Love Is …

MEMORY VERSE: “As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.” —Luke 6:31, RSV

LUKE 6:27-38

TODAY’S lesson contains truths similar to those expressed by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount. Many students, in fact, think of Luke 6:20-49 as being his record of that sermon. Luke 6:17, however, seems to suggest that this sermon was given on a plain, rather than on a mountain. The fact that the thoughts expressed are similar, and the language in places almost identical, does not militate against this thought, for Jesus might well have used the same subject matter more than once.

While Jesus witnessed to the general public by word of mouth and by the miracles he performed, the sermon recorded by Luke seems to have been addressed more particularly to his disciples, being instructions as to how they should deport themselves, and what their motives should be as they went about witnessing for Jesus and his coming kingdom.—Luke 6:20

Jesus instructed his disciples to love their enemies, and to do good to those who hated them. “Bless them that curse you,” he continued, “and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth you on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.”

“As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” This is a slightly different statement of the Golden Rule as given in the sermon reported by Matthew. However, this “rule” does not give the full will of God for the dedicated followers of Jesus. He said on another occasion, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.”—Luke 9:23

The Golden Rule expresses the principle of justice in dealing with others, and this should guide us in all our contacts with our fellows. But beyond this is the privilege we have of exemplifying love in laying down our lives to benefit others, especially in witnessing to them the glorious Gospel of the kingdom. Jesus said to his disciples that they should love one another as he had loved them, and he gave his life for them and for the whole world of mankind.

Jesus explained that no credit would accrue to those who loved merely those who loved them. In Jesus’ day even the publicans and sinners did this, and non-Christians throughout the age have continued to do this. God’s standard of love for the followers of Christ calls for the exercise of love toward those who do not love them, and those who might even hate them and endeavor to do evil to them.

This is a high standard, but it is the way that God deals with mankind in general. He loved the selfish sinful world so much that he gave his only begotten Son to die for the people, and thus to provide redemption from sin and death. In so far as possible we are to be like God and like Jesus, who willingly gave his life that the world of sinners might, in God’s due time, be given an opportunity to live.

The exercise of love toward the unthankful and the sinners is an act of mercy. Jesus said, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” In his sermon on the Mount Jesus reminds us that the Heavenly Father causes the rain to fall and the sun to shine on the unjust as well as on the just, and admonishes us thus to be “perfect,” or all-inclusive in the bestowing of our blessings.

We are not to judge others. Jesus is the great future judge of the world, and if we are faithful in following him in this life we will have the privilege of being associate judges with him in the world’s coming judgment day. But for the present we are to refrain from passing judgment on others, but instead to overlook what to our imperfect minds might seem like flaws in their character. This is a real test upon many Christians. We are often too quick to judge others.

QUESTIONS

To whom did Jesus address the deep truths of this lesson?

Are Christians to love only those who love them?

When will faithful Christians be privileged to judge the world?

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