Why love your enemies?

I. Introduction

Paraphase of: 1 Peter 1:3-5

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

When we think of these peculiar times, as a follower of Jesus I think of what was happening in His time and ministry among the people.

II. Background

A. The times of Jesus

Many were looking for hope…in all the wrong places.

Work-based salvation

Waiting for a militant messiah

2. As Jesus entered the scene, he became known as a great teacher.

B. Sermon on the Mount; conclusion of Beatitudes

Jesus was concluding the beatitudes and warnings to the people,

2. Jesus final beatitude changed in its tone, as a call to his disciples.

C. The call to be different; how to treat our adversary

III. Scripture

Luke 6:27–36 ESV

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But 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.

* In regards to the old question by the one who said ‘whose my neighbor’, then do many Christians ask ‘who is my enemy?’

A. Aramaic definition of enemy seems simple

Hostile

2. Foes

B. Hebrew definition stems from events & history

Enemies come from a corporate past experience.

Roots of the elements of the word enemy include warfare, and Satan.

Scripture quotes most of what enemy is at large, is anything that strives against God.

C. The root application of ἐχθρός, -οῦ, ὁ, -ᾶς, ἡ (echthros), meaning a personal enemy.

Why love your enemies?

IV. 1- We are different, bought with a price

The redeemed of Christ must show His love

1. An “AGAPE” love that does not come from us.

2. This Love may even put us at odds with our own nature of fight/flight.

a. Christian Pacifism

Luke 6:30 shows a hard saying for most, as even I have been caught up in the mode of preparation and readiness for my family, community and country.

It is a fine line that is a broad stroke most Christian pacifists underscore to demonstrate how we should respond to thieves looters and robbers.

b. Christian militancy

This while others who tote the militant stance remind us of Matthew 5:38 or John 18:10 in how Peter had a sword typically known for self-defense. Where then does self-defense and the line of violence for one’s sake or safety fall in line in dealing with “the enemy”?

c. The nature of love is to respond as identifying with Christ.

Luke 6:33-34 “And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.”

I’ve seen followers of Christ are scoffed and mocked when adversaries of the gospel quote “good people” seem more civil and do better than so-called believers.

Why love your enemies?

V. 2- We must identify with Christ, if we are to be raised with Christ

Luke 6:27 ““But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,”

The crux of the statement, saying how we should feel and act towards personal enemies. This is foundational on the identity of the Christian that is following Christ to show the love from without , that there is truly love within.

Matthew 5:43-48 ““You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Some may think that to be Christian is to mean no-one is our enemy (a false dichotomy)

Anyone who has been cut-off in a line, cut-off in traffic, or been made fun of or taken advantage of knows what a personal enemy could be. Christ asks that we identify with him an in his suffering.

Romans 15:1-3 “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.””

The word “reproach” in more literal terms means insult.

To identify with Christ is also to let the insults we endure to pass along to Him (if we are doing his Will and not our own pleasure) as he promises to help us

Luke 6:28 this means to double-down on such love, blessing others and praying for the very ones that may despise and hurt you, that may try to threaten your future.

Luke 6:29 This verse is similar to Matt 5:41 in that one gives, as through going “the second mile”.

Why love your enemies?

VI. God loved us when we were enemies of the cross

32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

This is the crux of 1 John 3:13-18 that points us into the direction like Steven Curtis Chapman would say “What about the difference?”

1 John 3:13–18 “Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (ESV)

Romans 12:17-21 “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

“In Christ’s command to love, etc., he asks us to show the evidence in our lives that the gospel blessings have been truly appropriated by us, and that we have taken the warning of the woes to heart. In the Baptist’s words (3:8) those who do repent must show the fruits that are worthy of repentance”.1

1 Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel (pp. 358–359). Augsburg Publishing House.

Gal 6:10 “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Luke 6:34–36 ESV

And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But 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.