LOVING OUR ENEMIES

LUKE 6:27-36

But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat,

LUKE 6:27-36

don’t hold back your shirt either. Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back. Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. If you love those who love you, what credit is

LUKE 6:27-36

that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do what is 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 to receive, what credit is that to you?

LUKE 6:27-36

Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High.

LUKE 6:27-36

For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

LUKE 6:27-36

1. WHO IS OUR ENEMY?

Be sober minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.

1 PETER 5:8

JESUS’ DESCRIBES OUR ENEMIES:1. Those who hate you.

But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you.

LUKE 6:27

“Hatred can refer to an intense desire or choice that someone would suffer, would be judged, or that they be ruined or destroyed.”

John Piper

JESUS’ DESCRIBES OUR ENEMIES:1. Those who hate you.

2. Those who curse you.

Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

LUKE 6:28

The Greek word is KATARAOMAI; it means to doom.

JESUS’ DESCRIBES OUR ENEMIES:1. Those who hate you.

2. Those who curse you.

3. Those who mistreat you.

Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

LUKE 6:28

JESUS’ DESCRIBES OUR ENEMIES:1. Those who hate you.

2. Those who curse you.

3. Those who mistreat you.

4. Those who hit you on the cheek.

If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either.

LUKE 6:29

Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

ACTS 23:1-2

JESUS’ DESCRIBES OUR ENEMIES:1. Those who hate you.

2. Those who curse you.

3. Those who mistreat you.

4. Those who hit you on the cheek.

5. Those who take your coat.

If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either.

LUKE 6:29

If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest. If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, return it by sunset,

EXODUS 22:25-27

because that cloak is the only covering your neighbor has. What else can they sleep in? When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.

EXODUS 22:25-27

JESUS’ DESCRIBES OUR ENEMIES:1. Those who hate you.

2. Those who curse you.

3. Those who mistreat you.

4. Those who hit you on the cheek.

5. Those who take your coat.

6. Those who take your things.

Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back.

LUKE 6:30

2. WHO IS NOT OUR ENEMY?

Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

PROVERBS 27:6

Proverbs warns us that a friend tells us what we need to hear, even if it causes a deep wound – but an enemy tells us what we want to hear, even if it’s to our own detriment.

Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

PSALM 141:5

“A true friend stabs. A friend who really loves you will wound you if it’s necessary.”

Adrian Rogers

3. HOW WE ARE SUPPOSED TO TREAT OUR ENEMIES?

TWO KEY INSTRUCTIONS:1. Love your enemies.

But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you.

LUKE 6:27

Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth.

1 CORINTHIANS 13:6

Love: Being willing to go to great lengths in order to seek the greatest good of another person, regardless of whether they are seeking your good, or seeking your downfall.

But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

LUKE 6:27-28

ALLOWS EVIL TO PERSIST:a. People walking in wickedness have

justified themselves.

ALLOWS EVIL TO PERSIST:a. People walking in wickedness have

justified themselves.

b. When an enemy strikes us, or goes after us, or mistreats us – we don’t respond like Jesus.

THE CYCLE:When you retaliate, you allow people to remain deceived and self-justified, and evil is never really dealt with.

TWO KEY INSTRUCTIONS:1. Love your enemies.

2. Be merciful as your Father is merciful.

Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

LUKE 6:36

IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE TYPE OF MERCY JESUS IS

POINTING US TOWARD, THEN WE MUST UNDERSTAND THE MERCY

OF GOD THE FATHER.

GOD’S MERCY SEEKS A SOLUTION TO EVIL OTHER

THAN THE FINAL SOLUTION, WHICH IS JUDGEMENT.

Therefore, every one of you who judges is without excuse. For when you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth.

ROMANS 2:1-4

Do you really think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

ROMANS 2:1-4

But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath.

ROMANS 5:8-10

For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.

ROMANS 5:8-10

But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil.

LUKE 6:35

there’s not a single thing you possess today that is

more valuable than a single thing you will

possess in heaven.

ApplicationSeek the good of the one you have been hurt by.