“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.
“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return. Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.”
Luke 6:27-35
What an interesting statement and passage we have here. There are many interesting things in this section but I am going to treat it differently from what I normally do in Bible Gems. I will make two observations to begin with and then I am going to do something I normally reserve for Deeper Bible. Take time to really absorb the passage and listen with that inner part of you. Use your right brain, your reflective side, your emotions and your imagination rather than your analytical left brain. Let this passage sink in. Soak in it and let it wash over you.
Now for the two comments I wish to make.
Notice the adversative “but” at the beginning. This is set in contrast to those to whom the woes were addressed. In all likelihood the focus comes back to the disciples. It is like Jesus has lifted his head to look at all the others in the crowd for the woes and then returns to direct these comments to the disciples. He says “to you who are willing to listen”. Normally Jesus’ refrain is “Let him who has ears let him hear.” But in this case He addresses “those willing to listen”. We assume all can hear, but not all listen. Really listen attentively. Take time to really “listen” to the passage. In fact read it aloud to yourself so your ears hear it Then listen with your heart; listen with your inner being.
So as to not let anything get in your way I am only going to give one quote today. I don’t want you musing on other things. Just listen to this passage. Afterwards write to me and tell me what happened. What you heard perhaps for the first time. What did God say to you?
It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.
Mark Twain