Luke 6:27-38 (NRSV)
Read Luke 6:27-38 on biblegateway.com
Verse 27"But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, Verse 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. Verse 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. Verse 30Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Verse 31Do to others as you would have them do to you. Verse 32"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. Verse 33If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. Verse 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. Verse 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. Verse 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Verse 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; Verse 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."
Devotion
But I say to you, admonishes Jesus, "love ..., do good ..., bless ..., pray ..."—not only for those who treat you well, those you want to keep close. Love your enemies—those who hate you, curse you, abuse you, hurt you, steal from you. Love every one of them. And then, as if to say, "Really! I mean it!" Jesus summarizes all the acts of love he just named: "Do to others as you would have them do to you."
This teaching, often called the Golden Rule, appears in many of the world's religions. In itself, the instruction is not remarkable. What is astonishing about Jesus' lesson is the underlying reason he gives for loving our neighbor: our God is a merciful God. To those who harm us, we offer clothing, food, comfort—the tender care we ourselves want to receive, the generosity showered on us daily by the Most High.
Prayer
O Lord Jesus, make us instruments of your peace, granting that we may endeavor to console. Amen.