Luke 6:27-36 - Practicing The Golden Rule

In this message in Luke 6, Jesus is emphasizing the four essentials for true happiness. First, He deals with our attitude toward circumstances (vv. 20-26). We should respond to whatever circumstances that we encounter with faith in God’s love for us and His sovereignty over them and our lives. Next, in the verses before us today Jesus is addressing our attitude toward people and how we should always respond to them. (vv. 27-36).   Jesus wants His disciples and the multitudes that He is addressing on this particular occasion to “hear” and understand that true happiness, blessedness, joy, and peace comes from their attitude of the heart. And of course, this message is very much intended for all of us today. A change of the heart is what all of us need that gives us a different outlook and a different response to the problems and difficulties of life that we face on a daily basis.   God allows bumps in the road that we might step on them and learn daily dependance on Him. He allows mountains in our lives so that we might climb higher in our relationship with Him. He allows giants in our lives, so we are challenged to grow stronger and live by faith in His love and care for us. We are told in Ephesians 5:16 to “redeem the time because the days are evil”. Literally this means to “buy up the opportunities” that come from evil times. In other words, all the evil people and tough things we face in life are only opportunities for us to trust God and reveal His love and grace to the lost world around us!   In verses 27-36, Jesus is primarily dealing with our attitude toward people that are difficult to deal with that come into lives. Nothing can cause us to be upset, angry, irritated, fearful, or worried more than people. Someone called these people, “People that need extra grace”. Jesus is giving us practical instructions on the attitude and response we should have toward them. And beginning in verse 32, Jesus gives us the underlying reason behind having this kind of attitude. Read verses 32 to 36 again.   Paul deals with this same issue in Ephesians 4:23-32. Notice these verses from that passage: “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness…don’t give place to the devil…And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”   In Romans 12 and 13, Paul clearly states the attitude we as believers should have toward those who hurt or offend us: “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:17-21).   He continues in Romans 13:8-10 with these words: “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”   Jesus reminds us that we should extend mercy to others in the same way God our Father has given mercy and forgiveness to us when we didn’t deserve it! May the Lord help us by His Spirit to practice this with others today!   God bless!