Luke 6:27-35 An unnatural lifestyle

Luke 6:27-35 Jesus preaches on love, focusing on love of enemies. This closely parallels Matthew 5:38-48. Love takes on several practical duties, it is not just a feeling or an abstract decision.

•   Do good to those who hate you

•   Bless those who curse you

•   Let those who strike you do so without retaliation

•   Give to those who ask of you

•   Lend without expecting repayment

I think it is safe to say that this lifestyle is unnatural, and furthermore very few actually practice it. When Peter wanted to take up the sword to defend Jesus and cut off the ear of the servant of the High Priest, Jesus healed the servant and rebuked Peter. This story is recorded in all four gospels although only John 18:10-11 records that Peter was the one who did it. There is a curious difference in which part of Jesus' response to that incident the different writers chose to record. John records Jesus' words, "The cup the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?" Matthew 26:51-52 records Jesus' words "All who take up the sword will perish by the sword." Luke simply records that Jesus said, "Stop! No more of this."

         The question of turning the other cheek has been debated for centuries. Should the good give way to those who practice evil, based on these words of Jesus, and thus allow evil to triumph? What would have the world been like if the Western Nations had allowed Hitler to rule Europe unopposed and murder the Jewish people without opposition? And why would Paul have said that the government takes up the sword on God's behalf? (Romans 13:4)

          A full exploration of this question would take much time. I think it is safe to say that Jesus was speaking to individuals who were under the domination of the Roman Empire, and that in this context He was not speaking to Caesar or Pilate. He was speaking to individuals about the decisions and actions in their own individual lives. He was calling for a life of self-sacrifice. Giving to others when it hurt. Allowing God the leeway to intervene and change the hearts and lives of others, rather than having them harden their hearts as a result of opposition. We can infer in Paul's testimony that Stephen's forgiveness of those who murdered him (Acts 7:60) was a goad that led to his conversion since he mentioned it several times (Acts 22:4, I Cor 15:9, Gal 1:23). It would be inconsistent with other passages to believe that Jesus meant on a larger scale that we should turn the other cheek. Certainly not in the case where evil is being done to others and we have some ability to resist it