What To Do

WHAT TO DO Luke 6:27-36 March 14, 2021 Today's text contains some of Jesus' most famous words. Jesus is frequently quoted, but I'll bet today's words are quoted more than any others. Love your enemies, and turn the other cheek. How many times have you heard those words? I mean, people who don't believe in Jesus, and are convinced God is a fantasy, still quote those words. And, because of these words, we can draw some important conclusions about Jesus, right? We can figure out what Jesus would and would not do in certain situations. For example, Jesus was clearly a pacifist. He would never fight with anyone over anything. Jesus would love them into changing their ways. Jesus would not have fought against Hitler in World War II. Even though Hitler was murdering Jews, and even though his goal was to exterminate an entire race, Jesus would not sanction violence against Hitler. He would have kept sending Hitler letters asking him to stop. Right? Or, if an identity thief stole your identity; and they were racking up huge debt in your name, Jesus wouldn't have stopped them. He would say, just role with it, it's only money, pay their bills for them, and love them into better behavior. Right? Combine that with Jesus saying - if someone takes your coat, offer them your shirt too. And, we can be sure if a crazed rapist broke into your home, and raped and murdered your wife, Jesus would not want you to put up a fight. But, he would want you to offer up your daughter as well. Right? NO! None of that is a reasonable conclusion based on today's text. Those are foolish imaginings drawn by taking Jesus' words out of context. What Jesus had to say was very profound. Let's not stupid it up. To find context, remember where we are and who we're talking to. This is the Sermon on the plain, which happens immediately after Jesus picks 12 of his Disciples to become Apostles. This sermon is directly to the 12.1 Others are allowed to listen in. But, these words focus on what life will be like for these special chosen. And, if you remember from last week, Jesus has just promised them poverty, hunger, tears, and suffering. He has just warned them they will be persecuted and executed, just because they follow him. You are blessed because God has chosen you for this life. But, this will not be an easy life. It is only natural, that the Apostles would ask - what do we do about this? If men are going to hunt us down and kill us, what should we do? If our families will suffer because of our faith, what should we do? Do we need to start carrying weapons? Should we always travel in large groups so it's harder to hurt us? Jesus, what do you want us to do? Well, first, let's look at what Jesus actually said. "But, to you who are listening I say; Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you." There are two different words Luke could have used for enemies.2 The first is polēmiōs. Those are enemies of the state, or enemies who are engaging you with civil issues. That would include Hitler. And, it would include the neighbor who keeps dumping his garbage in your yard. That is not the word Jesus used. We talk about the immutability of God - which means God never changes. We continually change what we understand about God. But, God himself never changes. God has always embraced justice. So much of our Bible is about justice. Hitler was perpetrating world-wide injustice. And, there is no doubt in my mind God approved of war against Hitler, and anyone else who stomps on justice. Read Genesis, then tell me God is a pacifist. By the same token, protecting others, is to protect justice. Defending your wife, or your daughter, or your property, is to protect justice. Jesus did not tell us to be door mats, who let anyone do anything to us - and just go along with it like we don't matter. The word Jesus did use was echthrōs, which means someone who has taken a personal issue with you. And, it is not a justice issue, it is a belief and practice issue. Remember Jesus has just told the Apostles they will be persecuted because they follow him. When Jesus talks about love your enemies, he specifically means people who persecute you because of your faith. People who insult, torment, or punish you - because you are a follower of Jesus. If someone steals your purse please file a report with the police. If someone steals the offering plate because they hate Christians - follow the guidance Jesus is about to give the Apostles. First off, pray for people who hate Christians. Do you believe God is real? Do you believe God answers prayer? Then, it is perfectly reasonable to pray for the people who hate your faith. Let God put them through a series of situations which will open their hearts and minds to the possibility of salvation. And, if that opportunity comes along, be prepared to explain your faith. It is not your job to argue people into Christianity. It is your job to invoke the Holy Spirit to move them to repentance. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. This was a well known legal issue. The right hand is the strong hand, the left hand is weak. The front of the hand is strong, the back of the hand is weak. So, if someone used the back of their left hand to slap you on the cheek, you were not allowed to physically retaliate.3 They used the weakest part of the weakest hand. The only option you had was to take them to court where they received a small fine. If you hit them back with your right hand, you were the guilty party. So, the primary reason to hit someone with the back of your left hand, was to bait them into an offense. Jesus is telling the Apostles, don't take the bait. When someone attacks your faith, don't take the bait. That's pretty good advice for every aspect of our lives. There are people who love to create drama in our lives. They will say and do anything just to get a reaction, and create controversy, and conflict. Worst thing you can do to them? Don't take the bait. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. If you borrowed money, and didn't pay it back, your creditor could come and take your possessions to pay the debt. With one exception - they couldn't take your coat. Without your coat you might freeze to death. In this situation Jesus has your attacker breaking the law. They are very clearly in the wrong. And yet, Jesus doesn't say take them to court. He doesn't say prosecute them for breaking the law. He says give them your shirt as well. Why? That will only speed up your freezing. Remember, Jesus is preaching specifically to the Apostles. He has warned them they must be prepared to die for their faith. Christians claim eternal life, in Heaven, because of Jesus. We believe this world is not all there is. We believe in a perfect place, where we will be at rest, after this life. Or, at least, that's what we say we believe. Do we really believe that or not? I guess the proof is in the pudding. When your life is on the line, do you pray for Jesus to be with you? Or, do you recant your faith and say anything to live? With these words, Jesus is asking the Apostles to be willing to go all the way, for their faith. Why should others become Christian, if Christians themselves abandon their faith in a crisis? Jesus may have also been making a statement about possessions.4 He may have been telling the Apostles not to be possessed by their possessions. Instead, trust God to supply all your needs. Jesus says - Do to others, as you would like them to do to you. We know this as the Golden rule. Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. Interestingly, Jesus didn't invent this saying. During the Babylonian exile, 600 years before Jesus, a slave Rabbi named Hillel became very famous. He wrote a very long and detailed book about how to live out your faith.5 In his book, Hillel writes - "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor." You notice it is phrased in the negative; what is hateful to you, do not do, to your neighbor. Jesus puts a twist on Hillel when he phrases the Golden rule in the positive. Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. Hillel says, don't interact with the people you disagree with. Leave them alone, and hopefully, they will leave you alone. Jesus says, continue to interact with people who hate your faith. Do good things for them, in the hope they will listen to you. It is very natural to put distance between ourselves and those who hate or persecute us. When it comes to faith, Jesus will fight against that concept throughout his entire ministry. He wants us to engage enemies of the faith. On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus prays for the Apostles, and for you and me. He prays (John 17:13-15), "Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe." Of course, the requirement to engage the world is not a license to be a jerk.6 Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Well, I want to be openly confronted anytime I say anything wrong. I want people to chase me down with facts and figures that prove me wrong. I want to be shouted down. I want to be embarrassed in public. So, since that's what I want, I am perfectly within my faith to treat others that way. You are not the standard for how people are to be treated. God is. Jesus is our example. Look at the way Jesus dealt with doubters. Look how he dealt with those who were confused. Look how he dealt with those who were openly hostile. That's the standard for our behavior. Jesus finishes with - love your enemies, and do good to them. All their lives, Jews had heard God say love your neighbor. Leviticus 19:18, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord." Now, the Jews loved that verse because it defined your neighbor as someone just like you.7 A fellow Jew, with the exact same faith, and the exact same beliefs, and the exact same practices as you. It's a good rule - I must love people who are exactly like me. And, the Jews were content to leave their enemies alone because - God hates the people who are not like me. God is giddy with excitement about the coming day when he gets to punish everyone who is not like me.8 Then, along comes Jesus who says to the Apostles - God is not like that at all. God loves everyone. Even the people who hate you. God loves them too. And, since God is the standard, I want you to love them as well. If someone breaks into your home, fight to protect your life and the lives of the people you love. If your neighbor knocks down your fence, call the police and report the offense. If you have a relative who loves to wind you up, and create family drama - put some distance between you. But, if someone hates your faith; if they are offended by your Christianity, the rules are different. Pray for them. Pray for God to create situations in their life that open the door for the Holy Spirit. If they behave inappropriately, do not take the bait. Do not use their behavior as an excuse to misbehave yourself. Never let conflict negate your faith. If you believe when everything is going great, keep believing when everything is going wrong. Don't isolate yourself and live your faith like a monk. Stay in the world. Show your faith to the world. Be a witness for the faith. Love people who are not like you. This is hard. This is very hard. But, this sermon is for those who would change the world. 1 Joel B. Green, New Interpreter's Study Bible (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003), 1865. 2 James Moulder, "Who Are My Enemies," Journal of Theology for Southern Africa, 25 (December 1978), 41-49. 3 NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016), 1755. 4 R. C. Sproul, general editor. New Geneva Study Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1614. 5 Hillel, Babylonian Shabbath, 31a. 6 Alan Kirk, "Love Your Enemies, the Golden Rule, and Ancient Reciprocity (Luke 6:27-35)," The Journal of Biblical Literature, 122 no. 4 (Winter 2003), 667-686. 7 Darrell L. Bock, Luke 1:1-9:50 (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008), 588. 8 NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, 1755. --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ 2