Forgiveness – Luke 6:27-42
27 “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Judging Others
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye
What does the passage say?
V. 27-36 Bless those who do wrong to you. Jesus is telling his followers to do something that is totally counter-cultural. Love your enemies, if they hit you offer the other cheek, if they rob give them more. These are some hard teachings to follow.
He is saying, ‘be different from what the world does.’ He tells the disciples to love others, who doesn’t like you. Do good to evil, who does evil to you. Give money to those, who can’t pay back.
V. 37-38 Do not judge and remember that your goodwill will not be forgotten. The Message says, “Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back – given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity” (v. 38 The Message).
V. 39-42 Jesus is asking, ‘who are you going to follow?’ In a way following Christ might be counter-cultural, but it is still better than following the blind, and falling into the pit. So don’t judge others.
What does this mean to me/ us?
The main point of Jesus is to say, ‘follow me to give to other, even though it requires giving up yourself.’ As followers of Christ, we need to remember that our life is a journey of imitating his love and sacrifice. It might mean that we literally have to follow this commands, but it also means that these are some ways to follow a lifestyle of giving up myself, for others.
As I am attending the General Conference, the word of Jesus is resounding in my heart. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back” (v. 37-38 NRSV).
Lord, we need your grace in our everyday lives. We want to follow your ways, but we also see how hard it is to follow your ways. Give us your grace and knowledge to practice the lifestyle, today. Also, be with all who are praying and attending the General Conference. Help us to see you move among us.
In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.
What are your thoughts?
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