Luke 6:27
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Luke 6:27
Jesus speaks to the attentive listeners gathered in his teaching—those who hear his invitation into a kingdom defined by radical love. The verse sits within the Sermon on the Plain (Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount). Here, Jesus turns normal social calculus on its head: enemies deserve justice, and hatred is the currency of retaliation. Instead, he commands love for enemies, doing good to those who hate you. This is not a sentimental plea but a deliberate posture shaping habits, words, and actions. In first-century Judea, “love your enemies” would have clashed with prevailing norms of hostility and cycles of revenge. Loving enemies would require divine assistance, communal formation, and a re-framing of what constitutes neighbor. The audience would recall Leviticus’ calls to love neighbors, yet Jesus expands the circle to include those who oppose you. The practical meaning is clear: love is not a feeling to wait for but a discipline to enact—blessing, blessing in concrete deeds that interrupt the usual logic of retaliation.
The command embodies the countercultural heart of the gospel: God’s reign disrupts human cycles of harm with self-giving love. Love for enemies reveals the nature of God—patient, gracious, and contrary to human calculation. It prefigures the cross, where Jesus embodies mercy toward rebels and sinners. This verse anchors the theological principle of total grace, not owed repayment, shaping how believers understand righteousness and justice. It also reframes moral identity: we are defined not by victories over adversaries but by the costly kindness we extend, even when unreciprocated. The divine strength is seen in our willingness to act hospitably toward those who oppose us, reflecting the Father’s character who longs for transformation more than retaliation.
Practically, this means choosing concrete acts of kindness toward those who oppose you. If a coworker undermines you, respond with a helpful gesture rather than vindictive sarcasm. If a neighbor spreads rumors, smile, offer assistance, or invite collaboration instead of returning venom with venom. It can start small: picking up a neighbor’s dropped groceries without comment, covering a co-worker’s shift when they’re overwhelmed, or praying for someone who hurts you—without immediately sharing that prayer aloud. In media-saturated life, “love your enemies” might involve disengaging from online flame wars and choosing respectful, truth-telling dialogue instead. It’s about letting kindness unsettle hostility, allowing the possibility of reconciliation to be planted. The aim is not naïveté but a disciplined trust that God can redeem even hostile situations.
Cross-References: Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:14, 17-21; Proverbs 25:21-22