Are You Kidding, Jesus?
These are some thoughts about this coming Sunday's gospel that were sent to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church. Please feel free to be part of the conversation. I'd love to hear your feedback.
It isn’t always easy to love people, especially those closest to us like family. That’s one thing, but here Jesus is calling on his followers to love enemies, to do good to those who hate us and pray for abusers and he is not referring to abusive spouses or partners. What Jesus is saying is just over the top and it’s beyond what any of us is capable of doing!
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Gospel: Luke 6:27-38
[Jesus said:] 27“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father 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; 38give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
32“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father 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; 38give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
It isn’t always easy to love people, especially those closest to us like family. That’s one thing, but here Jesus is calling on his followers to love enemies, to do good to those who hate us and pray for abusers and he is not referring to abusive spouses or partners. What Jesus is saying is just over the top and it’s beyond what any of us is capable of doing!
Jesus doesn’t simply tell us what to do, but he illustrates it with examples in verses 29 and 30. Then he wraps it up with the Golden Rule, giving the basis for such behavior.
Jesus next talks about relating to those who are our friends. That’s an easy thing to do “For even sinners love those who love them” (v. 32). Jesus concludes these ideas with the command to be as merciful as our heavenly Father. What!? Again, that’s just not doable. We aren’t God! This is where we must remind ourselves that God calls us to the impossible because God is the one at work within us and through us to do the things God desires of us. We can’t, so God does!
Let us pray:
Dear Lord, we so often take things upon ourselves that are your responsibility. We chafe at your commands and explain them away as meaning something else entirely. Use us as your instruments of love, good and blessing to all we meet.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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