemy of Christianity before his conversion and then face one conflict after another as a devout proclaimer of the Gospel. He tried to live at peace with everyone but would often face conflict.

In our text, Jesus acknowledges some of the circumstances in which we are not at peace with everyone:

Enemies will hate us.

Curse us.

Mistreat us.

Insult (striking on the cheek).

Renege on a loan.

Borrow and not repay.

Have you ever experienced anything like this?

What happens to the mild mannered child in school who enthusiastically helps the teacher and is a willing volunteer who is academically gifted? May become the victim of bullying.

How many thousands if not millions of well behaved and loving children have been abused by even those closest to them?

Coworkers can become competitors.

Even with the Christian congregation, biblical warnings against strife have not been completely eliminated: Galatians 5:13–15 (NIV84)

13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

Malady: We are not always able to live at peace with one another.

Solution? In Jesus’ complimentary sermon on the mount, he refers to one solution that seems to have gained acceptance. Matthew 5:43 (NIV84) “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

Although there was to be love for one’s fellow countrymen, it seemed OK to not demonstrate that toward one’s enemies. Was this not the fear that Joseph’s brothers had after their father Jacob had died? That Joseph would seek revenge? Genesis 50:15 (NIV84)

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?”

And didn’t it seem applauded what Samson did to the Philistines after they had taken away his wife and killed her?

Judges 15:2–8 (NIV84)

2 “I was so sure you thoroughly hated her,” he said, “that I gave her to your friend. Isn’t her younger sister more attractive? Take her instead.” 3 Samson said to them, “This time I have a right to get even with the Philistines; I will really harm them.” 4 So he went out and caught three hundred foxes and tied them tail to tail in pairs. He then fastened a torch to every pair of tails, 5 lit the torches and let the foxes loose in the standing grain of the Philistines. He burned up the shocks and standing grain, together with the vineyards and olive groves. 6 When the Philistines asked, “Who did this?” they were told, “Samson, the Timnite’s son-in-law, because his wife was given to his friend.” So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death. 7 Samson said to them, “Since you’ve acted like this, I won’t stop until I get my revenge on you.” 8 He attacked them viciously and slaughtered many of them. Then he went down and stayed in a cave in the rock of Etam.

There are even imprecatory Psalms that were prayed in our congregations against God’s enemies.

Imprecatory psalms are a category of psalms in the Bible that invoke curses on enemies of God or those perceived as enemies. The word "imprecate" means to invoke a curse. 

Examples

Psalms 5, 6, 35, 69, and 109 are examples of imprecatory psalms 

Psalms 58, 79, 83, and 137 are also considered imprecatory psalms 

Psalm 139:19–24 (NIV)

19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! 20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? 22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

These examples are historical reminders of a common reaction to being a victim. Revenge. This reaction is still pursued even today.

There is a whole genre of revenge films which are quite popular. The protagonist suffers a horrendous loss at the beginning of the film and then spend the rest of the movie exacting revenge on the antagonist. We sympathize with the hero and cheer when the enemy gets his just desserts in the end:

The revenge genre is often one of the most engaging forms of storytelling in cinema. If the story is personal for the main character, it makes it personal for the viewer. Whatever choices are made, for better or worse, they are more easily understood. Most revenge films may be more of an action or thriller variety, starting with a person with a past and a mission, and will often end happily despite all the destruction and bodies left in the hero’s wake. Commando, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, is a perfect example.

The best revenge films make the viewer feel and think. Whether the protagonist feels cheated, betrayed, or personally attacked, the act of seeking revenge in some way changes them. To avenge a wife's death or rescue a kidnapped child may turn someone into an entirely different person who does things they never thought capable of themselves. Sometimes, their actions can cause more harm than good, leaving the audience asking themselves: Was it all worth it? Here are 25 of the best revenge films of all time, ranked.

Top Five in reverse order according to Movieweb

The Crow

John Wick

Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2

Oldboy

Inglorious Basterds

If Jesus were a movie producer, he would not have produced any of them? Why not? Because it is the opposite of how he lived and what he taught.

Recall again what he teaches here:

Luke 6:27–31 (NIV84)

27 “But I tell you who hear me: 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 strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 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.

He then reasons why this is the Christian thing to do: Luke 6:32–36 (NIV84)

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 sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

When we love our enemies, we show that we are above the sinful desire to seek revenge.

He also promises an eternal reward for those who overcome the need for revenge.

And he reminds us that even though God is described as a vengeful God, God has shown mercy. Therefore we are to be merciful too.

Deuteronomy 32:39–43 (NIV84)

39 “See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand. 40 I lift my hand to heaven and declare: As surely as I live forever, 41 when I sharpen my flashing sword and my hand grasps it in judgment, I will take vengeance on my adversaries and repay those who hate me. 42 I will make my arrows drunk with blood, while my sword devours flesh: the blood of the slain and the captives, the heads of the enemy leaders.” 43 Rejoice, O nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants; he will take vengeance on his enemies and make atonement for his land and people.

Exodus 20:5–6 (NIV84)

5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Deuteronomy 7:7–10 (NIV84)

7 The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. 10 But those who hate him he will repay to their face by destruction; he will not be slow to repay to their face those who hate him.

Jesus emphasized the love and mercy of God and encourages us to respond to his love for us by loving even our enemies.

We think of his parable of the unmerciful servant.

St. Paul urges this as well: Ephesians 4:31–32 (NIV84)

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

In the opening introduction of the sermon, when St. Paul urges us to live at peace with everyone, he does give commands as to what to do when that is not possible — leaving room for God who acts justly — to do His work.

Romans 12:14–21 (NIV84)

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my 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.

It is God’s work to bring about vengeance. Our work is to show mercy and let him do what he does so much better than we ever will.