You are my friends if you do what I command. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:12-14 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. No one expresses the love we most need more than Jesus Christ. The ability to have this capability begins with recognizing the source of this kind of love. This cannot be done in our own strength, but it can be done through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Wiersbe: Hatred only breeds more hatred, “for man’ anger does not bring about the righteous life that Godĭesires” ( James 1:20). We normally treat an enemy the way we were treated. We live in a violent time that is shaken by racism, injustice, crime, and brutality. It’s a time when we all have a megaphone shaped like a keyboard. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.Īmong the teachings of Jesus, I can hardly think of one that is more complex or difficult than loving our enemies. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.ģ0 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.ģ1 Do to others as you would have them do to you.ģ2 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.ģ3 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.ģ4 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.ģ5 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. Today’s passage is one that demonstrates this.Ģ7 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,Ģ8 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. It is the most unnatural thing in the world to love someone who has hurt you - someone who is an enemy in some respect - but that is what Jesus calls us to in our text. Jesus demonstrated, ultimately at the cross, the principle that found a center place in his life and ministry.

Our text today does make us uncomfortable. Many of the teachings of Jesus are uncomfortable and feel unnatural - He is calling us to live the Jesus life. Following Jesus requires us to accept his invitation and to hear his teachings and ways.

Love your enemies verse luke