This morning we looked at one of Jesus’ most challenging teachings in Luke 6:27–36—his call to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, and be merciful just as God is merciful. It’s not easy, and I’ll be honest—I don’t like it. But Jesus wasn’t just tossing out metaphors; he meant what he said. This kind of love isn’t natural—it’s only possible through God’s grace working in us. If we’re going to follow Jesus, we have to ask ourselves: what are we feeding in our hearts—love or hate? Because what we nurture will shape how we live.

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Good morning. It’s good to be with you on this Tuesday as we continue our time in the Gospel of Luke. I hope your week is off to a great start. We had a wonderful Sunday of worship, and I’m looking forward to a strong week ahead here at St. Matthew’s. God is being very good and merciful to our church, and I’m thankful.

Today, we’re picking up in Luke 6:27–36. This is part of what’s called the Sermon on the Plain. It’s similar in content to Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount, but Luke places Jesus on level ground—perhaps to emphasize his role as a teacher in the style of Greco-Roman philosophers, offering wisdom for all.

Jesus says:

“But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you. If someone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.

But love your enemies, do good, and lend without expecting anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

This is one of those passages where I’m forced to pause. I once read a book in seminary that frustrated me. The author seemed to take Jesus literally only when he agreed with what Jesus said—and metaphorically when he didn’t. For example, the command to the rich young ruler to sell all and give to the poor—some claim Jesus didn’t mean it literally. But it’s there, plain as day.

And here we are with another one of those moments. Jesus says, “Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you.” These are hard commands. They go completely against the grain of our instincts and against how the world operates.

We live in a time when turning the other cheek doesn’t seem to work. We’re told to stand our ground, to fight back. But Jesus tells us something radical: don’t just tolerate your enemies—love them. Be good to them. Be generous. Give freely. Why? Because that’s what God does.

Verse 35 jumped out at me: “He is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.” Think about that. God is kind to those who don’t deserve it. He gives to people who won’t repay him. He forgives those who wrong him. And then, he calls us to do the same.

It’s not easy. In fact, I don’t want to do it. I don’t want to turn the other cheek. I don’t want to pray for those who mistreat me. But Jesus makes it clear—this is the way forward. It’s not just about avoiding hate; it’s about actively choosing love and mercy, because that’s what God has done for us.

And let’s be clear—this isn’t something we can do on our own. It’s only by God’s grace that we can love like this. In our humanity, we want revenge. We want justice on our terms. But the Spirit calls us to something higher: to return mercy where we’ve received it, to reflect the grace that’s been shown to us.

So let me ask: What are you feeding in your heart right now? Are you fanning the flame of God’s love and mercy? Or are you fueling the fire of bitterness, anger, and division? What we feed is what will grow. If we feed grace, we’ll grow in mercy. If we feed hate, we’ll grow in resentment.

Loving your enemies won’t always change them—but hating them will definitely change you. It will poison your heart and steal your peace. Love sets us free. Mercy gives us life. This is the path of Jesus—and it’s the only one that leads to true peace.

Thanks for spending this time with me today. Tomorrow, we’ll continue with more of Jesus’ challenging words. Have a great day. See you then.