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Jesus'
Early Ministry
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After calling his first disciples, Jesus continued his ministry
of healing and teaching. News about Jesus spread, and "crowds
of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed" (Luke
5:15-16, NIV).
¶
"One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to
pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came,
he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom
he also designated apostles" (Luke 6:12-13, NIV).
Jesus'
Sermon on the Plain
¶
"[Jesus] went down with [the apostles] and stood on a level
place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great
number of people from all over…had come to hear him and
be healed of their diseases… Looking at his disciples,
[Jesus began to teach.] (Luke 6:12-13, 20, NIV)
*
Jesus presented four "beatitudes" ("blessed are
you…") followed by four distresses ("woe to you…").
The beatitudes apply to Jesus' faithful followers, while the distresses
apply to others. For example, Jesus said…
¶
"Blessed
are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult
you, and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man
(Jesus)" (Luke 6:22, NIV).
Command
to Love
*
Jesus
followed the beatitudes and distresses with his teaching on love.
Read Luke 6:27-36. Verses 27-28 present Jesus' fourfold
command to love:
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Love your enemies (6:27a)
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Do
good to those who hate you (6:27b)
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Bless those who curse you (6:28a)
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Pray for those who mistreat you (6:28b)
1.
Jesus commands a particular kind of love. How is it different
from "normal love?"
Illustration
of Love
*
Jesus provides some illustrations of the kind of love he is teaching
(6:29-35a). For example …
§
"If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other
also" (6:29a).
§ "If someone
takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic"
(6:29b)
*
These commands seem extreme, but Jesus wants to teach these principles
in a vivid way. Jesus commands a radically unselfish attitude
toward one's rights and property. The principle of love is stronger
than the desire to protect one's rights, and to retaliate when
treated wrongly.
*
Verse 31 has been called "the Golden Rule." While the
general idea is found in many other moral teachings, Jesus' teaching
is the most demanding. The command is not utilitarian: "Do
this to them so that they will do it to you." The love that
Jesus commands is unconditional.
2.
Why is it so important that Jesus' disciples love in this way?
(6:32-34)
Basis
of Love
*
Jesus' disciples were (and are) supposed to be different because
of their relationship with God (as "[children] of the Most
High"). God's children are supposed to be like their Father.
Thus God's children should love as their Father loves (6:35-36;
see Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:7-12).
3. How can we love this way? What truths can help us love even
our enemies?
Applying
Jesus' Teaching
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How would you apply Jesus' teaching in the following situations?
What should you not do? What you should you do? (Or maybe you
have another situation you would like to consider.)
4.
A coworker (or labmate) dislikes you, largely because you are
a Christian. He/she often says negative things about you to
other coworkers. This coworker sometimes ridicules (makes fun
of) you in front of others. He/she sometimes steals your snack
food from your desk drawer when you are out of the office. It
is very difficult to work with this person!
5. Your next door neighbor is unfriendly, especially to you.
When you pass by in the hallway, he/she seems to have a mean
look. When he/she saw you leaving for church one morning (with
a Bible in hand), he/she laughed at you. Your neighbor seems
to have few friends, little money, and no car. You often see
him/her walking as you drive to school/work.
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