Belgian Biblestudents – Belgische Bijbelstudenten

Luke 6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 6:27-36 – How to Love Your Enemies

Luke 6:27-36 – How to Love Your Enemies

|| Matthew 5:39-46[1]

LK6:27 “Now I tell all of you listening to me – continue to show loving concern for your enemies.[2] Continue to do good[3] to those who keep hating you. LK6:28 Continue to bless[4] those who keep cursing you. Continue to pray for those who keep insulting you.[5] LK6:29 Offer your other cheek[6] to the one slapping you on the cheek. When someone takes your outer garment[7] do not hold back even an under garment. LK6:30 Continue to give[8] to everyone who keeps asking you, and do not ask the person who takes your possessions to return them.[9] LK6:31 Now just as you want people to do to you,[10] you continue to do the same. LK6:32 And if you only continue to love those who love you[11] – what charity is there to that?[12] LK6:33 And if you only continue to do good to those who keep doing good to you – what kind of charity is that? Even sinners do the very same thing! LK6:34 And if you ever lend [money] hoping to receive it back[13] – what kind of charity is that? Even sinners keep lending [money] expecting an equal amount in return! LK6:35 Instead, all of you continue to show loving concern for your enemies.[14] And continue doing good – continue lending [money] without expecting anything to be paid back. If you do your reward will be considerable, for you will become the Most High’s offspring,[15] because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.[16] LK6:36 Continue to be charitable just as your Father is charitable.[17]

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[1] Matthew 5:39-46: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew. Here is perhaps one of the most powerful statements in all of the Nazarene’s teachings. In every feature of this portion the Church as a whole has failed miserably. Indeed, entering the 3^rd millennium of Christianity there are few disciples of Jesus on earth who read and do the following words.

[2] Continue to show loving concern for your enemies: The Greek construct is of an action that continues. Luke puts the Greek AGAPATE in the Nazarene’s mouth. For details on AGAPE see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. An “enemy” may be one who is just indifferent or loves less than another.

[3] Continue to do good: Love and doing good are not the same thing.

[4] Continue to bless: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Romans 12:14.

[5] Keep insulting you: Or, spiteful, abuse, insult.

[6] Offer your other cheek: Reading the related phrases, the disciple of the Nazarene is to never react out of revenge or getting even. Compare Romans 12:17.

[7] When someone takes your outer garment: The disciple of Jesus is not to resist authority or to seek redress for theft or extortion.

[8] Continue to give: Jesus never qualifies these statements. It is true some will take advantage of the Christian because of this, but such will answer to the Judge. The whole spirit of the Lord’s teachings is one free of greed and revenge.

[9] To return them: Or, NAS: whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back; RIE: demand no restitution.

[10] Now just as you want people to do to you: Many religions have a so-called Golden Rule, but these are generally negative – Do NOT do unto others… Christ’s rule is positive: DO. It is praiseworthy to reason: Now I know what causes me harm. So do not do this to others. But The Godly virtue says: I know what I would want in my case, so go and do that for the other person.

[11] Love those who love you: Such is required by just human decency and good manners. Compare Paul’s opinion of those who do not. [1 Timothy 5:8] A person’s manners and charity cannot be determined by conduct among friends.

[12] What charity is there to that: Or, thank, credit, grace, merit. The Greek is CHARIS from which the English “charity” is drawn. Charity is an undeserved favor or kindness. Friends and family automatically deserve such favor or charity.

[13] Lend [money] hoping to receive it back: After love of enemies this is the most bone-jarring command Jesus makes. Few Christians have ever been able to obey it and as a whole the Church has failed. During the so-called Dark Ages the Church put the burden of usury on the Jews who then became the most important bankers in Europe. The Law of Moses forbid loans with interest to fellow Israelites, but permitted usury in dealings with non-Jews. Jesus prohibits it completely.

[14] Show loving concern for your enemies: Jesus characterizes this love by three things: prayer, doing good, and financial gifts. If this is how enemies are to be treated what does the Master expect of treatment to fellow disciples. [Compare Galatians 6:10] The opposite would prohibit a Christian from bloodshed.

[15] You will become the Most High’s offspring: Or, sons, children. Based on what has been said before, only those who would listen and obey Jesus’ teachings on these matters could ever be considered God’s children.

[16] He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked: Or, unthankful and evil, wicked and cruel. The disciple of Christ, in order to imitate God, cannot make judgments of people whether charity will be shown or not.

[17] Charitable: Or, merciful, compassionate, full of pity. The English word “mercy” is drawn from the idea of giving or charity. The idea is to have mercy or pity for anyone in need no matter who they are.

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Preceding

Luke 6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 6:1-5 – Breaking the Sabbath?

Luke 6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 6:6-11 – Doing Good on the Sabbath

Luke 6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 6:12-16 – Apostles Chosen after Prayer

Luke 6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 6:17-19 – More Cures by Jesus

Luke 6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 6:20-26 – Plain Teachings

To follow Christ

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 5:1-12 Nazarene Mountain teachings: Blessed and legal commentaries

Matthew 7:12 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Summary on the Torah’s Fulfillment

Matthew 7:13-23 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Disciple #5 Matthew 7:28-29 – The Crowd’s Reaction

Matthew 7:13-27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Disciple #4 Matthew 7:24-27 – Conclusion

Matthew 18:7-11 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Danger of Stumbling-blocks

Matthew 23:13-14 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Woe 1: Shutting Up the Kingdom

Matthew 23:15 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Woe 2: Evangelists of Gehenna

Matthew 23:16-22 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Woe 3: Blind Guides and Gold

Matthew 25:31-46 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Judgment on the Realm of Heaven #2 Matthew 25:34-36

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Additional reading

1. Do we know the right things
2. Today’s thought “Vengeance is mine, I will repay” (February 2)
3. Today’s thought “But with you there is forgiveness” (March 15)
4. How should we worship God? #9 Christian Behaviour
5. The teacher
6. Americans their stars, pretension, God, Allah and end of times signs #2 War on God’s Plan, Name and title
7. Deontologicalism or Ethical or moral theory concerned with duties and rights.