WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES?

Luke 6:27 (ESV)  “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 abuse you. 
29  To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 
30  Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 
31  And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 

Very few of us have taken the time to really understand the depth of this passage. Aren't we tempted to just skim through the passage and recognize the fact that we need to love everyone even if they are not nice to us? If we look closer at the wording, we will find this passage even more challenging to obey and also have a better understanding of how much we need Jesus Christ.

TRUE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS ARE SUPPOSED TO SET THE EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW.

Looking at the phrases one at a time, we will see what kind of example we are supposed to be setting for others.

 

"Love your enemies," 

The word used for "love" here is the Greek word, agapao [ag-ap-ah'-o], which means "to seek the highest good in the one loved."  [The Bible Knowledge Commentary] Perhaps you are more familiar with the noun form of this word which is agape. Some people explain agape as a "God-kind of love". Agape is a much higher form of love than the Greek word, "phileō" which means to "to be a friend to, have affection for". Now contrast agape to the Greek word used here, "echthros" for enemies and you will discover that it means "to hate, to be hostile, an adversary". JESUS IS SAYING THAT WE ARE TO SEEK THE HIGHEST GOOD IN THOSE WHO ARE HATEFUL AND HOSTILE TO US. Let that sink in for a minute. That person who is hateful to you and acts hostile towards you is the very person that Jesus is telling you to love.

"do good to those who hate you"

Now we have the "kalōs" which means "well (usually morally)…honestly" and "miseō" which means "to detest (especially to persecute)". JESUS IS SAYING THAT WE ARE TO TREAT PEOPLE WELL EVEN IF THEY DETEST US AND TRY TO PERSECUTE US. Look at what Jesus said in Matthew 10:22 (ESV)  and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. If we are true followers of Jesus and we living like Jesus, then we are going to rejected and hated like Jesus was.

"bless those who curse you" 

The original word for “bless” as it is used here is "eulogeō" which means "to speak well of... to bless (thank or invoke a benediction upon, prosper)". The word "curse" is from "kataraomai" and means "to curse, doom, imprecate [OR CALL FORTH] evil upon". JESUS IS SAYING THAT WE ARE TO SPEAK WELL OF PEOPLE AND PRAY FOR THEM EVEN IF THEY ARE ASKING FOR EVIL TO FALL DOWN UPON US.

"pray for those who abuse you." 

"Proseuchomai" is the Greek word used for pray in this passage and it means to "pray earnestly for". The "epēreazō" is the Greek word for "abuse" and it means "to insult, slander:— use despitefully, falsely accuse" JESUS IS SAYING THAT WE ARE TO PRAY EARNESTLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE INSULTING US AND FALSELY ACCUSING US.

"To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also" 

JESUS IS SAYING THAT WE ARE NOT TO SEEK RETALIATION OR REVENGE. Read these next passages and see what you discover. 

• Romans 12:17 (ESV)  Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20  To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
• 1 Peter 2:19 (ESV)  For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20  For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21  For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22  He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23  When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

"and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30  Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back."

JESUS IS ALSO SAYING THAT WE ARE TO GIVE GENEROUSLY EVEN WHEN WE FEEL THAT WE ARE BEING RIPPED OFF. Why would Jesus say that? Because when we give, we are following God's example and we are to focus on pleasing Him instead of trying to keep score with those around us.

"And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them." 

JESUS IS SAYING THAT WE ARE TO TREAT OTHERS AS WE WOULD HAVE THEM TREAT US. Many people call this the Golden Rule. But let's be really honest here. How many of us are really doing a great job with the Golden Rule? How many of us are loving our enemies the way that Jesus was describing? How many of us are truly blessing those who are trying to curse us?

SO HOW CAN WE LIVE OUT THIS PASSAGE?

Before we answer that question, read two more passages of scripture.

• Romans 5:1 (ESV)  Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2  Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3  Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5  and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
• Galatians 5:22 (ESV)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25  If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. 

How do these passages answer the question "How do we love our enemies?" and the other phrases we looked at earlier?

1. BY REMEMBERING THE GRACE THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED. Romans 5:2  Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand--I have sinned, you have sinned, everyone of us have sinned. We need to remember that before we start to look down on somebody else. What if God was only as merciful to us as we are to other folks? What is He was only as forgiving to us as we are to others? Remember that grace that God has shown you and then show that kind of grace to others.
2. BY REJOICING IN ALL SITUATIONS. Romans 5:2-3 and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3  Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings-- This doesn't mean that we are glad that someone hates us or that we are having a problem with someone but it does mean that even during our hard times, we are rejoicing in the fact that God is with us and will take care of us.
3. BY RECOGNIZING THE BENEFITS OF SUFFERING WHICH ARE ENDURANCE, CHARACTER AND HOPE. Romans 5:3-4 knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope-- Though we do not want to have trials and stressful situations, we need to remember that we grow stronger through them. We have more endurance, stronger character and brighter hope to help us get through the next battle.
4. BY DESIRING MORE OF THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT TO BE EVIDENT IN OUR LIVES. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.-- This is what God is looking for in each one of us. These qualities enable us to love those who are hateful towards us and wish the worst for us. As we focus on God instead our "enemies", we will please God more through our thoughts, words and deeds.
5. BY LIVING IN THE SPIRIT AND NOT OF THE FLESH. Galatians 5:24-25  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25  If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.-- Romans chapter 8 is a great passage to give more explanation to this section of scripture. Look at Romans 8:1-11. 
6. BY NOT BEING CONCEITED, AGITATING OR ENVIOUS. Galatians 5:26  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.-- Isn't it easier to get upset with someone who is arrogant towards you and agitating you than it is with someone who is humble and giving you some privacy? Sure. This verse tells us not to be arrogant, agitating or envious towards anyone else because it only leads to problems. 

Loving our enemies is obviously not easy but Jesus commanded us to do so. Who are you having a hard time loving right now? Would you pray about that situation and ask God to help you reconcile it? Would you pray for that person who has offended you and ask God to bless them? Remember, if we don't forgive others, God won't forgive us.