Boyd's Commentary. R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
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Название: Boyd's Commentary
Автор: R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Религия: прочее
isbn: 9781681677590
isbn:
These actions point to the will as opposed to the emotional landscape. Whereas it is nearly impossible to enforce a change in one’s emotions, one can be given to new actions. The notion to love one’s enemies is an actionable display of the will. As an example consider the words of Exodus 23:4–5 (NIV): “If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it.” This excerpt from the ancient law of Israel demonstrates what is meant by love and what it means to do good. In this sense, goodness is not understood as an inherent quality or something that is internal. Rather, goodness is tied to deed. Love is not so much about feelings but doings.
II. RESPONDING TO OFFENSE (LUKE 6:29–31)
Continuing His discourse on loving one’s enemies, Jesus encouraged His followers to answer the hostile actions of offenders with extreme kindness. Jesus said, “If anyone strikes you on the one cheek offer the other also” (Luke 6:29, NRSV). While this directive may seem extreme, not to mention a little naive, there is a deeper meaning to it. When an offender in Jesus’ day struck someone on the face, they would have used only their right hand to do so as it was considered the more dominant of the two. By turning the other cheek and allowing the offender to strike again, they would be forced to reorient themselves accordingly so as to again use their right hand. Going through the trouble of having to change their position may have dissuaded the offender from doing it at all. Therefore, though it is by violent means, turning the other cheek, according to Jesus, was a way to passively promote change in both the action and attitude of the offender. Jesus commanded His followers to act out of love rather than retaliation.
Jesus furthered His discourse by telling His disciples that if someone stole or took away their cloak, they should give them their tunic as well. This implied that if someone was desperate enough to steal a cloak, the outer garment, they may need the tunic, the inner garment worn under the cloak, as well. This is rooted in part in Exodus 22:26–27 (NRSV): “If you take your neighbor’s cloak in pawn, you shall restore it before the sun goes down; for it may be your neighbor’s only clothing to use as cover; in what else shall that person sleep? And if your neighbor cries out to me, I will listen, for I am compassionate.” Obviously the notion of divine compassion and wrath were not new. Jesus however, inverted the command. In the Old Testament reference, the one who borrowed the tunic was to return it. By inverting the command, Jesus convicted the one who had taken the tunic or coat and not returned it. He or she had already violated the law by doing so. By giving up the tunic, one is able to demonstrate both love and righteousness that is unparalleled by the offender.
Jesus’ instruction to give to anyone who asks in Luke 6:30 was a reference to the common practice of lending and borrowing. Instead of lending your possessions to those who are in need and charging interest until its paid off or given back, Jesus implored His disciples to not ask back what was loaned or borrowed—in selfless love, just let them have it. Jesus’ directive on borrowing and lending was a strengthening of Exodus 22:25 (NRSV): “If you lend money to my people, to the poor among you, you shall not deal with them as a creditor; you shall not exact interest from them.” This emphasis was reiterated in Leviticus 25:35–37. These Old Testament references only specified that interest could not be charged to other Israelites. Outsiders could be charged interest. Additionally it was expected to repay that which was borrowed. Jesus strengthened the command in that interest was not allowed to be charged to anyone, whether they belonged to the same grouping or not. Also, He advocated for generosity as opposed to expected repayment. Jesus built on the Word of God and took the invocation of love further than it was previously known.
In verse 31, Jesus reinforced a common ideology that would be known to the more devoted disciples, to do to others what you would want them to do to you. Known as the golden rule, this last command of Jesus in this passage served as a summation of all He had said. It typified the kind of corresponding action to God’s character of mercy and promoted a demonstration of love independent of others’ behavior.
III. THE REWARD OF SELFLESSNESS (LUKE 6:32–36)
Verse 31 set the table for the next unit of Jesus’ discourse beginning in verse 32. His disciples were instructed to do unto others what they wanted to be done to them. Jesus asked, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?” (Luke 6:32, NRSV). He was comparing the degree of difficulty to love when it is reciprocated versus showing love when it’s not. According to Jesus, anyone can do the former, even sinners. The golden rule, however, goes beyond this in that it seeks nothing in return for its love. Jesus made the same argument in verses 33–34 when He again asked, “If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? . . . If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you?” (NRSV). Again even sinners do this.
The three commands are reemphasized in verse 35: “Love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return” (NRSV). These conditional acts of love, according to Jesus, will yield for the believer a great reward. Though Jesus was opposed to His followers doing good deeds only for an expected reciprocation, He motivated His listeners to instead expect blessings from God for their faithfulness. Believers are not to focus on the things this world provides but on the inexhaustible treasures only God can provide. Those who hear and heed His voice, Jesus said, will be sons and daughters of the Most High. Because God is kind even to the unthankful and evil, Jesus assured His followers the grace they show to others (though undeserving) is reflective of God’s character and orientation to His people. So, He ended this section of His sermon by telling His followers to “be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (6:36, NRSV).
THE LESSON APPLIED
This lesson deals with love as deliberate self-sacrificial goodwill toward another. It especially points out loving one’s enemy, those who are not in good standing with us. Jesus’ declaration to love in this way is an illustration of what God did in relationship to humanity. God created human beings and by doing so, took a risk that the creature would turn against the Creator. Yet, He revealed the extent of His love for His them by sending His own Son, Jesus Christ to redeem human beings from sin. Jesus’ actions on the cross was the supreme act and expression of God’s great love. As Christians we are called to demonstrate this type of love to others as well. We are called to love those who would use us for their own advantage. We cannot love only those who love us. We must love those who stand in oppositions to our efforts to bring about God’s righteousness and will in the world.
LET’S TALK ABOUT IT
How do we overcome self-interest so we can love our enemies?
Jesus was attempting to get His listeners to drop self-interest, self-protection, and self-preservation for a larger principle, that principle being love. Losing self-interest is as difficult as getting lost in love. While getting lost in love is not as simple as it appears, it is not as difficult as we often make it to be.
The key is a level of discipline that one’s principles will not waver from. It requires uncompromising integrity. Loving one’s enemies is not an esoteric or unattainable level of perfection. It is rooted in the real desire to do what is right. Jesus asks no more or less from His followers. Do right and do what is expected from you without reacting to what is done to you. Jesus taught that we have the ability to control what we do, not what happens to us or what others do. But we choose each moment, each day, and under every circumstance whether we will react or will predetermine what action will we take. Love chooses on the front end to do what is right, not what may be convenient. That СКАЧАТЬ