The expression of love, the topic of 6:27-35, is still in view in 6:36. A note on God’s evaluative standard concludes the paragraph. The structural pattern in 6:36-38a is a set of four exhortations, two negative and two positive, each of which also has a promise. This attitude produces a hesitation in judging others, as believers realize that God will treat them in the way they have treated others. Love includes mercy, following God’s own example. Luke 6:36-38 turns our attention from how we treat others to how we respond to them. This ethic clearly made a deep impression on Jesus’ followers, as it runs through all characterizations of His teaching. And in 6:35, it is expressed in terms of a divine standard, where love is not the concept expressed, but graciousness is used to define love’s generous quality. In 6:31, it is expressed in terms of a human perspective: treat others as you wish they would treat you, a classic role reversal. In 6:27, it is expressed in radical terms as loving those who oppose you. ![]() Love is looked at in the subunit from three angles. With the conclusion of the second set of illustrations, a summary command to love is given in 6:35. In between the imperative are two sets of illustrations: four illustrations in 6:29-30 and three illustrations in 6:32-34. The exhortation to love comes in three different forms in 6:27-28,31,35. Simply put, the disciple’s love for others should be extraordinary in comparison to the way people usually love. This passage contains the fundamental exhortation of what a follower is to do. Luke 6:20-26 contained (1) the promise and hope that Jesus offers to those who identify with His message and (2) a warning about those who do not. The next subunit contains the main body of the sermon and is full of exhortation. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. ![]() And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ![]() “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. The Point: Love your enemies even as Christ has loved you.
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