27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 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. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 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. 35 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. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Jesus stated that there would be those who did not head His words and who would live to maximise this life with no concern for the next. Those are the people who would likely be the ones who persecute believers. But that does not give us license to hate. Instead, Jesus says that those of us who hear Him must love our enemies and do good to those who hate us. Not only that but we should bless them and pray for them. Jesus is not minimising the evil these people may commit or the suffering we might experience at their hands. Jesus tells us not to retaliate against those who harm us or take from us. Again, Jesus is not telling us to remain in an abusive situation. He removed himself from dangerous situations (Luke 4:29-30) and so did Paul (Acts 9:23-25). We can live with an open hand knowing that God will always supply our needs. The overarching theme is an extreme love for others and doing for them what you would like them to do for you. This is about more than specific actions but an underlying attitude. We are quick to judge others by what they do while we expect them to consider our intentions. If you expect others to give you the benefit of the doubt, is that how you treat them?
How are you different if you simply love those who love you? What credit is that to you? Sinners also show love to those who love them. It is not only believers who are able to show deep and genuine love. What should set us apart is our decision to love even those who hate us. The same applies to doing good and lending. It’s easy to help those who reciprocate and lend to those who are guaranteed to return what’s ours. Our reward is great only when we go above and beyond normal human nature. We should not measure ourselves against the conduct and expectations of the world but against our Heavenly Father, the Most High. He is our standard and He has shown incredible kindness and grace to the ungrateful and evil—and that most definitely includes you and me. God loved us so much that even while we were actively hostile against Him, He sent Jesus to die in our place to make a way back to a relationship with Him (Rom 3:23; Rom 5:8; John 3:16). When we show kindness to the ungrateful and love to the unlovable we show the world a glimpse of God and by our love, we make a way for them to come to a knowledge of Him.
To show love to those who don’t love you is not natural and is not easy. It is only through a deep appreciation for God’s love toward us and an abiding relationship with Him and the power of His Holy Spirit inside us that makes it possible. One of the keys to love like this is a complete understanding that you do not deserve God’s love any more than anyone else, no matter who they are or what they have done (1 Tim 1:15). Who do you need to show God’s love to today?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
David’s Punishment: 2 Samuel 24