A Righteous Love
Ref.: Luke 6:27-38
Gal. 6:7
The Bible Knowledge Commentary
The Bible Background Commentary
This parallel of Matthew’s record of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” is frequently called “The Sermon on the Plain.”
· In previous verses, Jesus delivers the Beatitudes—pronouncements that confer an end-time blessing on persons who are characterized by what they are (e.g., the poor) or do (e.g., the peacemakers).
· The blessing assures the addressees of the vindication and reward that attend the salvation of God’s end-time Rule and thus provides encouragement in time of difficulty.
· In the verses for today’s topic, Jesus mentions seven aspects of unconditional love—actions not done naturally by human nature, but requiring supernatural enabling, and are thus proof of true righteousness.
dikaiosuma, the character or quality of being right or just
· Formerly spelled ‘rightwiseness,’ which clearly expresses the meaning.
· Used to denote an attribute of God that means essentially the same as His faithfulness, or truthfulness, that which is consistent with His own nature and promises.
· NT references speak of His righteousness as exhibited in the Death of Christ, which is sufficient to show men that God is neither indifferent to sin nor does He regard it lightly. On the contrary, it demonstrates that quality of holiness in Him that must find expression in His condemnation of sin.
I. Seven Points of Righteous Love
A. Vs. 27—(1) Love your enemies and (2) Do good to those who hate you.— At the time of this teaching, Jews were still firmly root in Old Testament law, which specifically commanded love of neighbor, but no one commanded love of enemies.
1. Love—agapao—used of God’s love toward man.
B. Vs. 28—(3) Bless those who curse you and (4) Pray for those who mistreat you.—Although Jesus and his followers practiced this rule of blessing and praying for enemies, prayer for vindication by vengeance were common in the Old Testament and in ancient magical curse texts.
C. Vs. 29—(5) Do not retaliate—The blow on the right cheek was the most grievous insult in the ancient Near East. The clothing in the verse refers to the outer and inner cloak, respectively. The poorest of people (like the average peasant in Egypt) might have only one of each.
D. (6) Give freely and (7) Treat others the way you want to be treated.
1. Vs. 30—Here Jesus may allude to beggars, quite common in the ancient East, and poorer people seeking loans. In Jewish Palestine beggars were usually only those in genuine need, and most were unable to work; farmers generally sought loans to plant crops. But. the richer Jews were hesitant to do this as at the close of each 7-year period (called Jubilee) all debts were forgiven and they would take a great loss.
2. Vs. 31—The “Golden Rule.”
3. Vs. 34-35— In the Roman world, some interest rates ran as high as 48%, but the Old Testament forbade usury, or charging interest.
a. Because many Jewish creditors feared that they would lose their investment if they lent too near the 7th year (when the law required cancellation of all debts), they stopped lending then, hurting the farmers who needed to borrow for planting. Jewish teachers found a way to circumvent this law so the poor could borrow so long as they repaid. Jesus argued that this practice should not be necessary; those with resources should help those without, whether or not they would lose money by doing so.
b. Biblical laws about lending to the poor before the year of release supported Jesus’ principle here, but Jesus went even further in emphasizing unselfish giving. Although the law limited selfishness, Jesus looked to the heart of the law and advocated sacrifice for one’s neighbor. A good man’s “sons” were expected to exemplify their father’s character; thus God’s children should act like him.
4. This kind of love marks one as distinctive, having the same characteristics as the heavenly Father.
II. Five Universal Principles
A. Jesus then taught His followers a fundamental principle of the universe—what one sows he will reap (vv. 36-38). Read Galatians 6:7–8.
B. Jesus outlined five areas which were proof of the sowing and reaping theme, mentioned so often in Scripture:
1. Mercy will lead to mercy (Luke 6:36). The disciples and those gathered were exhorted to have the same merciful attitude God displayed toward them.
2. Judgment will lead to judgment (v. 37a) and Condemnation will lead to condemnation (v. 37b)—Popular bumper sticker of the 70s said “Let’s love them and let God judge them.”
a. Judge—krino, to judge, pass sentence, or give one’s opinion in a private manner.
3. Pardon will lead to pardon (v. 37c).
4. Giving will lead to giving (v. 38). It is simply a fact of life that certain attitudes and actions often reflect back on the individual. RE-READ VS. 38.
III. Read Pass It On
He was driving home one evening, on a two-lane country road. Work, in this small mid-western community, was almost as slow as his beat-up Pontiac. But he never quit looking. Ever since the Levis factory closed, he’d been unemployed, and with winter raging on, the chill had finally hit home.
It was a lonely road. Not very many people had a reason to be on it, unless they were leaving. Most of his friends had already left. They had families to feed and dreams to fulfill. But he stayed on. After all, this was where he buried his mother and father. He was born here and knew the country.
He could go down this road blind, and tell you what was on either side, and with his headlights not working, that came in handy. It was starting to get dark and light snow flurries were coming down. He’d better get a move on.
You know, he almost didn’t see the old lady, stranded on the side of the road. But even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her.
Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn’t look safe, he looked poor and hungry. He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt.
It was that chill that only fear could put in you. He said, "I’m here to help you ma’am. Why don’t you wait in the car where it’s warm. By the way, my name is Joe."
Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough Joe crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt. As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down her window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn’t thank him enough for coming to her aid. Joe just smiled as he closed her trunk.
She asked him how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She had already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Joe never thought twice about the money. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance that they needed, and Joe added "...and think of me".
He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight. A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The cash register was like the telephone of an out of work actor—it didn’t ring much.
Her waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn’t erase. The lady noticed that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Joe.
After the lady finished her meal, and the waitress went to get her change from a hundred-dollar bill, the lady slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. She wondered where the lady could be, then she noticed something written on a napkin. There were tears in her eyes, when she read what the lady wrote. It said, "You don’t owe me a thing, I’ve been there too. Someone once helped me out, the way I’m helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here’s what you do. Don’t let the chain of love end with you."
Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could she have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard. She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, "Everything’s gonna be alright, I love you Joe."
IV. Invitation
