Jesus Teaches How to Live

GOLDEN TEXT: “As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” —Luke 6:31

LUKE 6:27-38

A RECOGNIZED church writer, commenting on this lesson, asks, “Why not determine that until the end of this year, at least, you will apply Christ’s teachings to every situation of your life?” This was addressed to church people, and is a tacit acknowledgment that more than nineteen centuries after Christ instructed his disciples to love their enemies, many of his professed followers are not doing so, and need to be admonished to try it out, at least for a few weeks.

It is a heart-searching sermon that Jesus preached to his disciples. Certainly no nation on earth has ever attempted to be guided by its principles. Instead of loving their enemies, nations teach their soldiers to hate and to kill. Indeed, the more hatred toward his enemies that can be engendered in the heart of a soldier, the easier it is for him to kill.

But these instructions were not given for the guidance of nations during this Gospel age, although the principles involved will apply to all mankind during the kingdom age. The Prophet Micah foretold this. He wrote that many nations would say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain [kingdom] of the Lord, … and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: … and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”—Micah 4:2,3

Note that when the nations learn the Lord’s ways they will not learn war, nor will they go to war. It was the Lord’s ways that Jesus taught his disciples nineteen centuries ago when he told them that they should love their enemies, and do good unto them, not evil. Jesus knew that these instructions would not, during the present age, be heeded by the world; but he did expect his consecrated footstep followers to be guided by them, and they have been.

Jesus himself was guided by these principles of love. This was true also of his Heavenly Father who sent him, and who gave him to die for the sin-cursed and dying world. The entire human race was at enmity with God, estranged from him through wicked works, yet God loved his human creation, and gave his Son that the people might live. Jesus was filled and controlled by this same spirit of love and self-sacrifice, and willingly laid down his life, even for those who reviled and persecuted him.

Jesus explained that those who would be his disciples must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow him; that is, they, too, must be willing to lay down their lives for those who hate them. The reason for this is that the followers of Jesus are being tested as to their worthiness to be associated with Jesus in his kingdom work of enlightening the people and restoring them to life. It is necessary, therefore, that they have the same spirit of love for all as that possessed by the Heavenly Father and by his beloved Son.

The Apostle Peter expresses the same thought in a slightly different way, saying: “If, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also once suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.”—I Pet. 2:20-23

Jesus said, “If ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.” (Luke 6:33) This does not mean that we are not to do good to those who love us. Paul wrote that we are to do good “unto all men,” and especially unto “the household of faith.” (Gal. 6:10) The household of faith is the family of God, our brethren whom we love, and who love us. Jesus said that we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. Every Christian considers this a privilege.

What Jesus meant was that our love must extend beyond those who love us, that we must be willing and ready to do good to all, even our enemies. This is indeed a severe test of Christian love. Jesus passed this test victoriously, and thus overcame the selfish, hateful spirit of the world. By his strength, and with the Holy Spirit filling our hearts, we also will be able to do it.

Jesus used a very simple illustration of how this principle of divine love should operate—“Unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.” (vs. 29) To the worldly-wise this seems very impractical advice, but if sincerely practiced it would do much to turn enemies into friends.

QUESTIONS

To whom were Jesus’ instructions concerning loving one’s enemies given?

Will the nations ever be instructed in the true ways of love and peace?

Have the true followers of Jesus during the Gospel age followed his instructions to love their enemies?

Explain the broad sense in which Jesus loved his enemies?

Why is it essential that the disciples of Christ now learn and practice the principles of divine love?

Would it be advisable in this “present evil world” to practice Jesus’ instructions to “turn the other cheek”?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |