Luke 6:27-36
The children of the Most High love enemies because their Father is merciful.
27 “But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.
29 To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from him who takes away your cloak, don’t withhold your coat also.
30 Give to everyone who asks you, and don’t ask him who takes away your goods to give them back again.
31 “As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them.
32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much.
35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.
36 “Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful.
The children of the Most High love enemies because their Father is merciful.
Luke records Jesus’ command to love enemies so that disciples understand kingdom life as merciful, generous, non-retaliatory, and patterned after the Father’s kindness to the ungrateful and wicked.
Following blessings and woes, this section applies kingdom reversal to relational conduct. The sermon moves from identity to behavior.
Jesus speaks within the Sermon on the Plain, immediately after blessing those rejected because of the Son of Man and warning those who live for present approval. He now instructs those who listen on how disciples must respond to hostility.
The Lord of the Sabbath Forms a Kingdom People
Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath and teacher of the kingdom, forms a people whose lives are marked by mercy, enemy-love, fruitful hearts, and obedient foundations under His word.