Love on a New Level
Luke 6:27-38
Late one summer afternoon in Broken Bow, Nebraska, a weary truck driver pulled his rig into a truck stop. The waitress had just served him when three tough-looking, leather-jacketed motorcyclists came down the aisle and decided to give him a hard time. They started with some verbal harassment, then one man grabbed the hamburger off his plate, another took a handful of his French fries, and the third picked up his coffee and slowly began to drink it.
How would you respond in that situation? Well, this trucker didn’t respond as one might expect. He calmly stood up, picked up his check and walked to the front register and put down cash to cover his bill. He was already out the door by the time the waitress put his money in the till. She stood there and watched the man’s big rig roll away into the night. When she went to the booth where the bikers were seated, one of them said, “Well, he’s not much of a man, is he?” She replied, “I don’t know about that, but he sure ain’t much of a truck driver. He just ran over three motorcycles on his way out of the parking lot.”
I think it’s a perfect intro for today’s sermon on loving our enemies. When someone has wronged or provoked you, were you ever tempted to hurt them like they hurt you? Isn’t that instinct part of our human nature? Jesus is going to answer these questions, and more. He was preaching his first sermon on a plain outside of Capernaum. A massive crowd had gathered and in the front row were Jesus’ 12 newly-called disciples. He’s been teaching them about God’s Kingdom, giving examples of blessedness that reversed and expanded their concept of who God favors. Now, he’ll share examples of how we should treat and respond to others, once again radically reversing the notion of how His disciples should live in the world.
Imagine being in a front row seat as Jesus said: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” Before you’re tempted to tune this teaching out, believing you have no real enemies in life, let me ask some questions that may broaden your perspective. Have you ever had a bully in school make fun of or threaten you? Ever had a boss or teacher treat you differently, making it feel like they “had it in for you”? Animosity can be thinly veiled. Has someone gossiped or told lies about you? Do you have a family member who holds an old grudge against you? They may have even found allies, so now you’re being unfairly judged and excluded by more of your loved ones. Is there someone you know who actually hates you? These are not your friends.
“Love them,” said Jesus. In order to grasp the deep shock people felt when hearing this, we need to understand what many in his audience had been taught. Jewish religious leaders, using God’s word as found in our Old Testament, taught the people to “love your neighbor” and “hate your enemy.” Everyone knew this and tried to live it out. Except some rabbis did loosen up on the command to love your neighbors. If “certain” fellow Jews were seen as unworthy, you were exempt from having to love “those” neighbors. This wasn’t God’s idea; it was an exemption put in because some were uncomfortable with God’s high standards.
So, when Jesus said, “love your enemies and do good to them,” it was a shocking statement - the crowd would have been agitated hearing this. It was a radical departure from their long-established, and much tamer, faith tradition.
Let’s apply this to our own lives. Can you imagine doing good deeds for people who despise the sight of you? Could you love someone who loathed you? Does anyone come to mind when I ask these questions?
Jesus’ command is clear, but do you think this is possible, given our human nature? Wouldn’t most of us want to give hate-filled people a “piece of our mind”? What if the cruelest people on earth were caught and then punished, using the same cruelties they so callously inflicted on others? Would we be secretly pleased that they would suffer?
To love heinous human beings, and to do good deeds for them - to do that even if they remain unrepentant - isn’t something I think our willpower or human nature can manage to do. But what we lack, God can and does provide. You and I are empowered every day by God, through the Holy Spirit. Do you realize that there is limitless, divine power that fills us and directs our thoughts and actions, so we live like Christ did when he was on earth? We have a power source, fully charged, that is at work in us, helping us imitate Christ in our everyday lives.
Let’s turn this working theory into concrete life situations and consider what it might look like to love our enemies and do good to those who despise us. We could offer to cover a shift at work for a mean-spirited co-worker. We could mow the lawn or shovel the driveway for a neighbor who is rude to your kids and hates your pets. We could bring over groceries or hot meals to a relative who is sick, even though they are always critical or judgmental. We could send a long-time colleague flowers and a “thinking of you" card on their birthday, even though they recently shared nasty and untrue gossip about you– again.
Can you see the possibilities that can come with blessing people who don’t much like you? Do you know why radical, unexpected acts of kindness matter? People who’ve hurt others and know it are shocked when they’re met with visible but undeserved blessings. I’ve heard people in their state of shock say things like “Are you messing with me? Is this for real?” Jesus tells us why people are unbelieving and skeptical, even when the blessing is right in their own hands. He said it’s easy to care about someone who cares for you - even sinners do that. But making Spirit-filled choices to bless people who in no way deserve it demonstrates unconditional love; that’s the supernatural sign of a follower Jesus Christ. You and I are called to fully and freely love others because we’re keenly aware that “while we were still mired in our sins, Jesus so loved the world He died for us.” That’s our mission, to go out and love people in concrete ways while they are still hateful and hurtful.
The Bible puts this plainly: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” That’s as countercultural now as it was when Jesus walked the earth. We stun people; our generosity confuses them, and our reasoning defies logic. What are we getting out of this? It makes some wildly curious… others may just be annoyed. Either way, our good deeds can lead to conversations.
You’d be surprised how many people will reveal how tired they are of being arrogant, greedy, bitter, or controlling. At the end of the day, when they’re home alone with no distractions, they consider all their choices and how they feel empty. Some say that the loving deeds of one or two people were the only bright spots in their lives. It then became the axis point that changed their lives. Our job is to love all, even (or especially) our enemies, and do good and leave the results up to God.
Jesus’ second teaching is similar to the first. We’re to “bless people who curse us.” This focuses on our speech. The Bible says that our tongue, a mere 2 ounces of our body, has the power to speak life or speak death to others. Either way, those who are on the receiving end will be impacted. If someone is lashing out at us and loudly complaining, our bodies will react. Endorphins flood us - we have a fight or flight instinct. In our vulnerability, there can be an impulse that makes us want to immediately retaliate. What words might come from our mouths right then?
I thank God that years ago I memorized a Bible verse that’s helped me rein in my tongue, rather than release a sharp counter-offensive. Proverbs 15:1 says: “A gentle answer, a soft one, turns away wrath. It can calm someone’s anger. But harsh or painful words can increase or spike someone’s anger.” A similar piece of wisdom comes from Proverbs 12:18: “Reckless words, spoken in the heat of the moment, can wound us like a sword, but those who are wise use healing words.”
Unfortunately, my fellow Christians, we all have many chances to practice this God-given advice. Plenty of people are reckless with their words, not knowing or even caring if they scare people or scar them. Haven’t you heard angry outbursts directed at strangers in public? Online, blistering comments are written to others who don’t align with their views or values. Have you listened to people spew prejudice, or argue in an effort to legitimize violence? How often, behind closed doors, are words used that tear down someone’s self-esteem? Or tell them they are nobodies, or they’re burdens? Tongues too often speak death to others.
God is counting on us to be a healing and helping counterforce. And once again, we Christians are going to need the fullness of God’s Holy Spirit to help us have wise and controlled speech. I try to imagine Jesus by my side, seeing and hearing what I’m experiencing. I think about how I can imitate Him. I want my words to be kind and honest. I want to be sensitive, but bold when necessary. If I’ve earned someone’s trust, I can speak deeper truths and offer challenges to them. If I listen well, I can be helpful in building others up after they’ve been torn down. I want to use my voice so people know they’re seen and appreciated. I want to say out loud, many times and in many ways, that God loves them. I want to bless those who’ve been cursed and hurt by others and with God’s help bless those who’ve cursed and hurt me. I don’t say that lightly. You and I can only be obedient if we’re humble, available, and prayerful.
Prayer is the third teaching Jesus shares with us. We’re to pray for those who mistreat us. I once heard a minister tell their parishioner that, no, they shouldn’t pray for their scoundrel of an ex-husband, who was again delinquent in paying child support, to be hit and killed by a car over the weekend. God wants us to pray for those who’ve wronged us because God wants to see them transformed, turning away from past, hurtful behaviors and beliefs. If we don’t pray for such people, honestly, who else will? God wants us to intercede on their behalf as sincerely as if we were praying for people we love, hoping that one day they’ll have a relationship with God. That is incredibly hard for us. I’d suggest finding an accountability partner because if left up only to us, we’ll likely fall short.
This final teaching is the hardest of the three for me; I’d prefer to opt out of this one because when I pray, I’m transparent before God. I can’t hide my reluctance, resistance, or rage. Has someone really hurt you in the past? I confess I’ve prayed vengefully, like this: “Almighty God, you who right wrongs, and redeem your people from the pity of their misery, You who desire peace on earth, I ask that this individual have a brain embolism, fatal heart attack, or they fall down the stairs. Tonight. However you choose, Lord, zap them. Amen.”
I am not proud of this later on, but in the moment, I don’t want mercy or a bit of grace for those who’ve done terrible wrongs. Eventually, with God’s help, I put myself at the starting block and start praying for someone who’s caused me great pain. The first several times I tend to tense up my shoulders or clench my teeth. I pray the briefest of prayers. As I discipline myself to keep praying, I wrestle with God who knows my pain. As God reveals His perspective to me, I begin to find peace. In due time I heal. It may take months or long years, but my heart is cleansed. I am set free. Can you see how God blesses us when we bless those who don’t deserve it?
That is what Jesus’ ministry is going to be all about. We’re seeing just the start of it. Come back next week and you’ll hear more of Jesus’ teachings, including what we should do if we’re struck on one cheek, or if we’re cheated. There are more unexpected surprises - epiphanies - yet to come!
How would you respond in that situation? Well, this trucker didn’t respond as one might expect. He calmly stood up, picked up his check and walked to the front register and put down cash to cover his bill. He was already out the door by the time the waitress put his money in the till. She stood there and watched the man’s big rig roll away into the night. When she went to the booth where the bikers were seated, one of them said, “Well, he’s not much of a man, is he?” She replied, “I don’t know about that, but he sure ain’t much of a truck driver. He just ran over three motorcycles on his way out of the parking lot.”
I think it’s a perfect intro for today’s sermon on loving our enemies. When someone has wronged or provoked you, were you ever tempted to hurt them like they hurt you? Isn’t that instinct part of our human nature? Jesus is going to answer these questions, and more. He was preaching his first sermon on a plain outside of Capernaum. A massive crowd had gathered and in the front row were Jesus’ 12 newly-called disciples. He’s been teaching them about God’s Kingdom, giving examples of blessedness that reversed and expanded their concept of who God favors. Now, he’ll share examples of how we should treat and respond to others, once again radically reversing the notion of how His disciples should live in the world.
Imagine being in a front row seat as Jesus said: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” Before you’re tempted to tune this teaching out, believing you have no real enemies in life, let me ask some questions that may broaden your perspective. Have you ever had a bully in school make fun of or threaten you? Ever had a boss or teacher treat you differently, making it feel like they “had it in for you”? Animosity can be thinly veiled. Has someone gossiped or told lies about you? Do you have a family member who holds an old grudge against you? They may have even found allies, so now you’re being unfairly judged and excluded by more of your loved ones. Is there someone you know who actually hates you? These are not your friends.
“Love them,” said Jesus. In order to grasp the deep shock people felt when hearing this, we need to understand what many in his audience had been taught. Jewish religious leaders, using God’s word as found in our Old Testament, taught the people to “love your neighbor” and “hate your enemy.” Everyone knew this and tried to live it out. Except some rabbis did loosen up on the command to love your neighbors. If “certain” fellow Jews were seen as unworthy, you were exempt from having to love “those” neighbors. This wasn’t God’s idea; it was an exemption put in because some were uncomfortable with God’s high standards.
So, when Jesus said, “love your enemies and do good to them,” it was a shocking statement - the crowd would have been agitated hearing this. It was a radical departure from their long-established, and much tamer, faith tradition.
Let’s apply this to our own lives. Can you imagine doing good deeds for people who despise the sight of you? Could you love someone who loathed you? Does anyone come to mind when I ask these questions?
Jesus’ command is clear, but do you think this is possible, given our human nature? Wouldn’t most of us want to give hate-filled people a “piece of our mind”? What if the cruelest people on earth were caught and then punished, using the same cruelties they so callously inflicted on others? Would we be secretly pleased that they would suffer?
To love heinous human beings, and to do good deeds for them - to do that even if they remain unrepentant - isn’t something I think our willpower or human nature can manage to do. But what we lack, God can and does provide. You and I are empowered every day by God, through the Holy Spirit. Do you realize that there is limitless, divine power that fills us and directs our thoughts and actions, so we live like Christ did when he was on earth? We have a power source, fully charged, that is at work in us, helping us imitate Christ in our everyday lives.
Let’s turn this working theory into concrete life situations and consider what it might look like to love our enemies and do good to those who despise us. We could offer to cover a shift at work for a mean-spirited co-worker. We could mow the lawn or shovel the driveway for a neighbor who is rude to your kids and hates your pets. We could bring over groceries or hot meals to a relative who is sick, even though they are always critical or judgmental. We could send a long-time colleague flowers and a “thinking of you" card on their birthday, even though they recently shared nasty and untrue gossip about you– again.
Can you see the possibilities that can come with blessing people who don’t much like you? Do you know why radical, unexpected acts of kindness matter? People who’ve hurt others and know it are shocked when they’re met with visible but undeserved blessings. I’ve heard people in their state of shock say things like “Are you messing with me? Is this for real?” Jesus tells us why people are unbelieving and skeptical, even when the blessing is right in their own hands. He said it’s easy to care about someone who cares for you - even sinners do that. But making Spirit-filled choices to bless people who in no way deserve it demonstrates unconditional love; that’s the supernatural sign of a follower Jesus Christ. You and I are called to fully and freely love others because we’re keenly aware that “while we were still mired in our sins, Jesus so loved the world He died for us.” That’s our mission, to go out and love people in concrete ways while they are still hateful and hurtful.
The Bible puts this plainly: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” That’s as countercultural now as it was when Jesus walked the earth. We stun people; our generosity confuses them, and our reasoning defies logic. What are we getting out of this? It makes some wildly curious… others may just be annoyed. Either way, our good deeds can lead to conversations.
You’d be surprised how many people will reveal how tired they are of being arrogant, greedy, bitter, or controlling. At the end of the day, when they’re home alone with no distractions, they consider all their choices and how they feel empty. Some say that the loving deeds of one or two people were the only bright spots in their lives. It then became the axis point that changed their lives. Our job is to love all, even (or especially) our enemies, and do good and leave the results up to God.
Jesus’ second teaching is similar to the first. We’re to “bless people who curse us.” This focuses on our speech. The Bible says that our tongue, a mere 2 ounces of our body, has the power to speak life or speak death to others. Either way, those who are on the receiving end will be impacted. If someone is lashing out at us and loudly complaining, our bodies will react. Endorphins flood us - we have a fight or flight instinct. In our vulnerability, there can be an impulse that makes us want to immediately retaliate. What words might come from our mouths right then?
I thank God that years ago I memorized a Bible verse that’s helped me rein in my tongue, rather than release a sharp counter-offensive. Proverbs 15:1 says: “A gentle answer, a soft one, turns away wrath. It can calm someone’s anger. But harsh or painful words can increase or spike someone’s anger.” A similar piece of wisdom comes from Proverbs 12:18: “Reckless words, spoken in the heat of the moment, can wound us like a sword, but those who are wise use healing words.”
Unfortunately, my fellow Christians, we all have many chances to practice this God-given advice. Plenty of people are reckless with their words, not knowing or even caring if they scare people or scar them. Haven’t you heard angry outbursts directed at strangers in public? Online, blistering comments are written to others who don’t align with their views or values. Have you listened to people spew prejudice, or argue in an effort to legitimize violence? How often, behind closed doors, are words used that tear down someone’s self-esteem? Or tell them they are nobodies, or they’re burdens? Tongues too often speak death to others.
God is counting on us to be a healing and helping counterforce. And once again, we Christians are going to need the fullness of God’s Holy Spirit to help us have wise and controlled speech. I try to imagine Jesus by my side, seeing and hearing what I’m experiencing. I think about how I can imitate Him. I want my words to be kind and honest. I want to be sensitive, but bold when necessary. If I’ve earned someone’s trust, I can speak deeper truths and offer challenges to them. If I listen well, I can be helpful in building others up after they’ve been torn down. I want to use my voice so people know they’re seen and appreciated. I want to say out loud, many times and in many ways, that God loves them. I want to bless those who’ve been cursed and hurt by others and with God’s help bless those who’ve cursed and hurt me. I don’t say that lightly. You and I can only be obedient if we’re humble, available, and prayerful.
Prayer is the third teaching Jesus shares with us. We’re to pray for those who mistreat us. I once heard a minister tell their parishioner that, no, they shouldn’t pray for their scoundrel of an ex-husband, who was again delinquent in paying child support, to be hit and killed by a car over the weekend. God wants us to pray for those who’ve wronged us because God wants to see them transformed, turning away from past, hurtful behaviors and beliefs. If we don’t pray for such people, honestly, who else will? God wants us to intercede on their behalf as sincerely as if we were praying for people we love, hoping that one day they’ll have a relationship with God. That is incredibly hard for us. I’d suggest finding an accountability partner because if left up only to us, we’ll likely fall short.
This final teaching is the hardest of the three for me; I’d prefer to opt out of this one because when I pray, I’m transparent before God. I can’t hide my reluctance, resistance, or rage. Has someone really hurt you in the past? I confess I’ve prayed vengefully, like this: “Almighty God, you who right wrongs, and redeem your people from the pity of their misery, You who desire peace on earth, I ask that this individual have a brain embolism, fatal heart attack, or they fall down the stairs. Tonight. However you choose, Lord, zap them. Amen.”
I am not proud of this later on, but in the moment, I don’t want mercy or a bit of grace for those who’ve done terrible wrongs. Eventually, with God’s help, I put myself at the starting block and start praying for someone who’s caused me great pain. The first several times I tend to tense up my shoulders or clench my teeth. I pray the briefest of prayers. As I discipline myself to keep praying, I wrestle with God who knows my pain. As God reveals His perspective to me, I begin to find peace. In due time I heal. It may take months or long years, but my heart is cleansed. I am set free. Can you see how God blesses us when we bless those who don’t deserve it?
That is what Jesus’ ministry is going to be all about. We’re seeing just the start of it. Come back next week and you’ll hear more of Jesus’ teachings, including what we should do if we’re struck on one cheek, or if we’re cheated. There are more unexpected surprises - epiphanies - yet to come!