Boyd's Commentary - R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation

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be sacrificial. Jesus taught that a man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friend (John 15:13).

      This story should be able to give us some insight to our own relationships. Jonathan was loyal to David not only when it was easy to do so but also when it was to his own detriment. In our friendships, we should evaluate whether or not we have ulterior motives when engaging others. Furthermore, we should take others at their words and actions. It would have been easy for David to dismiss Jonathan simply because he was Saul’s son. But David trusted Jonathan because through his words and actions, Jonathan proved himself trustworthy. The question becomes, what is our friendship worth?

      Lastly, we should delight in our friends. Friendship is essential to human flourishing and necessary for the difficult journey of life. The depth of our friendships rests solely on our ability not just to be nice, but to be people whom our friends can count on and who will hold their darkest secrets. We are to love them and they us. The secret to real friendship is to love God first as a priority and then to love one another. It is the more excellent way (1 Cor. 13).

       HOME DAILY DEVOTIONAL READINGS

       OCTOBER 5–1 1, 2020

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LESSON 6 OCTOBER 11, 2020
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
TOPIC:OVERCOMING SELF-INTEREST BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE:LUKE 6:27–36

       LUKE 6:27–36

King James Version New Revised Standard Version
BUT I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, “BUT I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

      MAIN THOUGHT: But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. (Luke 6:27–28, KJV)

       LESSON SETTING

       Time: A.D. 24

       Place: Galilee

       LESSON OUTLINE

       I. Love Your Enemies (Luke 6:27–28)

       II. Responding to Offense (Luke 6:29–31)

       III. The Reward of Selflessness (Luke 6:32–36)

      UNIFYING PRINCIPLE

      We often wonder how we should treat our enemies. How should we respond to them? Jesus taught His disciples to love their enemies by forgiving them, responding to their needs, and by being nonjudgmental.

      INTRODUCTION

      Doing the right thing for people who do wrong against you is difficult to embrace. It is hard even for those who claim a heritage in God. Christians should take comfort in remembering the time when we were enemies of God. It was God’s all-consuming love for us and His Son’s sacrifice as a demonstration of that love that we are no longer God’s enemies. God’s selfless act through Jesus Christ changed the narrative.

      God’s love for us establishes the fundamental example of how we can be selfless in our dealings with others, even when they are selfish. God calls us to be selfless as a contrast to the selfishness of this world, creating a difference that reveals the grace and glory of God. How do we do this in the face of contradictive actions and attitudes? Jesus provides the answer in today’s lesson.

      Jesus completed the paralleled Beatitudes and woes in Luke 6:20–26. At the beginning of our lesson passage (v. 27), Luke turned his attention to the last Beatitude: “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile

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