While Jesus’ teaching on marriage may be more controversial to our modern society, it is His command that we love our enemies that has to be the most difficult for anyone to put into practice. For all of us, even Christians, tend to love in the way that verses 32-34 describe. It’s natural for us to reserve our love for those whom we expect to love us in return. It’s only common sense to do good to those we expect to do good to us, and to lend to those who we think are able to pay us back. It’s only reasonable to look out for yourself first, right?

Well, not if you want to love the way God loves. If we want to act like our Heavenly Father, we have to be kind even to ungrateful and evil people – for isn’t that the way God has treated all of us? Didn’t Jesus come to a world full of sinners who despised Him and rejected Him? Didn’t all of His disciples betray Him and abandon Him and deny Him? If Jesus loved the way we love, if He only cared for those who cared for Him, none of us would have been saved.

So, if we want to be like Jesus, we have to do the same kind of thing that He did – giving ourselves not to our friends but to our enemies. For even though at any time He could have put a stop to all the abuse He endured, even though He could have come down from the cross, He chose the whip and the crown of thorns and the nails and the spear. And He went through all that suffering, He died because He loves not the deserving, but undeserving sinners like all of us.

So, instead of looking at verses 27-31 as somehow weird or strange, let’s consider them the most practical, real-world ways that we can truly follow Jesus, imitating Him in every way. And let’s look for opportunities to truly give all that we are and all that we have so that others might have what they need, showing mercy to everyone the way God has shown it to us.

Luke 6:27-36 (NASB)

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 mistreat you.
29 “Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.
30 “Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.
31 “And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way.
32 “And if you love those who love you, what credit 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 credit 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, in order to receive 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 Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
36 “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.