Love Your Enemies

Sermon Text: Luke 6:27-36

Intro

Hook: *be engaging* *Give them the need, the reason to listen*

Context: This was spoken to the disciples of Christ, yet with a crowd around. The principles are for kingdom living, not moralism.

Thesis: Love your enemies, not only your friends, and you will be like your Father.

Body

Love Your Enemies

Assertion

Love is the main principle. The rest of the commands flow from this chief principle.

It is a love of nonretaliation. More than this, it seeks the welfare of others. “Do good,” “Bless those,” “Pray for.”

Evidence - Luke 6:27-31

Commentary (scripture, exposition, story)

Who is your enemy? Luke 6:22 (those who hate, curse and abuse you), and it’s your neighbor sometimes. And who is my neighbor?: The story of the Good Samaritan.

Is there any special link between blessing and cursing?

Is there any special link between praying for and abusing?

Holy Opposites?

Iris and Naomi fighting over the Panda bear…

Not Only Your Friends

Assertion

This defines holy love. Sinners love those who love them. Christians love their enemies. See the lack of benefit in loving lovers.

Evidence - Luke 6:32-34

Commentary (*use anecdotes!*)

ATM Love vs Debit Love? Or Contracts vs Charity.

Lady Borrow.

And You Will be Sons of the Most High

Assertion

If you were like the sinners, you wouldn’t be holy like your Father. Don’t be like the sinners. Be like your Father instead, who is kind to the ungrateful and evil. Love your enemies.

Evidence - Luke 6:35-36, Luke 1:32 (Important!)

Commentary

The Father loves the ungrateful and evil (us). So we should too.

The father is merciful. So we should be too.

When we are merciful, we prove that we are sons of the Most High.

Did God not love his enemies chiefly at the cross?

Remember the reward. The debit given to the enemies has an eternal reward. Its an eternal 401k.

Conclusion

Restate

Review

Reflect / Apply

If God is not your Father, then your obedience to his commands is moralism. Your obedience is not earning you righteousness.

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO YOUR LIFE?

DON’T TRY TO ACCOMPLISH TOO MUCH. LEAVE SOMETHING ON THE TABLE.

“As you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” Is this an all-encompassing phrase to sum up Luke 6:27-30?

It seems that this passage, Luke 6:27-36, is all about love. V.27 says, “Love your enemies,” followed with eight ways in which people can tangibly love others. Then, Jesus explains the folly of only loving those who love you. “That’s not love,” he says - “What benefit is that to you (disciples)?” Even sinners (not like you disciples, not that they aren’t sinners, but that he is separating them from unbelieving people) do the same.

He also repeats the phrase “love your enemies,” in v. 27 and v. 35.

5/26

Should I actually offer the other cheek to be struck?

Should I indeed give my cloak in addition? Or at least have the heart posture for this?

Should I give to “everyone” who begs from me, including every homeless person?

Is it ever right to seek my things to be returned, or should I never seek my goods’ return?

Should I request that someone give something back to me?

Should I not feel any pangs when someone steals something from me?

What are my goods?

Golden rule vs platinum rule. As others would wish you do to them, do so unto them. Is that biblical?

The point: We want others to be gracious to us. We should be gracious to others.

The folly of only loving those who love you back. It is great and feels good. But is this not partiality?

As people with the love of God within us, how are we supposed to go out and love others?

“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. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”

Love is doing good to others while expecting nothing in return. DEFINE LOVE.

What is the reward that we get for loving others? Salvation? That’s heresy. Riches? What kind? A great reward.

Sons of the Most High indicates that we are like our Father, who is titled “the Most High.” Why is he titled the Most High, instead of “Father” (Luke 2:49) or “Lord your God” (Luke 4:8) or “God” (Luke 4:43) or “Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:45)? What does this title emphasize within the text? Does it emphasize that God is higher than the ungrateful and evil? And even though he is highest above all, he still shows kindness to all. What kindness. What mercy! Mercy: withholding punishment.

Christianity is not an exclusive club, where no one else is invited. It is exclusive in the sense that there is only one way in, but those who are in must not have the attitude that no one else is allowed.

Our very heart should be to do good to others. Our baseline reactions to things should become merciful. Not irritation, not annoyance, not bitterness, not selfishness, not ungratefulness, not worry that we will lack…

Why be merciful to anyone outside the church? Why love an enemy? Do others religions say the same? Jesus is basically saying here to go out of your way to love those who will not return the favor.

My return now may be nothing, but my reward in heaven is “great.”

Are you seeking a return on all things? Are you transactional with everyone you meet, always expecting dues for your services to them? Or out of the goodness of your heart, do you serve others without expecting repayment?

“In like manner [as God], be merciful to others”

“Do not resist the one who is evil” I can’t defend myself? Is this pacifism? Suffer abuse without payback?

Personal wrongs are in view

5/28

Jesus preached to a mixed multitude.

Jesus promised blessings.

Spiritual poverty

Heaven will be much better than these things on Earth.

Jesus pronounces woes.