Loving Your Enemies
Notes
Transcript
Intro
We live in a transactional society. You give me something, I give you something. Logical. That hits a brick wall when it comes to love. Imagine a marriage like that. Jesus gives clear instructions on loving enemies.
Need: Struggle with enemies. Hearts get stirred up very easily. Because of that, our love is reserved for a select few.
Main Idea: Followers of Jesus love their enemies.
Still sermon on the mount. Who are enemies? Those intentionally attacking you.
Luke 6:27-36
Truth #1: Loving enemies is actionable (27-31)
Exp. Already dealt with people ill about them. Verse 27-28. Notice that every command is actionable. These do not make you a disciple, but are directions for disciples.
App. What do we do? Love your enemies. How?
Do good - Actionable. Treat them well.
Bless - Get our word eulogy. Speak well of them.
Pray - Lift them up to God.
Ill. Nearly asking to do the opposite of what you naturally do. If someone punches you in the face, you want to swing back? Jesus clearly tells us to do the opposite.
Exp. Verse 29. They may strike you because of the Son of Man! Strike you on the cheek, do not retaliate. Steals your cloak, give undershirt. Verse 30. If they beg = demand, give to them. Even if enemies, give to them. Take = steal, don’t demand it back. Why? You have all you need in Christ. What do you have to lose? Verse 31. Golden rule. Popular proverb in ancient time. Many nations have a version of this. In negative. “Don’t treat others how you don’t want to be treated.”
Arg. Treat others with mercy and grace. Why? Don’t you want mercy and grace? Haven’t you received mercy and grace?
Christ - Jesus didn’t come to simply love his enemies, Jesus came to save his enemies. Everyone is hostile toward God. Enemies, but we are brought close through Jesus. So, we love as Jesus has loved us.
Truth #2: Loving enemies is not reciprocation (32-34)
Exp. Reciprocation is doing back what others do to you. He gives a list of conditions. Verse 32. If you love only those who love you, you are in the company of everyone else. Verse 33. If you only are good to those who are good to you, you don’t stand out. Verse 34. If you give to those in need expecting repayment, you’re just like the world. Our love shouldn’t reciprocate the love of others, it should reflect the love of Christ.
Christ - Jesus didn’t reciprocate love, he became the source of it. He was the embodiment of the love of God. He didn’t love only those who showed him love. He went to the cross despite those mocking him.
Ill. Our love should reflect that love. Old lighthouses would have fire and a domed mirror. The mirror would project the light out to sea. It wasn’t the source of the light, it was reflecting the light. That’s you. You are not the source. You can’t do it in yourself. You are reflecting the light of Jesus.
Arg. The light is Jesus.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
App. What do we do? Rely on Jesus rather than yourself.
Avoid responding in the flesh.
Seek guidance from the Holy Spirit.
Truth #3: Loving enemies is what our Father does (35-36)
Exp. Jesus ends this section with explaining what the family of God looks like. Verse 35. Gives a quick summary and explains the reward. Don’t expect rewards here. What’s the outcome?
Reward in heaven will be great.
Become sons of the Most High. “sons of” was a typical phrase for doing something.
Exp. Verse 36. Gets to the crux of it. You can be merciful because God is merciful. Language is similar to Leviticus 19:2
2 “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
Arg. This command stands in the same phrasing as that of Leviticus. Jesus is referring back to the Torah. Your father is merciful. Be like him.
Christ - The only way we do this is through Jesus. The Son of God makes others sons of God. You are brought into his family and made his son. He is your father because you were adopted into this family.
Ill. The picture of adoption was more prevalent in the Greek world. It was this idea that someone not in your family was chosen to be brought into the family. You were brought up as if you always belonged there. Receive inheritance, family traditions, etc. You’ve been brought into the family of God.
App. What do we do? Live in light of being a Son of God.
Live as sons of God. Display it daily.
Show mercy. Extend to others what is undeserved. As you were extended.
Conclusion
Loving your enemies is challenging. It is actionable, not reciprocity, and is what the family of God does.
