Do Not Be Like the World. Whether you are a Christian or not, these are some simple tips on how to treat others in a good way. In other words, do not be like the world. Rather, treat others like you would want to be treated.
Luke 6:27-38 Love for Enemies
27 “But to you who are listening, I say: 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 slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 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 children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Judging Others
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.”
Do unto others as they do unto you
Despite the popularity of the rule, it has been largely ignored in its original form. This is a shame as the rule is a clever one. A good example is the golden rule of thumb. One should always consider one’s neighbor before oneself. Similarly, one should never make light of the fact that they may be a fellow human being.
For instance, do you know that the Egyptians had a saying that goes something like “have them for breakfast before they have you for lunch”? This may be the simplest version of the rule. The rule of thumb is to treat your neighbor as you would wish them to treat you. This does not include obnoxious behavior or rudeness, of course.
A good example of the rule of thumb is to avoid apologizing for minor injuries. There are some exceptions to this rule, such as in an emergency or when the recipient is not a fellow human being.
Do good to those who hate you
During his ministry, Jesus often emphasized the art of doing good to those who hate you. In fact, he gave his disciples some great advice. Here are a few things you can do to do good to your enemies.
The first practical way to do good to your enemies is by showing them the respect they deserve. The Bible lists a few ways you can do this. Some of these ways include sending them a note of appreciation, staying late at work, and showing up early. You can also lend them a hand when you need to.
The Bible mentions a few other things you can do to do good to your enemies. In the book of Matthew, Jesus says to pray for your enemies. This is something you may not have considered.
Strike your right cheek with the back of your right hand
Whether you are a Christian or not, you should be familiar with the biblical saying that you should strike your right cheek with the back of your right hand. This is the way that Jesus instructs us to act when we are confronted with a person who has hurt us.
In a world that was mostly right-handed, striking someone with the back of your right hand was considered a very bad thing. It was also considered a very violent act. In fact, it was so bad that people who did it would be put into a 10 day penance for their act.
In Luke’s Sermon on the Plain, Jesus is speaking to people who are oppressed and to those who are suffering. He is talking about two of the most intractable problems in our world today.
Be merciful
Considering the many ways in which Luke 6:27-38 presents a model for nonviolent conflict resolution, how does the message translate into practice? Luke’s model isn’t just a gimmick; it is an actual, tested model of behavior. In fact, it may be the most practical and useful of all the Bible’s many lessons.
A good illustration of this is the apron-sized bag of grain filled by a merchant. Unlike the monetary model, this is a real-world example of a community making the most of a limited presence. The apron-sized bag is a small but meaningful gesture, and it may be the first step toward a new life for the lost and the broken.
Despite the thorny question of how to best implement the Sermon on the Level Place’s nonviolent commandments, the authors provide some concrete suggestions. While there aren’t a lot of well-researched ethical maxims, they do cite several cases in point. Using the example of a merchant buying grain, they offer advice on how to live in a situation of partial presence.
Do not judge
During his sermon on the level place, Jesus gave three examples of how not to judge. The first example is from the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany. The next two examples come from a town’s interpersonal relationships. These examples can be used to illustrate how Jesus’ instructions apply to interpersonal relationships in a town life.
The third example comes from a Roman military unit. These soldiers had a strong influence over conquered peoples. They would beat locals and steal from them. These were the prime audience for evangelization. They had the ability to shock people with their actions, which could provide a great opportunity to spread the gospel.
When Jesus told his listeners to do not judge, he implied that God would condemn people who condemned others. He also implied that if we are forgiven, then we will be forgiven. However, if we judge someone, we are adding to our own crimes.
