27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do 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 repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:27-36)
Here the Lord Jesus teaches those who listen to His word to love their enemies, do good to them, to bless those who curse them, and to pray for those who mistreat them. He calls people not to retaliate, but to overcome evil with good. The Old Testament teaching was: eye for eye, tooth for tooth (Exodus 21:24), and Love your neighbor and hate your enemy (Matthew 5:43). The Lord Jesus tells people to love their enemies. He goes on to say: If you love only those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you love only those who love you, you are no different from sinners. The Lord Jesus Himself practiced this teaching by praying for His enemies on the cross (Luke 23:34). He continues: Lend to others without expecting repayment. Then your reward will be great. Here the Lord Jesus teaches that giving without expecting anything in return from people will receive reward from Him. By loving our enemies, we will be children of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. We see God’s great love and mercy, we are to be merciful, just as our heavenly Father is merciful, and we are to follow the example of the Lord Jesus
