Luke 6:28

Luke 6:28 is a powerful and challenging command from Jesus, delivered during His "Sermon on the Plain." This verse calls believers to a radical standard of love and forgiveness that transcends natural human inclination.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' broader teaching on how His followers should live in contrast to the world's ways. It immediately follows the challenging command to "Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you" (Luke 6:27). Jesus is presenting core principles of His Kingdom, which turn conventional wisdom on its head. He challenges His listeners to move beyond the "eye for an eye" mentality of retribution and embrace a divine standard of grace and benevolence, even towards those who cause harm.

Key Themes

• Radical Love: The command to "bless them that curse you" and "pray for them which despitefully use you" epitomizes a love that is unconditional and extends even to adversaries. This is a hallmark of Christian discipleship.
• Non-Retaliation: Instead of seeking revenge or returning evil for evil, Jesus instructs His followers to respond with blessing and prayer. This principle is also echoed in Paul's letter to the Romans, encouraging believers to "overcome evil with good".
• Active Benevolence: The commands are not passive. "Blessing" involves speaking well of someone and wishing them good, while "praying" for them is an active intercession before God on their behalf. This requires an intentional act of will and a heart transformed by divine grace.
• Divine Reflection: By acting in this way, believers reflect the character of God Himself, who "maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good" (Matthew 5:45).

Linguistic Insights

• "Bless" (Greek: eulogeō - εὐλογέω): This word means to speak well of, to praise, or to invoke divine favor upon someone. It's the opposite of cursing.
• "Curse" (Greek: kataraomai - καταράομαι): To invoke evil upon someone, to speak ill of them, or to condemn.
• "Despitefully use" (Greek: epēreazō - ἐπηρεάζω): This is a strong term meaning to treat abusively, to insult, to harass, or to slander with malicious intent. It implies active, hostile mistreatment.
• "Pray" (Greek: proseuchomai - προσεύχομαι): To communicate with God, in this context, on behalf of those who are hostile or abusive.

Related Scriptures

This teaching is a cornerstone of Christian ethics and finds parallels in other parts of the New Testament:

• Matthew 5:44: Jesus delivers a very similar command in the Sermon on the Mount: "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."
• Romans 12:14: Paul echoes this principle: "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not."
• 1 Peter 3:9: Peter instructs believers: "Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing."

Practical Application

Luke 6:28 presents one of the most challenging yet transformative commands for believers. Applying this verse means:

• Choosing a Godly Response: When faced with insult, slander, or malicious treatment, the natural human response is anger or retaliation. Jesus calls for a supernatural response rooted in His Spirit.
• Cultivating Empathy and Forgiveness: Praying for those who harm us can soften our hearts, allowing us to see them as individuals in need of God's grace, perhaps even victims of their own brokenness. This can pave the way for true forgiveness.
• Breaking Cycles of Hatred: By refusing to return evil for evil, Christians can break cycles of animosity and division, demonstrating a higher way of living that can disarm hostility.
• Relying on Divine Strength: This command is impossible in one's own strength. It requires dependence on the Holy Spirit to empower a love that reflects Christ's own character, who prayed for His persecutors even on the cross (Luke 23:34).