This past fall, I did a whole series on the Sermon on the Mount, a large section of ethical teaching stretching from Matthew 5-7. In the Gospel according to Luke, this material is condensed into just about twenty verses, with 6.20-26 covering the Beatitudes and today’s reading, 6.27-38, covering the rest in a rapid-fire barrage of biblical ethics. I’ve written so much on these themes the past few months that it seems like beating a dead horse to do so again, but these are the essentials, the fundamentals, the base elements of Christian practice and, since so many Christians today seem to support the complete opposite of them, they clearly bear repeating. So today, I’ll take Luke’s approach: a quick, rapid-fire reminder of our Lord’s teaching here, with links to longer reflections on the individual points.
“But I [Jesus — the one we call our Lord and therefore whom we must obey!!!!] say to you who listen…”
- Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
- bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
- 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. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.
- Do to others as you would have them do to you.
- If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 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. 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.
- Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
- 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.”
Siblings in Christ, it’s as simple as that. These are the commandments of the one we call our Lord and our God. There is no room for explaining why we shouldn’t have to do it, or justifying hatred or prejudice. Just be gracious, as God’s economy of generosity demands.
Matthew Root 