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“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray them which despitefully use you” (Luke 6:27-28).
When the Lord Jesus spoke to the people, His words went beyond the law of Moses. Under the law of Moses, if someone did wrong to you, you were entitled to seek justice, and to demand “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” (Exodus 21:24; Matthew 5:38). However, the instructions of the Lord Jesus were totally different, and totally against our natural hearts. He instructed the people to love their enemies, and to do good to them. If we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that we cannot do this in our own strength; we need a new life in Christ, in order to demonstrate divine love like this. But it is possible for us to do so if we know the Lord Jesus, and are truly saved.
The world today has a saying, “Don’t get mad; get even!” This is the way of the world, whether as individuals or as groups. But the Lord Jesus Himself showed us how to show divine love, and we are called to follow in His steps. The world cannot understand divine love that does good to its enemies, but it has won hearts for Christ, when people see the love that can pray even for those who treat us badly.
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