Sometimes we think we are turning the other cheek, when in essence we are not. An old Chinese proverb says, "If your enemy wrongs you, buy each of his children a drum." If you are an American, buy the children of your enemy a whistle. If you have any kids, you will know that these gifts are not a blessing to the parent. I have shared this before, but I really like the story about a truck driver who dropped in at an all-night restaurant in Broken Bow, Nebraska. The waitress had just served him when three swaggering, leather-jacketed motorcyclists -- of the Hell's Angels type -- entered and rushed up to him, apparently spoiling for a fight. One grabbed the hamburger off his plate; another took a handful of his French fries; and the third picked up his coffee and began to drink it. The trucker did not respond as one might expect. Instead, he calmly rose, picked up his check, walked to the front of the room, put the check and his money on the cash register, and went out the door. The waitress followed him to put the money in the cash register and stood, watching out the door as the big truck drove away into the night. When she returned, one of the cyclists said to her, "Well, he's not much of a man, is he?" She replied, "I can't answer as to that, but he's not much of a truck driver. He just ran over three motorcycles out in the parking lot." In essence, the truck driver did not really turn the other cheek, did he?
To turn the cheek and forgive someone involves three things.
1. First, it means to forego the right of striking back. One rejects the urge to repay negativity with negativity, gossip with gossip and a bad turn with a worse turn.
2. Second, it means replacing the feeling of resentment and anger with good will, a love which seeks the other's welfare, not harm.
3. Third, it means the forgiving person takes concrete steps to restore good relations. Going the second mile when we are attacked and abused is not easy, going the first mile is not easy, but it can be done; by yielding our claims and rights to the Lord and letting Him care for our problems… For we belong to Him… (Adapted from Luke 6:27-38 Precept Austin Commentary)
The phrase "love your enemies" is a well-known teaching of Jesus found in the New Testament in Luke’s Gospel and in Matthew’s Gospel…
In Matthew 5, Christ says:
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies…
In Luke 6:
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies…
'Love Your Enemies' Meaning
This teaching is one of the central ethical principles in Christian theology and has profound implications for how Christians are called to live and relate to others. Here's what "love your enemies" means in a biblical context:
Agape Unconditional Love: Loving your enemies means showing mercy and kindness to those who oppose and mistreat you. It sounds impossible. It's a call to love without imposing conditions, irrespective of how they treat you personally. (This unconditional love does not equate to pacifism or becoming a doormat, as Christians are still expected to defend the innocent and act in accordance with the truth of God without hate.)
Act of Will: It's not merely an emotional feeling but an act of the will. Treating your enemies with compassion, forgiveness, and empathy involves a deliberate choice.
Prayer: Besides loving your enemies, Jesus encourages his followers to pray for them. This means seeking God's blessings and well-being for those who may wish harm upon you. It's a way of acknowledging that God's grace extends to all, including those who oppose you.
Imitating God: Jesus teaches that loving one's enemies reflects the character of God. God's love is often described as unconditional and all-encompassing, extending even to those who have sinned against Him. Christians are called to imitate this divine love.
Overcoming Evil: Loving your enemies is a powerful way to overcome evil with good. By responding to hostility or hatred with love and forgiveness, Christians aim to break the cycle of revenge and promote reconciliation and peace.
Christian Witness: When Christians love their enemies, it can be a powerful testimony to their faith. It demonstrates the transformative power of Christ's teachings and the ability of His followers to respond to challenging situations with grace.
It's important to note that Jesus' command to "love your enemies" challenges conventional wisdom… It goes beyond natural inclinations and human tendencies for retaliation and is a fundamental principle of Christian ethics. The goal is to promote forgiveness, reconciliation, and extending God's love to all, regardless of someone’s actions or attitudes.
God, who is love, has called us to love... including our enemy.
How To 'Love Our Enemies'
"How" is of the utmost importance. We aren’t able to love our enemies without the help of God. Hating an enemy is what comes naturally; Anticipating and planning for the time of retribution. We need supernatural help. If we try to love our enemies apart from the help of God, it will not lead us on the path of agape love.
Only by God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us can we love our enemies.
We can only love our enemies by trusting God to help us.
Why Should We Love Enemies?
There are two reasons for us to love our enemies. One is simply because God said to, but the other is because God loved us first.
When we were still God’s enemies (Colossians 1:21 and Romans 5:10), God demonstrated His love for us. Through Jesus (Romans 5:8), God’s love brought mercy and salvation to us.
Love is what makes all the difference.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to propitiate our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 1
John 4:10-11
Loving others, even enemies flows out of knowing love.
What Does it Mean to Love Our Enemies?
In the two portions of scripture where Jesus elaborates on what He means by loving our enemies, He draws it to a conclusion….
The conclusion Jesus brings it to is for us to be like our Heavenly Father, Who is perfect and merciful. The word perfect can make us cringe due to our humanity. Only God is perfect. But the word perfect in the original Greek means complete. It comes from a primary word meaning to set out for a definite point or goal. Jesus is saying for us to make it our goal to love as our Heavenly Father loves.
Jesus brought up the issue of mercy repeatedly. Everyone wants mercy. The Bible tells us that mercy triumphs over judgment. Of course, we want it. Giving mercy requires us to give up revenge and hand the judgment part to God. Loving our enemies doesn’t mean allowing them to continue to hurt us. That would be a failure to love ourselves as God loves us. We can act to protect ourselves and our integrity (turn the other cheek, go the extra mile) while trusting God to step in.
We can always pray for our enemies. Praying is an act of mercy. Praying is loving like our Heavenly Father. Praying changes our hearts.
I remember when the Lord directed me to speak a blessing over someone who brought harm to a family member. With tears streaming down my face and pain in my soul, I did. The person continued acting as an enemy, but it broke the chain off my heart. The love of God saved me from bitterness and unforgiveness.
Loving our enemies means seeing them as human beings in need of God’s Amazing Love.
Adapted from “Understanding the Biblical Concept of 'Love Your Enemies” by
Danielle Bernock - award-winning author and speaker who helps people embrace their value and heal their souls through the power of the love of God.
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MAY GOD’S BLESS US TO GROW AND THRIVE – IN 2025!
May God Bless you and yours as we journey in this Epiphany Season…
As we see, appreciate and embrace the Great Gift of God with us
May God’s Spirit empower us to
“expect great things from God and to attempt great things for God”…
and
May God Continue to Bless Union Church!
-Pastor Mark
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