Luke 6:28Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Consequently, it was essential for these holy instructors to be guided by a profound awareness of their duty to exhibit patience, enduring all that befell them, even when faced with insults and wicked schemes directed at them. Such was the conduct of Christ Himself, whose example is unparalleled: while He hung upon the holy cross and was mocked by the crowd, He offered up prayers to God the Father for them, saying, "Forgive them, for they know not what they do." Likewise, the revered Stephen, while being stoned, knelt down and prayed, declaring, "Lord, lay not this sin upon them." Blessed Paul also notes, "Being afflicted, we bless; being afflicted, we beseech." Therefore, the Lord's encouragement was vital for the holy apostles and remains beneficial to us, guiding us toward a life of righteousness and perfection, as it encompasses all wisdom. However, our misguided biases, along with the oppressive influence of our passions, render it challenging for our reason to prevail. Given that the natural man finds spiritual truths foolish and impossible, Christ distinguishes between those who are receptive and declares, "I speak to you who hear, and are ready willingly to fulfill My words." The strength of spiritual bravery becomes evident in trials and hardships. Hence, we are to emulate Christ in this aspect: "Who, being reviled, reviled no more; suffering no more, threatened no more, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously." Perhaps you may think, "Christ was God, and I am merely a frail being, burdened with a weak mind that struggles against the temptations of greed and pain." You are right to acknowledge this, for the human mind is easily led astray. Nonetheless, I assure you that the Lord has not abandoned you; His compassion and love are with you, residing within you through the Holy Spirit, as we are His dwelling place, and He inhabits the hearts of those who love Him. He empowers you to nobly withstand whatever challenges arise and to resist temptations with courage. "Therefore, do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Does this not eliminate every urge for vengeance and quell anger? Doesn't your perseverance enable you to challenge the one who has hurt you with an invitation to repentance? In this way, you both fend off offense and merit mercy. Often, the truest foundation for love is found when arrogance and insolence are met with patience, and wrongs with forgiveness. I recall that it is within this realm that philosophy has softened its rigidity and categorized righteousness into three areas: duty to God, known as piety; duty to parents and humanity; and duty to the deceased, fulfilled through respectful burial. However, our Lord Jesus surpasses both the teachings of the law and the heights of philosophy by expanding the call to kindness even towards those who wrong us. Even an enemy in conflict is met with compassion when one spares their life by laying down their weapons; this mercy usually arises from human empathy or the conventions of war. How much more should we adhere to these principles out of profound reverence for God! If the instinct for self-preservation does not deter the warrior, what hope is there for the warrior of the world?

Not merely an act of violence, but any absence of love; not solely an overt violation of chastity and moral purity, but also every illicit desire; not just the breaking of oaths, but also any form of wrongdoing that such oaths are meant to guard against; not only a blatant disregard for justice towards others, but also a cruel insistence on one’s own rights—these transgressions stand opposed to the law that the Messiah establishes for His kingdom. The primary characteristic of those belonging to His kingdom is unconditional love for all, including enemies, and in this aspect, as in all others, they are called to mirror the perfection of the Heavenly Father.

The Scriptures do not explicitly express a love of Jews for Gentiles, likely because Gentiles were seen as opposing true faith, along with a concern that friendships with them might lead the Jews to idol worship. However, Jewish legalists twisted this law of neighborly love to justify unjust feelings towards others. In response, Jesus presents a new commandment centered on love—a love that detests sin yet extends mercy to sinners—modeling it after God's own love, which embraces all people, both righteous and wicked.

The insights found in Matthew 5:39-48 illustrate this notion of God’s love. In presenting the distinction between New Testament principles and the Old Testament law as perceived by contemporary Jews, Luke also articulates the essence of loving one's neighbor, albeit without a direct comparison to the Christian command to love even one’s enemies. The significance of verse 27 emphasizes that even in the face of persecution for faith in Him, Christians are called to love their adversaries.

An illustrative example from ancient perspectives on adversaries can be found in the words of the Spartan ruler Cleomenes, who, when accused of betrayal towards foes, replied that “Gods and men consider it just to inflict evil on the enemy in any way.” Let those who belong to the New Covenant community lead the way in demonstrating that such divisions are unnatural and destructive, perpetuating strife and hostility among people. In doing so, even the enemies will come to realize that their animosity is unfounded, leading to a united and harmonious brotherhood among all humanity.