Love Your Enemies
Thursday, October 06, 2022
Love Your Enemies
Would a follower of JESUS love someone that would do them harm? That's hard to say, but always keep in context what JESUS is teaching.
(Luke 17:3) Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
(Luke 17:4) And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
If your brother repents, you have to forgive him. But we are not talking about repentance, we are talking about your enemies. Your enemies may not have any intention of repenting.
(Luke 6:22) Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. G1752
Notice that the reason they hate you is because you follow GOD, you love JESUS. You speak the TRUTH on account of JESUS. They don't love JESUS, they reject HIM, therefore they are not going to love you either.
They will reject you also. They are hating you, ignoring you, counting your name as evil. But these verses are not speaking of someone trying to harm you physically. Your enemy is someone that is against you. They are adversarial to something that you are for. Your adversary is your enemy. Those who teach that you are supposed to let someone do harm to you or your family are lacking in wisdom and don’t know the WORD.
G1752
ἕνεκα, ἕνεκεν, εἵνεκεν
heneka heneken heineken
hen' ek ah, hen' ek en, hi' nek en
Of uncertain affinity; on account of: because, for (cause, sake), (where ) fore, by reason of, that.
(Luke 6:23) Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
In like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. They reject you because you speak GOD'S TRUTH.
And if they reject you and hate you, then they are your enemies. But be certain that you notice the reason they are your enemies: It's because you are Christian. Also notice that your rewards are great in Heaven. That is because you are doing work for GOD.
(Luke 6:24) But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
Keeping in mind that we are still in context as to why they hate you, then you can see that the reason these people are rich is that they are doing well in the world in which they are not enemies with each other.
It's likely in this world that many are rich because of ill gotten gains. There is nothing wrong with being rich by GOD'S Blessings. Their consolation is the comfort they receive from this world (which are the ways of satan).
(Luke 6:25) Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
Why are they full and why do they laugh? They are doing well in the world in which they love. But remember Lot's wife? She looked back to the lifestyle that she missed in the city of Sodom. Her heart was on the things of this world (which is satan's world). They may enjoy fitting in and being well off, but when JESUS returns, every part of the lifestyle in this world will be burned up. They will wish they had JESUS and Eternal Life.
If they didn’t know the TRUTH in the flesh they will get a chance for eternal life by undergoing the Iron Rod discipline of the Millennium, but that is a long tough road of Iron Rod discipline. They won’t be full and they won’t be laughing. They will be hungering for GOD’S WORD. They will be weeping and gnashing their teeth. That is grief. There is no GRACE in the Millennium. They have to overcome the devil by their Works at the end of the Millennium when satan is loosed for a short season to test the people. If they don’t overcome satan, they go into the lake of fire. It’s a serious situation and serious Iron Rod discipline.
(Luke 6:26) Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
If those of this world speak well of you, that means you fit in with them. You are one of the group. That means you don't fit in with JESUS and you follow the ways of satan. Notice that they speak well of the false prophets. The key is the 'false' prophets, they are against GOD.
(Luke 6:27) But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
(Luke 6:28) Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Those that hear, means those that understand. They have ears to hear.
The context of these verses are to love your enemy and how to identify your enemy? Your enemy is someone who is against you. It’s your adversary.
Therefore it's those that are against GOD that is your enemy. Your enemy does not believe in JESUS, or does not believe in the TRUE JESUS. You do believe in JESUS and they hate you because of HIS Name.
They do not believe in what you believe. They don't have ears to hear, so they cannot hear or understand. That is why verse Luke 6:27 is written to you. You understand. You belong to JESUS. You KNOW that JESUS is The SON of GOD because the FATHER called you unto HIM.
Now, what enemy are you supposed to love? It's those that don't know the TRUTH. They hate you and are your enemy because of the Name of JESUS. You love them that are GOD'S children also, just as you are a child of GOD. They are your brothers and sisters.
But how do you love someone? If your children do something bad, you correct them. You tell them the TRUTH. So, when you love your enemies, you correct them. You tell them the TRUTH.
If a seed is planted and they come to GOD, then they are saved from satan. If they don't come to the TRUTH, then you heap hot coals on their head because they are going to go through the FIRE of the Millennium when JESUS returns.
So, in conclusion, these verses are not saying to love someone that steals your car or your wife, or someone that would do you physical harm. The whole context is for JESUS Name sake (or on account of JESUS Name).
Your enemy is someone that does not accept JESUS and would persecute you for accepting JESUS, so love them and plant the seed of TRUTH. Then you are laying your treasures up in Heaven where your reward is great.
(Luke 6:29) And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
This verse is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Plain (similar to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:39). It contains profound teachings about how followers of Christ should respond to mistreatment. Let’s unpack the meaning of “turn the other cheek” in its context.
1. Cultural Context:
In Jesus’ time, a slap on the cheek was more about insult than physical harm. It was a symbolic gesture of contempt or humiliation. Turning the other cheek, then, was not about allowing someone to beat you up but about refusing to retaliate or seek revenge.
By turning the other cheek, you demonstrate a willingness to absorb an insult without escalating the conflict. This act shows strength and self-control, refusing to mirror the aggressor’s behavior. It’s a radical statement of grace and non-retaliation.
2. What It Does Not Mean:
It Does Not Mean Being a Passive Victim:
Jesus is not advocating for passivity in the face of severe abuse or injustice. The Bible never calls for tolerating evil or enabling harm. Protecting yourself and others from real danger is consistent with biblical teachings on stewardship and justice.
It Does Not Mean Ignoring Justice:
Turning the other cheek is not a denial of justice or accountability. It’s about personal conduct, not the judicial system or righteous correction of wrongdoing. For instance, Paul appeals to his Roman citizenship to demand justice (Acts 16:37–39).
3. The Deeper Meaning: Radical Love and Grace:
Rejecting Vengeance:
Turning the other cheek demonstrates a refusal to retaliate or seek revenge. Romans 12:19 echoes this, saying, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
This attitude invites reconciliation rather than escalating hostility.
Reflecting God’s Character:
God shows mercy to the undeserving (Luke 6:35). By turning the other cheek, believers reflect God’s grace, offering an opportunity for repentance rather than perpetuating cycles of hostility.
Overcoming Evil with Good:
Turning the other cheek disarms the aggressor by responding in a way they don’t expect. It disrupts the cycle of evil and offers a higher way of responding, as described in Romans 12:21: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
4. Practical Application:
Personal Relationships:
In everyday conflicts, this teaching challenges believers to avoid escalating disputes with retaliation or resentment. For example, if someone insults you, responding with kindness or silence can defuse the situation and show Christlike character.
Acts of Grace:
Turning the other cheek doesn’t mean enabling harm but choosing a posture of grace and forgiveness. It calls for humility, not humiliation.
Discernment Is Key:
While Jesus calls His followers to radical love, He also says to be “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). There’s a place for setting boundaries and protecting oneself from repeated harm while maintaining a heart of grace.
5. Conclusion:
"Turning the other cheek" means choosing love over retaliation in the face of insult or minor wrongs. It calls for humility, forgiveness, and non-violence as a reflection of God’s grace. However, it does not mean tolerating severe abuse, failing to seek justice, or enabling evil. Instead, it’s about breaking cycles of hostility with radical love and pointing others to the higher way of Christ.
I also think that turning the other cheek can be pictured in the sense of if our enemy slaps us on one cheek, metaphorically with a false statement, that turning the other cheek could mean responding with the TRUTH and thereby cause the offending party to want to slap the other cheek with another false claim. For example, a discourse on what is True, until the facts are given so that all who see will come to the TRUTH.
"turning the other cheek" as metaphorically responding to false statements with the truth is a profound and insightful application of the principle. It aligns with the biblical emphasis on standing for truth while maintaining a spirit of grace and non-retaliation.
1. Speaking Truth in Love:
Ephesians 4:15: "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ."
This verse encourages believers to respond to falsehood with truth, but in a way that reflects Christ’s character-gracious, patient, and aimed at reconciliation rather than mere confrontation.
By countering a false statement with truth, we are metaphorically "turning the other cheek" by refusing to retaliate with anger or falsehood of our own, instead presenting facts to guide the offender and others toward understanding.
This suggests a constructive engagement where truth is not only a defense but an opportunity for revelation and teaching, helping others who witness the discourse come to clarity.
3. Jesus' Example:
When Jesus was falsely accused during His trial before the high priests, He did not retaliate with insults or anger but responded with the truth:
John 18:22-23: When an officer struck Him, Jesus replied, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?"
His response upheld truth and challenged the injustice without lowering Himself to the accuser’s level.
This interpretation captures this spirit: addressing falsehood calmly and truthfully, not to escalate conflict but to shine light on what is right and just.
4. Enduring Further Attacks:
Matthew 5:10-12: "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Presenting truth may provoke further falsehoods or attacks, but enduring these while standing firm in truth glorifies God. It demonstrates faithfulness and perseverance in the face of opposition.
Turning the other cheek in this context symbolizes the willingness to face further accusations or challenges, not by retaliating in kind but by steadfastly holding to the truth.
5. Teaching Others Through Truth:
Others observing the discourse will come to the truth and aligns with Jesus’ teaching that believers are the "light of the world" (Matthew 5:14-16).
By maintaining integrity and presenting truth in a gracious and patient manner, we serve as a witness to others, pointing them toward what is right.
6. Practical Application:
When someone slanders or makes a false claim, respond with truth backed by evidence, presented in a calm and respectful tone.
Be prepared for continued opposition but remain steadfast, knowing your ultimate goal is not to "win" the argument but to glorify God and bring clarity to those observing.
Trust that truth, when presented properly, will resonate with those who seek it, even if the offending party refuses to acknowledge it.
Conclusion:
This beautifully expands the meaning of "turning the other cheek" to include responding to false statements with truth, not out of retaliation, but to expose deception and guide others toward understanding.
This approach reflects Christ’s teachings, demonstrates grace under pressure, and glorifies God by standing firm in truth. It is a powerful and proper application of the biblical principle.
Dear FATHER, Thank THEE for Blessing our Study of THY WORD! In JESUS' NAME, Amen!
