“Bless those who curse
you, and pray for those who spitefully use you” (Luke 6:28)
In 1994, the publication “Bits
& Pieces” presented an article about a successful young lawyer in
Hungary before the uprisings of 1956: “A strong
believer in freedom for his country, the man had fought Soviet tanks in the
streets of Budapest with his friends. The uprising failed and he was
forced to flee the country. When he arrived in the U.S. he had no money,
no job, no friends. He was, however, well educated; he spoke and wrote
several languages, including English. For several months he tried to get
a job in a law office, but because of his lack of familiarity with
American law, he received only polite refusals.”
“Finally, it occurred to
him that with his knowledge of language he might be able to get a job
with an import-export company. He selected one such company and wrote a
letter to the owner. Two weeks later he received an answer, but was
hardly prepared for the vindictiveness of the man's reply. Among other
things, it said that even if they did need someone, they wouldn't hire
him because he couldn't even write good English.”
“Crushed, (the
Hungarian's) hurt quickly turned to anger. What right
did this rude, arrogant man have to tell him he couldn't write the
language? The man was obviously crude and uneducated - his letter was
chock-full of grammatical errors! He sat down and, in the white heat of
anger, wrote a scathing reply, calculated to rip the man to shreds. When
he'd finished, however, as he was reading it over, his anger began to
drain away. He remembered the biblical admonition, ‘A soft answer turns away wrath’ (Proverbs 15:1).”
“No, he wouldn't mail the
letter. Maybe the man was right. English was not his native tongue.
Maybe he did need further study in it. Possibly the man had done him a
favor by making him realize he did need to work harder on perfecting his
English. He tore up the letter and wrote another. This time he
apologized for the previous letter, explained his situation, and thanked
the man for pointing out his need for further study. Two days later he
received a phone call inviting him to New York for an interview. A week
later he went to work for them as a correspondent. Later, he became vice
president and executive officer of the company, destined to succeed the
man he had hated and sought revenge against for a fleeting moment - and
then resisted.”
One of the hardest things to do is to “pray for those who spitefully use you,” as we are
commanded to do in today’s Scripture. The wounds we have received are
like scars that mark our souls. You might remember some kindness that
was done for you, but the sharpest memories seem to be injuries that
were done to us in the past. The anger lasts and it’s true that the
natural response is to get back at such a person for what they have
done.
The words in today’s verse were spoken “on a level place,” on a “plain”
in some translations, as you can see in Luke 6:17 and forward. The
sermon given at that time is very similar to what many have called the
“Sermon on the Mount” as seen in Matthew Chapters 5, 6 and 7. But this
was a different sermon at another time, suggesting that Jesus presented
words and ideas more than once, perhaps many times to different
audiences. It’s true today that God will often present a simple message
to us repeatedly until we finally “get it.” We will hear a Scripture
verse on the radio, see it in our Bible, receive it in prayer and keep
encountering it until our soul resonates with the words and it is at
last applied in our lives.
One of the hardest messages to grasp is that we
are to “love (our)
enemies,” and even more difficult is to “do
good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27). To attempt to “love” someone who sneers at us is hard, but it is
possible because it can be done privately. You can try to think happy,
positive thoughts about your enemy with a little success. But to “do good” to them becomes more public, for you must
step out of your thinking about them and do something outwardly good
that might be seen by others. You may be embarrassed.
And then we get to our verse for today which not
only tells us to pray for them, but also to respond to the “curses” of our enemies with blessings. That word, “bless,” means to praise them, to openly seek God’s
favor upon their lives, to cause them to prosper and be happy. It
exceeds anything the world might consider “fair” treatment of an enemy.
Actually the world would say that if you behave in such a manner
you would be a “foolish” person. The conclusion might be that you are
wasting your time and life in blessing someone who “spitefully use(s) you.”
And from a merely human standpoint, it's the truth!
But that conclusion leaves God out of the
equation. The Scripture continues, “To him who
strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who
takes away your cloak, do not withhold (it).
Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who
takes away your goods do not ask them back” (Luke 6:29-30).
“Impossible! Ridiculous,” some will shout!
The Lord’s words continue: “Just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them
likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to
you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to
those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners
do the same.” It continues that we are to “love
(our) enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for
nothing in return…” (Luke 6:31 & forward).
We are to be “merciful,
just as (our) Father also is merciful.”
We are to “judge not…
condemn not… forgive… (and to)
give” (Verses 37 and 38). This is so far
beyond our human abilities that “impossible” is precisely the word to
describe the Scriptures we have just read. But there is a benefit: In Verse 38 it says, “Give and it will be
given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over
will be put into your bosom, and with the same measure that you use, it
will be measured back to you.”
So we know that now and in eternity, God will
see your responses and reward you, though there are extras involved here that must be noted.
We cannot act in such a manner unless it is the Lord who directs us and
empowers us. Blessing your enemy is not done in your own strength. David,
the shepherd boy, warrior, poet, song-writer and king of Israel, learned
this about the Lord: “Your hand shall lead me, and
Your right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:10). It is the Holy
Spirit who leads us (John 16:13) and it is Jesus Christ who is at the
right hand of the Father (Hebrews 12:2).
We may be called to do the impossible, and if
so, the same God who calls us will also bring it to pass. This is not
done by you, but by God, in and through you. And like “the young lawyer (from) Hungary,”
our Lord has much for those who trust in Him, though we are NOT in it
for the rewards - we merely respond as we are called, acting out
of love for the One who calls. The praise and glory are His, though we do
find
JOY when we faithfully respond to the Lord.
Lord, I give myself to the call of God in my
life, no matter how difficult it may seem. I do not act in my own
strength, but in Yours. I love You and will obey. In Jesus Name. Amen.
