Luke 6:27-38

Luke 6:27-38

[27] But  I say  which  hear,  Love  enemies,  do  good  to them which  hate  [28] Bless  them that curse  pray  them which despitefully use  [29] And unto him that smiteth  on  the one cheek  offer  also  the other;  and  him  that taketh away  cloke  forbid  not  to take thy coat  also.  [30] Give  to every man  that asketh  and  of  him that taketh away  thy goods  them not  again.  [31] And  as  ye would  that  men  should do  also  to them  likewise.  [32] For  if  ye love  what  thank  for  sinners  also  love  them.  [33] And  if  ye do good  what  thank  for  sinners  also do  even  the same.  [34] And  if  ye lend  to them of  whom  ye hope  to receive,  what  thank  sinners  also  lend  to sinners,  to  as much  again.  [35] But  love ye  enemies,  and  do good,  and  lend,  for nothing  again;  and  reward  great,  and  the children  of the Highest:  for  he  kind  unto  the unthankful  and  to the evil.  [36] Be ye  merciful,  as  Father  also  merciful.  [37] Judge  not,  and  be judged:  condemn  not,  and  be condemned:  forgive,  and  ye shall be forgiven:  [38] Give,  and  it shall be given  good  measure,  pressed down,  and  shaken together,  and  running over,  shall men give  into  bosom.  For  measure  that  ye mete withal  again. 

What does Luke 6:27-38 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Jesus" explanation of the importance of true righteousness was the heart of the Sermon on the Mount as Matthew narrated it ( Matthew 5:17 to Matthew 7:12). The need of love is the heart of this sermon according to Luke. Matthew reported that Jesus spoke of true righteousness in relation to three things: the Scriptures ( Matthew 5:17-48), the Father ( Matthew 6:1-18), and the world ( Matthew 6:19 to Matthew 7:12). Luke omitted Jesus" teaching on the relationship of true righteousness to the Father that included instruction about ostentation ( Matthew 6:1), alms-giving ( Matthew 6:2-4), praying ( Matthew 6:5-15), and fasting ( Luke 6:16-18). The first of these sections laid down a basic principle and the last three dealt with the Song of Solomon -called three pillars of Jewish piety. Luke recorded some of Jesus" teachings on these subjects elsewhere in his Gospel.
In the section dealing with the relationship of true righteousness to the Scriptures, Luke recorded only one of Jesus" revelations. He combined Jesus" teaching about God"s will concerning love ( Matthew 5:43-47) and the importance of loving the brethren ( Matthew 7:1-5). He passed over here Jesus" explanation of His view of the Old Testament and His revelations about God"s will concerning murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, retaliation, and His summary of the disciple"s duty.
As we have noted previously, one of Luke"s main concerns, as is clear from his selection of material, was his concern for people. He did not present Jesus" teaching about love contrasted with rabbinic distortions of the Old Testament, as Matthew did ( Matthew 5:43-44). Rather he stressed Jesus" positive command, the Golden Rule, which Matthew included later in his version of the sermon ( Matthew 7:12). Luke recorded Jesus identifying seven actions that reveal true love in a disciple. These are all impossible to produce naturally; they require supernatural enablement. Demonstration of this kind of love reveals true righteousness in a disciple, righteousness imparted by God and enlivened by His Spirit.