“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
(Luke 6:27-38 ESV)
I have to admit that the sermon in Luke 6 is may be the part of the Bible I like the least. That’s because so much of it is just plain impossible. Love your enemies? Bless those who curse you? Who do you think I am, Lord? I’m not You!
And that’s the problem, isn’t it? If I’m relying on my own human willpower and understanding to love my enemies, well, it’s just not going to happen. I can barely stand to be in the same room with them—and now I’m supposed to care about their welfare? To pray for them, speak kindly to them, help them when they’re in need?
Only Jesus can do that. Only Jesus has done that, when He came into our world to rescue us. Because He was coming to rescue His enemies—rebels against God, people who did harm to one another and even to themselves. People whose reaction to meeting a perfectly good, innocent, loving and holy human being was to crucify Him.
And that is one of the many miracles of Jesus’ death and resurrection—that, through His great love for us, Jesus transforms His enemies into His own family—forgiven, beloved children of God. His Holy Spirit makes us people who love and trust Him with all our hearts. And suddenly the impossible becomes possible, because God is living in us, doing it through us.
We Pray: Lord, I can’t love these people on my own. Please, don’t leave it up to me. You love them through me! Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Originally published in The Lutheran Hour on February 20, 2025
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights
Reflection Questions:
1. Do you enjoy Luke 6, or its parallel passage, the Sermon on the Mount?
2. Why or why not?
3. When have you seen God work through you to do something you would have considered impossible on your own?