Jesus Challenges His Followers To Improve

Jesus says in Luke 6:27…

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

The crowds listening that day had never heard anything so outrageous.  “Love my enemies – the Roman soldiers who mistreat us every single day?  The Gentiles who want nothing to do with us?”

What would Jesus say to us today?  Love the atheists?  Love the Muslims?  Love those who are different than I am?  Love those who lead an entirely different lifestyle than I do?  Yes!

Luke 6:28…

28 “bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

Instead of retaliating, cursing, and flipping the bird at them, pray for them.  Pray for everyone who opposes the name of Jesus and what he stands for.

Luke 6:29-30…

29 “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. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back.”

This is pretty challenging even for us in the 21st Century.  Don’t sue?  Don’t go after everything they have?  Don’t retaliate?  Yes!

Then Jesus says in Luke 6:31…

31 “Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them.”

Ahh… the Golden Rule.

These are very challenging truths.  And what makes a great speaker is someone who doesn’t just talk about it but does it – someone who walks the talk. And Jesus did.  All you’ve got to do is look at the cross where you see him turning the other cheek, praying for his enemies, giving more than was expected, and not retaliating.

In the following verses, Jesus challenges us to be countercultural, to step it up a notch, and to be better than the world around us.

Luke 6:32-37…

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 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 be repaid in full. 35 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. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. 37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

And he goes on to say, “Give generously because the measure that you use, God will use on you.”

Jesus is challenging us to be like God – full of mercy, full of generosity, and full of love.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.