Reciprocity

Luke 6:37-38

It was a beautiful day. It was not too hot, I am guessing, but if it was too hot people would have fainted from the heat. It was not windy, if it was windy the huge crowd would not have been able to hear His voice. Jesus walked and talked with the twelve every day, but occasions like this occurred only a few times. Huge crowds followed Him and He taught constantly. But this time, He was in a natural amphitheater where His voice would carry and the crowd was exceptionally large. 

Jesus sat for His lecture (Matthew 5:1), and He presented central truths for kingdom living. The truths He taught summarized the law and gave practical ways to apply the law. 

The kingdom is God’s kingdom. Living in the kingdom of God means one must obey or please God and get along with his fellow citizens. The law addresses these two different aspects of kingdom life by commanding love for God and love for our neighbor.

Loving our neighbors is an important part of kingdom living.

Since I brought up the kingdom, I want to define what I am talking about. The kingdom of God has both “now” and “not yet” aspects. When we ask Jesus to be our Savior, the Holy Spirit joins us to the Body of Christ. We become children of the kingdom. Right now, at this very moment, all of us who are children of God through faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ, are participating in, and are citizens of, the kingdom of God. The kingdom is a present reality, and we are to live as citizens of that kingdom. However, the kingdom is not of this world. The world is under the dominion of a different prince who is in opposition to, at war with, our prince. A time is coming, and is close at hand, when the prince of this world will be bound and our prince, Jesus, will come and rule on this earth. Then our “not yet” will become the “now” and the reality of that day. 

When Jesus reigns on earth, there will be justice and peace throughout the entire world. The earth will be prosperous as never before in history with no poverty, and life spans will be absurdly long. These things are coming but are not here yet. We are citizens of this kingdom and as such, our prince expects us to live by His laws.

It is important to understand that living by these laws does not make us citizens, and breaking these laws does not remove our citizenship. We are citizens by grace through faith. In other words, our citizenship is a gift because we believe in Jesus. Our citizenship is not lost if we break the law, but we are accountable to our king. He will ask us what we have done with our citizenship.

This time of inquiry, called judgment, is part of the reason these teachings of Jesus are so important. We will be asked to give an account of our lives. Jesus and the New Testament are not bashful about talking about rewards and treasures stored up in heaven.

Our king has told us we must love our neighbor. This is not optional. Love is mandatory.

As Jesus sat on the hillside that day along the shores of Galilee, He was not giving spiritual platitudes, but rather He was giving practical insight into how relationships work. As Jesus sat overlooking the Sea of Galilee, He taught us how to live in God’s creation. Part of this is to recognize the law of reciprocity. We find this in Luke 6:38 where Jesus says:

For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. (Luke 6:38 ESV)

What measure is He talking about?

If you purchase dry goods such as grain by the measure, say like a cup or a quart or even a bushel, shaking the measure will cause the contents to settle and then the measuring cup, bucket or basket will be able to hold more. When I make a bulk purchase and the seller shakes and fills the measure to its fullest possible capacity, I am pleased. I am pleased because I believe that the seller is trying to do right by me.

However, while the market place is definitely affected by this principle, Jesus is not teaching for the market place. He is teaching for the kingdom. The measure you use being measured back to you is talking about reciprocity. Wikipedia says the following about reciprocity:

 In social psychology, reciprocity is a social norm of responding to a positive action with another positive action, rewarding kind actions.

I would add to this definition that reciprocity is more than a social norm. It is a principle established by God at work in the universe and in relationships. While the definition speaks of kind actions, reciprocity works for unkind actions as well. Many of us learned this with our siblings and then had it confirmed for us in school. When we were children, if I punched my brother, I was sure to receive a blow in return. And I usually got back more than I gave. My brother is a nice guy and he believes in paying back with interest.

Jesus gave us several examples of how this works. 

First, He said,

Judge not, and you will not be judged; (Luke 6:37 ESV)

Consider the opposite of this statement. Implied here is that if you do judge you will be judged. This is the meaning of: “For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

This teaching follows immediately after Jesus’ statement:

Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:36 ESV)

Even though being merciful and not judging are closely related, at this point in the discourse Jesus is changing focus. He has been teaching that we are to love our enemies and do good to those who would harm us, and now he is adding to this our relationship with God. Practically speaking, reciprocity works everywhere, among unbelievers and believers alike. But this thing about judging becomes ominous because God is the final and only true judge. If we blame and criticize other people, they will turn and blame and criticize us right back. However, God says:

Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. (Romans 12:19 ESV)

Now, that is scary! God will do the “payback”! In another place it says:

Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? (James 4:11-12 ESV)

This passage raises a lot of issues, but I want to zero in on one subject. Notice first that it says there is only one lawgiver and judge and that is God. Therefore, if we set ourselves up as judge, we set ourselves up as God. As God, we have authority to fix blame and assess damages and inflict punishments. We don’t view ourselves as equal with others; rather we believe we are superior. Oh, we would never say it, but this is what this passage in James teaches us and this is also borne out by life, experience and study. Because of the law of reciprocity, when we treat others this way, we inspire or even cause them to act the same way toward us. I am not saying we are responsible for their behavior, only that we invite and even encourage them to judge, blame and criticize us in return for our doing the same to them.

Please follow me closely here and see if you disagree. If, for example, I judge my wife as being unreasonable and demanding, I have a corresponding need to justify myself. After all, I am judge and my judgments must be right. So, without knowing it, I set her up to be unreasonable and demanding as far as I am concerned. No matter what she does, I will find fault and proof that she is actually unreasonable and demanding. We do this to ourselves all the time and are blind to it because we tend to find fault with others and in so doing fail to look at ourselves and our part of the problem.

Others have problems, but as Jesus says in some of the verses that follow the passage we are considering, we cannot see clearly to pull the sliver out of another’s eye if we have a log in our own. This is a key concept. The only person you can control is yourself. The only person I can control is myself. But if I am focused on others and their faults, then I am not looking at me and my faults.

The key to stopping a vicious cycle of judging, blaming, criticizing and conflict is to stop judging. This is easier said than done, but there is a concept that can help. We can purposely begin to view people as equals, as having opinions, needs and feelings just as valid as ours. If we place ourselves in the place of gods and judges, the opinions, needs and feelings of others are not considered nor are they deemed as important as our own Loving your neighbor as yourself assumes that your neighbor is just as important as you are.

Now we have set the stage for the rest of what Jesus says in Luke 6:37-38. He says:

Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. (Luke 6:37-38 ESV)

When we condemn, we pass down a judgment or punishment in an exact or personal manner. The condemnation is the sentence imposed by our judgment.  This punishment inspires a response with interest from our fellow human beings, but what about God whose place it is to take vengeance? Do we think that God will recognize our authority or right to pass judgment on those who do the same things we do? When we judge and condemn others, we deceive ourselves in the worst possible way.

There is a positive side to the law of reciprocity and Jesus points out two acts of generosity and love that pay great dividends. First, He says, “...forgive and you will be forgiven.” In another place, Jesus says that if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us. Forgiveness leaves vengeance in the hands of the One to whom it belongs, God. Forgiveness also recognizes that I also have offended, hurt or caused damage to others for which I need to be forgiven lest I be condemned by the One lawgiver and judge. Forgiveness is an essential part of loving my neighbor as myself.

The second act of generosity Jesus points out is giving. If others have needs as legitimate as mine, then it only follows that I would give of what is mine to help meet those needs. It might be as simple as giving up my seat for someone who physically needs it more than I need it. It might be as generous as risking my life to protect the life of one weaker than myself. Jesus is the ultimate example of this in that He laid down His life to save us. This kind of generosity is not unknown in the world. Soldiers will give their lives for their friends. Policemen and firemen risk their lives for others. Doctors and nurses risk exposure to viruses and diseases for others. These risk physical life, but what about souls? People are eternal beings. Every single person will exist forever, either in heaven or in hell. What are we willing to risk for the souls of people? Can we consider ourselves generous if we are willing to let the lost perish when we have comfortable retirements saved up but no missionaries in our budgets? Can we consider ourselves generous when we can afford cable television and cell phones for the family, but cannot give 10% to God’s work? We need to examine our priorities in view of the kingdom and our place in it. You may be doing all that God has asked of you as a good steward and know that God will be the one to reward and recognize your generosity. But many of us deceive ourselves into thinking we are doing all that we can and in so doing miss out on the return that God promises, good measure, pressed down and running over. 

Mercy

Luke 6:32-36

According to Jesus, mercy is to be a part of all our relationships. 

He said, “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36 ESV)

Mercy is an uncommon practice. Many of us do not even know what the word means. Watch all the television shows, movies and videos on Netflix, CBS All Access and Disney Plus and you will see very little mercy. Mercy is not popular.

Jesus talked about mercy as part of His “Sermon on the Mount.” The introduction or opening of His discourse is as follows:

"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets." (Luke 6:20-26 ESV)

Jesus teaches exactly opposite of most of the teaching produced by the world. The world teaches the opposite of what I just read. The rich are considered successful in this world, but Jesus says, “Woe to you who are rich.” The world seeks to be full (fulfilled), but Jesus says, “Woe to you who are full.” The world seeks to laugh (be happy), but Jesus says, “Woe to you who laugh now.” All these things are the opposite of what we learn from this world.

Jesus is not teaching that we should not be rich, full and happy. He is teaching that we have the wrong idea of what rich, full and happy is. Consider, for example, what He means when He says, “... lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20 ESV) Jesus states the principle that He is teaching when He says:

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21 ESV)

This principle of the kingdom of God is behind Jesus’ teaching on relationships. His teaching is:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 ESV)

God gave two great all-encompassing commandments. The first one is:

“...You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37 ESV)

The second great commandment is:

“...You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39 ESV)

In the “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus teaches how to apply these two commandments. On loving our neighbor as ourselves, He says:

“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” (Luke 6:31 ESV)

In Luke 6:32-36, three verbs are repeated. Those verbs are: love, do good and lend. 

1. Luke 6:32 ESV:  “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you?”
2. Luke 6:33 ESV:  “And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you?”
3. Luke 6:34 ESV:  “And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you?”

These three verbs or actions first appear in Jesus’ discourse in the paragraph just prior to the paragraph recorded in Luke 6:32-36. In Luke 6:27-31, Jesus says, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you ... Give to everyone who begs from you.” Our three verbs appear here: Love...do good...lend. As He moves to the second part of His discourse, Jesus repeats these three verbs but this time He adds a statement to each one. That statement is “even sinners (love, do good, lend).” So, we end up with three statements.

4. Luke 6:32 ESV:  “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.”
5. Luke 6:33 ESV:  “And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.”
6. Luke 6:34 ESV:  “And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.”

Verses 32 through 36 repeat the instructions of verses 27 through 30 but the final verse of each paragraph is different. Verse 31 tells us to do to others what we would have them do to us, but verse 36 tells us to be merciful as our Father is merciful.

Before we consider what this means, I want to clarify what it does not mean.

These are not rules for the home. God has laid out guidelines for the home and it should go without saying that the members of our household should not be our enemies. However, this is not the case. This week the Midwest District of the Evangelical Free Church sent out an email, and I want to quote for you from a paragraph in that email. It says:

My police officer daughter informed me that they (Madison, WI) are up 30% in their domestic violence calls since the “stay at home” request was given.

Our county commissioner also commented that domestic violence is up in Sedgwick county since the stay at home order was issued.

Stress, frustration and tension have increased because of circumstances. Jobs are being lost. Finances are being wrecked. Children need to be educated. And the list continues. The frustration and tensions reveal the weaknesses in our relationships and in our characters. 

Love is a principle for the home. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her. I believe this precludes any beating, belittling, cursing, raping or harming in anyway. “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way...” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ESV).

Mutual submission is also a principle for the home. Ephesians 5:21 says:

And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (NLT)

None of this leaves room for domination, intimidation or violence of any sort.

The Bible teaches that at the time of creation, God established marriage as the joining of a man and a woman into one.

Jesus said, “...everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 5:32 ESV) Because of this statement some say that divorce is only permitted in cases of adultery. However, this is not what Jesus is saying. He says that if adultery has not already taken place, a divorce will cause it to take place. Think about it. If adultery is the only cause for divorce, most, if not all women, have an excuse to divorce their husbands because Jesus also said, “...anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28) What man among us has not looked at a woman with lust?

Jesus taught, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.” (Matthew 19:8 ESV) In Mark chapter 10, Jesus makes it clear that divorce should never happen. However, it happens because of hard hearts. Hard hearted, unrepentant and abusive behavior is not to be tolerated whether it comes from husband, wife or children.

Parent, if you stand by and do nothing while your spouse abuses or sexually misuses anyone in your household, you are party to the abuse and share responsibility. It is not loving; it is not caring; it is not merciful to allow evil to continue unchallenged and uncorrected in a home. Jesus’ command to be merciful because God is merciful should never be used to justify unloving, irresponsible or harmful behavior in our homes (or in our churches for that matter).

Jesus’ instructions in the “Sermon on the Mount” are for kingdom living. We can assume then that our enemies, those who hate us and those who take from us, are outside the Body. We are instructed to correct such behavior or attitudes within the Body.

We are citizens of the kingdom of God and thus we are not citizens of the kingdom of this world. This world’s kingdom is warring against the King we serve, and Jesus is telling us how we are to behave toward the citizens of this opposing kingdom.

Mercy is not a principle the world values. The dictionary defines mercy as:

compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. (Google)

Another way of saying this is: 

Mercy is not giving someone what they deserve.

If we are scratching, biting and clawing to get to the top like everyone else in the world, how are we to convince them that we are any different? If we pursue the things this world has to offer just as hotly as those around us, how are we to demonstrate the reality of the kingdom of God. If we are no different from the children of the kingdom of this world, is there even a kingdom of God to be pursued?

Three times Jesus says, “Even sinners do that!” 

He expects us to be different at the core. If we are not, then we must repent. If seeing my enemy pay is more important to me than seeing their soul saved, then I must renounce the god of self and pray for the salvation of my enemy. If seeing the one who does me harm pay is more important to me than seeing their soul saved, I need to ask myself which kingdom I belong to. If being repaid what I lend is more important to me than seeing that person saved, then I need to examine what I value most.

Jesus taught that where your treasure is there will your heart be also. Where is my heart?

Consider with me. God is merciful. I deserve to be cast into hell for my attitudes and actions. But God loved me so much that while I was still His enemy, He gave His only Son to die in my place so that I would not have to die. We are to be like our Father. 

I am not telling you how to run your business. I am asking you to examine the words of Jesus and to see if you are living as a child of God’s kingdom or as a child of the kingdom of this world.

Jesus taught that we know a tree by its fruit. One fruit that should be a part of our lives as children of God is mercy. If mercy is missing, we must ask ourselves why.

The End Approaching

The End Approaching

Hebrews 10:19-27

The economy has been shut down. Politicians are fighting. People are protesting the shutdown. On top of the inconveniences, difficult situations are made more difficult. All of us are affected by this. The whole world has been affected by this. 

Wedding plans have been changed dramatically. Family members have been infected and even died.  This has been a world-changing event.

In our fathers’ generation, there were two great world wars and the unleashing of the atomic bomb. When I was a child, people were building bomb shelters and storing up food. Our world groans under the consequences of sin. As Romans 8:22 tells us:

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. (Romans 8:22 ESV)

We all have our own reactions to these things. Fear, anger, frustration, preparation, planning, anticipation and the list could go on endlessly. This season will pass, and we can begin preparing and planning now for when this time is over. Our world will be changed. The evil one is pushing his agenda. The spirit of the antichrist that is always at work in the world is using this as an opportunity to advance its cause. Remember what Ephesians 6:12 says. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers against the authorities against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” However, as far as our world is concerned, we know already the general outline of what is to happen. And for our individual lives, we have the confidence that God is on our side. Encourage yourself with the words from Jeremiah 29:11.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 ESV)

We are living in the last days. I believe that I will be caught up when Jesus comes for in the rapture of the Church spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 4:17. In other words, I believe that Jesus will return while I am still alive. Unless I get to go home early because of a car crash or coronavirus or a hangnail or cancer or liver failure.

Remember, this world is not our home. As believers in Christ, we are citizens of the kingdom of God and our home is in our Father’s house where Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us and where He is seated at the right hand of the Father. As citizens of a different kingdom, Jesus told us that if the world hated Him it will also hate us. 2 Timothy 3:12-13 says:

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:12-13 ESV)

In light of this world situation, I want to encourage us with the words of Hebrews 10:19-31.

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:19-31 ESV)

Look with me and consider the words of verse 25 where it says, “...as you see the Day drawing near.” Friends, we see the day drawing near. 

The coronavirus is an indication of the last days just as the two world wars of the last century were indications of the last days. Do you remember how God gave Pharaoh 10 chances to repent and to let the people of Israel go? God did this by sending 10 plagues and before each plague God sent Moses to say, “Let my people go.” According to 2 Peter 3:9, the Lord is not slow concerning His promise to return, but He is patiently waiting for people to repent. He really does not want anyone to perish.

The coronavirus is not an indication of the Day of the Lord or that the Great Tribulation has begun. However, it is a call to repentance. It is a call for sinful man to repent. It is a reminder that when the day of the Lord, the great Tribulation, comes it will be much worse.

How are we as believers supposed to respond? What should we be doing? Hebrews 10:19-31 gives instructions for us as we see the day approaching. 

First, we are to instructed in verse 22 to draw near to God with a true heart and full assurance of faith. Look at how this is described:

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

This is consistent with other passages that call us to live godly, pure lives. We are called to be holy as God is holy. We are called to walk by the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. We are called to be imitators of God as beloved children. This world is not our home. We are just passing through. If you have your heart and mind fixed on the things of this world, let the coronavirus remind you how fleeting these things are and how quickly they can be taken away.

Second, we are called to hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.

This is a call to perseverance. The world mocks and challenges our faith in many ways. The Bible is attacked in many ways. Some say it is full of fables and myths. Some say it is not reliable. Some say it is not scientifically accurate. In more than half of the nations of our world, it is illegal to be a Christian or to confess the name of Christ. In a study conducted in 2019, Open Doors reports that every day, day after day, 11 Christians die for their faith. That makes 4,015 martyrs in a 365-day year. And these are just the deaths recorded in the top 50 countries that ban Christianity. So, in actuality, the real number is much higher. Another way to consider the cost of being a Christian in our world is to consider the years from 1901 to 2000. Christianity dot com reports:

In a recent article, Justin D. Long emphasized the startling fact that more people have died for their faith in the Twentieth Century than in all of the previous centuries combined. “During this century, we have documented cases in excess of 26 million martyrs. From AD 33 to 1900, we have documented 14 million martyrs.

We are called to hold fast our confession. This means that we must hold fast to the basic truths of the gospel, which according to the Apostle Paul are as follows:

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 ESV)

Notice that Christ's death, burial and resurrection are all according to the Scriptures. The Scriptures are the means by which we know the truth. We must hold fast to these truths.

In addition to drawing near to God and holding fast our confession, we are called to gather together and encourage each other. Hebrews 10:25 says:

not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

We are currently quarantined because of a virus. However, God has provided means by which we can gather and encourage each other. We have the telephone. We have “FaceTime.” We have “Skype.” We have “Zoom.” We can encourage each other using all these tools. Please share the online church services with your friends. Invite them to watch.  Ask them how they are doing. Remind them of their need for Christ, for forgiveness for salvation and for a relationship with God.

Consider the extremely serious and urgent warning of Hebrews 10 verses 26 and 27 and think about how important it is for all your family, friends and neighbors to hear the message of the Gospel.

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. (Hebrews 10:26-27 ESV)

The coronavirus has reminded us of how easily all life on this planet can be disrupted. The coronavirus has reminded us that we are living in the last days. The coronavirus has reminded us of what is truly important. We have never had a better opportunity to tell others about Christ. You may never have a better opportunity to get right with God.

What will you do with this opportunity?

The Golden Rule

Luke 6:27-31

Just mention the “Sermon on the Mount” and many of us know that we are talking about the words of Jesus. The beatitudes are the introduction to that Sermon. Some have said that the teachings of Jesus were radical and new. However, this is not so. The teachings of Jesus are consistent with what God had said through Moses and the Prophets. The teachings of Jesus are an application of the Ten Commandments, the law and the prophets to everyday life. The Sermon on the Mount is amazing because it is so clear, concise and relevant. These teachings of Jesus can be compared to a condensed version of what God had been saying all along.

I am going to spend some time going over just a portion of the Sermon on the Mount. The title of this series is “On Relationships.” Let me be clear. I do not consider myself an expert on relationships. However, Jesus is an expert on relationships. I hope to present His teachings. I trust that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth as is His role. We all fall short in the area of relationships, and need to be humble enough to learn and grow.

Luke covers the Sermon on the Mount in chapter 6 of His account of the life of Jesus. In verses 27 through 49, Jesus presents timeless principles for relationships. Most of us are familiar with the idea that the two greatest commandments are to love the Lord our God with all our heart soul and strength, and to love our neighbor as our selves. In the passage that we are considering, Jesus teaches the practical application of the second commandment, love your neighbor as yourself.

The first principle we are going to look at is found in verses 27 through 31 of Luke chapter 6 and is known worldwide as “The Golden Rule.” The Golden Rule is simply this: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Luke 6:32 says:

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. (Luke 6:31 ESV)

Pretty simple, right?

What about people that hate us?

What about people that strike us?

What about people that take from us?

These three types of people are precisely the ones Jesus was talking about when He said, “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”

We want to treat someone who is kind to us with kindness, but the one who hates us, strikes us or takes from us is different. We want to strike back. We want to preserve what is ours.

The difference in attitude that Jesus is teaching is the difference in attitude between a child of the kingdom of God and a child of the kingdom of this world. This difference in attitude is reflected in the statement of Jesus when He taught us:

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 ESV)

The children of this world’s kingdom are caught up in preserving their lives, protecting what is theirs and building their own kingdom. But the children of the kingdom of God are caught up in pleasing God, glorifying His name and building His kingdom. These different pursuits make for completely different attitudes. Can you imagine the difference this shift in attitude can make?

Before we consider the application of the golden rule, we first must consider two cautions.

First, many who would be children of the kingdom of God try to keep their feet in the kingdom of this world. Jesus warned of this in several ways. He warned that we are not to put our hand to the plow and look back. He warned that no one can serve two masters and specifically that one cannot serve both God and money. He warned that before building a tower we need to calculate the cost and make sure we are able to pay the price. The kingdom of God is not a part-time pursuit. If we are not serious about it, we are not in it at all. One cannot be in the kingdom of God and be in the kingdom of this world at the same time.

The second caution is best understood by considering the Pharisees. Having the standards of the law of Moses and setting their minds on keeping those standards, they developed the attitude that they were better than everybody else. The common name for this is “self-righteousness.” Self-righteousness looks at and condemns the faults of others and of the world around, and blinds one’s self to one’s own faults and shortcomings. Self-righteous people refuse to look at how they fall short and they avoid humbling themselves in order to address the problems. This results in what is known as hypocrisy. The dictionary definition of hypocrisy is:

the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense.

For those of us whose desire is to be a part of the kingdom of God and to be pleasing to the King, these two cautions are helpful, but now we must turn and consider what it means for us to “do to others as we would have them do to us.” We will do this by considering the biggest challenges presented by others. We have no trouble responding with kindness to those who treat us kindly. We have no trouble being loving to those who treat us with love. However, there are those who challenge our character. Jesus names three sets of people that test our commitment to the kingdom of God. These three sets are:

1. Those who hate us.
2. Those who strike us.
3. Those how take from us.

He names those who hate us in verse 27 and 28.

But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. (Luke 6:27-28 ESV)

I wish I did not have to say this, but those who hate us can be the members of our own household. Domestic abuse, spousal abuse, child abuse and sexual abuse are not limited to those outside the church. These things happen within the church. It is a shame to us that we have to address these issues within our own church bodies, but it should not surprise us. These things happen for two reasons. Some who claim to be children of the kingdom of God are not, and some who are children of the kingdom of God still live with the flesh in control. I would go as far as to say that all of us live with the flesh in control to some degree, and are in the process of being made like Christ.

Jesus tells us to love our enemies. These are the people who hate us. They do not necessarily hate us with words. They may, but they may hate us by ignoring us, discounting us and belittling us. Jesus tells us to love them, do good to them and to pray for them. However, just to be clear, He does not call us to live with them, trust them or sleep with them.

In the Corinthian church, there was a case of incest. What follows are the Apostle Paul’s explicit instructions concerning this person:

When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 5:4-5 ESV)

Delivering a person to Satan for the destruction of the flesh does not seem to be the loving thing to do, but notice the purpose stated for such an action. It says, “so that his spirit may be saved.” Setting boundaries, limits and expecting someone to behave morally and responsibly are not unloving actions. In the case of the man in Corinth, he actually repented and Paul later instructed them to accept him back into the fellowship.

In the case of anyone who hates us, we should apply the principle of doing to them what we would have them to do to us. This does not mean giving them what they want. What they want may land them in hell, and none of us wants to end up there. We would rather be warned, awakened to our peril and saved.

In addition to those who hate us, Jesus names those who strike us. He says:

To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. (Luke 6:29 ESV)

The one who strikes us is the one who does us harm. Of course, this person probably also falls under the category of those who hate us. However, at this point Jesus is talking about those who do us harm. 

In treating this person as we would be treated, there are several things we can consider. 

First, Jesus taught us to overcome evil with good. In our flesh, our first impulse is to retaliate. We want to protect and preserve our lives and our honor. However, when our interest is the kingdom of God, we will desire to see this person saved from their sin. Jesus said by doing good to the one who wrongs us we heap burning coals on his head, the idea being that in  so doing, our enemy might come to repentance.

In treating this person in the way we would like to be treated, the second thing to consider is that we are instructed not to seek revenge but to leave vengeance to God because God will repay. Just as we can trust God to fix our wrongs and bring good from the damage we have done, we can trust God to fix the wrongs of others and bring good from the damage they have done.

The third thing we need to consider in our treatment of those who strike us is forgiveness. We want others to forgive us, and so it follows that we should forgive them. We do this for the kingdom of God, but in the case of forgiveness, it benefits us more than the one we forgive. Forgiveness frees us to enjoy the peace that God gives and it restores fellowship with Him.

In the case of the one who hates us and regarding the one who strikes us, we are confronted with those who act with malice. But in the case of the one who takes from us, the malice is not obvious. Jesus describes this person as “the one who begs from you” and “the one who takes away your goods.” This person borrows and never returns your stuff. He borrows money and never repays it. Psalms 37:21 says, “The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives.” This person is described as wicked. And yet, Jesus tells to treat him as we would like to be treated, to not demand our stuff back. 

This person is needy and is always taking. They are always in crisis, but the crisis is usually their own fault. They make poor choices. They may be lazy. They are self-indulgent. Paul warned Timothy not to put young widows on the church welfare role so that they would not become this type of person. In 2 Thessalonians 3:10 Paul gives the famous statement, “If anyone will not work, neither should he eat.”  As part of the same instructions Paul says, “Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16) In order to shame this person into taking responsibility Paul instructs us to not have anything to do with them, and at the same time tells us not to grow weary in doing good. The complete instructions are found in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15. These are long instructions because this person is hard to deal with. They seem humble but are unrepentant. One cannot take responsibility for such a person. They must take responsibility for themselves. By insisting that they take responsibility for themselves, we seem to this person to be cruel, and certainly not treating them as we would like to be treated. But here again, enabling us to destroy ourselves is not what Jesus is teaching.

Jesus is not talking about easy relationships, but then all of us have difficult relationships that we must face. Jesus gives us instructions to help us live as children of the kingdom of God in the middle of a world that is focused on the kingdom of self.

The Apostle Paul gave similar instructions when he said:

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:3-7 ESV)

Looking at this standard of living that calls us to love our enemies and to consider others as more important than ourselves makes us realize that no one can do this on his own. This is only done in the power of the Holy Spirit. If you are a child of God, you will want to live as a child of His kingdom. If you are not a child of God, this will be utter nonsense. Why would anyone want to love their enemies and do good to those who persecute them? If this is your thought, then you must get to know the love that God has shown for you. He loved us while we were His enemies. He gave His only Son for us while we were His enemies. He did this to save us from death and judgment. This is why we can show the same consideration to those around us.