Week 1: Feb 27 - March 5
- Share your High and low point this week
- Pray that God’s Word would be clear
Luke 6:27-42
Jesus Teaches about Loving Enemies & Jesus Teaches about Judging Others:
[27] "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, [28] bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. [29] If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. [30] Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. [31] Do to others as you would have them do to you.[32] "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. [33] And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. [34] And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. [35] But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. [36] Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. [37] "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. [38] Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."[39] He also told them this parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? [40] A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.[41] "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? [42] How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”
- What do verses 6: 29-30 mean to you? What do these verses point to?
- A commentator compares verse 38 with baking. He says, ‘What Jesus is saying is that you'll get back what you give out, whether judgment or forgiveness. AND, you'll receive it in the proportion that you dispense it. If you dispense forgiveness with a teaspoon, you'll receive back teaspoon portions yourself. If you dispense forgiveness by the bushel basket, you'll be overflowing with it.’ What is challenging about this?
- Have you ever be surprised by love or forgiveness?
- In what ways is judgment hurtful? How can we see people in a different light than being judgmental?
- Compare Jesus’ commands to love and forgive to his treatment to the Centurion in 7:1-10.
