Verse of the Day 6-2-22

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 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. 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 children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:27-36

In these verses Jesus defines how his disciples should respond to their enemies. Though treated with hate, they are commanded to love their enemies. The three statements in verse 27b-28 may be understood as further describing “love” and “enemies” (those who love do good, bless and pray; the enemies hate, curse and mistreat). Hateful opposition to the disciples because of Jesus is now illustrated, along with the appropriate loving response, in terms of specific physical actions. Jesus’ followers are to continue in loving ministry even in the face of persecution. In light of the variety of responses to opposition elsewhere in Luke-Acts, these illustrations are meant to convey an overarching desire for the good of opponents that does preclude, for example, insisting on legal procedures, warning of God’s judgement, and continuing to witness.

In Luke 6:32-34, Jesus provides three negative examples of the kind of love that he is not talking about but that are characteristic of sinners. In this context, “sinners” are those who are oriented toward self and who do not reflect the character of God. In contrast, Jesus exhorts his disciples to love and do good to their enemies and to lend without expecting anything in return. As with verses 20-23, the promise here is of great reward to come. In the immediate context, this is another way of referring to God’s favorable response. Those who love like this are evidently “children of the Most High” because this kind of love reflects God’s character.

Today’s Bible Readings:

2 Samuel 19:11-20:13, John 21, Psalm 120:1-7 and Proverbs 16:16-17