The text for this week is in Luke:
“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who disparage you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your garment, do not withhold your tunic from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. And treat others the same way you want them to treat you. And if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
— Luke 6:27-36 Legacy Standard Bible
Jesus’ words above reflect an attitude that is sorely lacking in our culture. But we don’t see that perhaps as readily because we seem to show mercy all the time as Americans. We follow the Geneva Convention in war. We give prison sentences to deserving criminals and offer them chances to reform in prison by acquiring a High School degree or a college degree. We get all excited about social justice issues because ethnic groups who were wronged in the past are said to deserve recompense. And Americans gave 499.33 billion dollars to charity in 2022, and while it appears that last year was down somewhat from that number, an actual 73% of those 2022 numbers were from cumulative giving by individuals, not corporations (Click here to read more). Overall, no one gives more to charity, than Americans. So, given all these issues, how is it that our culture doesn’t understand mercy to those unfortunate or less deserving than ourselves?
It would seem that the golden rule may in fact be operative:
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
— Matthew 7:12 – King James Version
It is interesting that nowhere else in moral philosophy is that exact statement found. For example:
“Whatever is disagreeable to yourself, do not do unto others” (The Buddha, Udana-Varga 5.18 – 6th century BC).
Confucianism: “Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you” (Confucius, Analects 15.23 – 5th century BC).
It almost appears that the negative is in view elsewhere, but the Lord Jesus commands that we do good in a proactive, positive sense to others even if they hate us. My point is that mercy in God’s eyes is radically based not on merit.
In fact, showing mercy can actually be a burden and a trial if the other person does not show the type of reciprocation that we would expect. Now, we seem to be able to show this to some people, or even distant people, but not to others.
What would your nearest neighbors say? In fact, speaking of those closest to you, what would your wife say about your ability to show mercy to her? What about your husband? Also, are you one of those discernment folks who is actually seeking the upper hand in online or coffee-shop debates, but you don’t know how to endure with patience the foibles of others, even doctrinally? Mercy has a cost not just in debates but in your more serious relationships.
Are you able to love others as you have received the love of God in Christ? The text above talks about being humiliated and spurned and not being repaid a debt, but if you or such a person forgives anyway, then the reward you will receive will be great. It says in the end that we will be called sons of the Most High. That is the kind of mercy that we need to show to each other. Start with those closest to you.
Mercy should come out of us to our nearest neighbors and reach out beyond these and out towards others in our extended sphere of influence as well. But doing charity for those who do not know us personally is often a simple tax deduction. It can also be a futile attempt at compensation for one’s lack of care for some others who don’t feel loved in spite of the charity received by those distant.
You might say, “you don’t know my wife.” Well, is she worse than the above text? Those are some pretty wide parameters for wrong-doing! Regardless of the need to confront sin, there is equally a need for an attitude of mercy towards her or him.
The irony of ironies is that we Americans brag of equality and justice and big hearted entrepreneurship and tolerance but we are too lazy to do the real work of showing the same big heartedness and real charity towards those closest to us who should receive the top priority. For whatever reason, be it doctrinal debates, political differences, personal or professional preferences, showing mercy even to our enemies should characterize Christians, of all people. There is a reason most marriages these days end in divorce. Start with mercy, and start with those closest to you. Be Biblical. Be at odds with the norm in our culture.
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