Luke 6:27-36

content/bible_journal/luke_6:27-36.md

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
++++
+title = "Luke 6:27–36"
+date = "2022-11-11"
++++
+
+### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk6.27-36)
+
+When studying the Bible, it's incredibly important to look at the context of a
+passage. Verse 27 starts with the conjunction "but", which indicates a contrast
+between what was said before it and after it. Verses 24 through 26 are the woes
+pronounced against those who have lives fulfilled in this world. Instead, Jesus
+says to His hearers, be like this&emdash;and He gives several actions and
+attitudes that He wants them to practice. Again, like the beatitiudes from the
+beginning of the sermon, they don't make sense from a worldly perspective.
+
+They are also really hard to get right all the time, as they are against our
+sin natures as well. Doing good to those who hate you is really hard. When
+someone curses you, the immediate reaction is to get mad and think hard
+thoughts about them, at the very least. Blessing them is the last thing on your
+mind. The one that struck me the most was "Give to everyone who begs from you".
+I've definitely been guilty of not doing that.
+
+Jesus continues with an explanation for His sayings. If we only love those who
+already love us, we are no different from anyone else. The same goes for doing
+good and lending money while expecting to get something in return. But if we
+sacrifice our time and money for other people, He says God will reward us well
+because He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. (That's us, by the way.) Our
+motivation should be to "pay forward" the mercy that God has given us to the
+people around us.
+
+* * *
+
+Help us to see people as You see them.