Love Your Enemies: The Radical Call of the King’s Sermon
Love Your Enemies: The Radical Call of the King’s Sermon
In Luke 6:27-29a, part of Jesus’ transformative “King’s Sermon,” He delivers a command that challenges every instinct: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” These words, echoed in Matthew 5:38-48, are not just counterintuitive—they’re revolutionary. Jesus calls His disciples to a love that defies human nature, a love that reflects the heart of God in a world steeped in hostility. How do we live this out in a culture that thrives on retaliation?
The context of this teaching is critical. In Jesus’ day, Rome occupied Israel, imposing heavy taxes and stripping the Jews of autonomy, fueling resentment. Religiously, the Pharisees and scribes distorted God’s Law, teaching that Leviticus 19:18—“love your neighbor as yourself”—applied only to fellow Jews, permitting hatred toward outsiders like the Romans. This created a culture of moral superiority and division. Jesus, speaking to His disciples (Luke 6:20), corrects this distortion, addressing those who follow Him and, by extension, believers today. His words aren’t a general call to humanity but a directive for those committed to His kingdom.
Jesus’ command to love enemies isn’t about feelings but actions. Our natural response to harm is retaliation—an eye for an eye, as seen when a child at a family reunion is told to “hit back” after being struck. Yet Jesus demands a different response: do good, bless, and pray for those who hate you. This is especially poignant given the preceding verses (Luke 6:22-23), where Jesus describes persecution—hatred, exclusion, insults, and rejection—faced “because of the Son of Man.” When you bear Christ’s name, some will despise you, seeking to silence or harm you because your faith challenges their worldview.
Consider modern examples. A young woman in 2022 tore pages from a Bible and ate them, an act of raw contempt for God’s Word. Christians in Nigeria face violent attacks, like Evie, assaulted for her faith. In China, bookstore owner Chen Yu was imprisoned for selling Christian materials. Closer to home, you might face pressure to conform to cultural norms—like displaying a Pride flag at work—or be labeled a bigot for your beliefs. These are the enemies Jesus speaks of: those who hate, curse, or abuse you for your allegiance to Him.
What does loving them look like? Jesus lists three actions: do good, bless, and pray. “Do good” echoes Proverbs 25:21-22, which Paul repeats in Romans 12:20: if your enemy is hungry, feed them; if thirsty, give them water. This countercultural kindness—offering help to those who harm you—disarms hostility with the power of Christ’s love. “Bless those who curse you” means speaking well of them, recognizing their inherent worth as God’s image-bearers, even when they slander you. The Greek word for “bless” relates to “eulogy,” suggesting words of honor rather than retaliation. “Pray for those who abuse you” calls for intercession, not just endurance, for those who insult or threaten you because of your faith.
Jesus often uses hyperbole to drive His point home, as seen in Matthew 5:29-30, where He speaks of gouging out eyes to avoid sin—not a literal command but a call to radical purity. Similarly, “turn the other cheek” (Luke 6:29a; Matthew 5:39) isn’t about physical passivity. In Jesus’ culture, a slap on the right cheek implied a backhanded insult, not a fistfight. It’s about enduring verbal or social slights for Christ’s sake without seeking vengeance. Jesus Himself modeled this in John 18:22-23, responding to a strike with calm reproof, not retaliation. This isn’t a call to remain in abusive situations—like a woman enduring domestic violence—but to resist personal vengeance when persecuted for faith.
Why is this so hard? Because it’s unnatural. We want to fight back, to curse those who curse us. Yet Jesus, who was hated, cursed, and crucified, modeled this love, praying from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). His example is our empowerment. Through the Holy Spirit, believers have the strength to obey these commands, not in their own power but in Christ’s. As one commentator notes, Jesus addresses the “engine of the will,” not the “caboose of feelings.” Loving actions often lead to transformed hearts.
Imagine the impact: a co-worker who mocks your faith is stunned when you help them in a crisis. A classmate who calls you a bigot is disarmed by your kind words. Your prayers for an abuser might lead them to repentance. This love, rooted in Christ’s strength, can change hearts and glorify God. So, who is God bringing to mind? That person who opposes you for your faith? Commit to do good, speak well, and pray for them. It’s not easy, but with Christ’s power, it’s possible—and it’s the path to true blessing.
