To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. — Luke 6:29-30
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. — Matt. 5:44-45
Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. — Luke 6:36
Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great. — Luke 6:35
From the Workbook
What is Jesus after in his demands to turn the other check and to give to the one who asks and to not withhold our tunics? Why? How does this help us define love?
Thinks of some circumstances where what love calls for might not be clear. What does Piper say
should be our default in situations where we are not sure what love calls for? Do you agree with this assessment? Why or why not?
Why is Jesus not saying, in Matt. 5:44–45, “You must first become a person who loves his enemies before you can be a child of God”?
How do we obtain the ability to love our enemies the way Jesus demands?
Think of the three sources of power for love that Piper talks about in this chapter. Have these truths, or other biblical truths, been a source of life and power to love others, even enemies, in your life? If so, describe. If they haven’t, why do you think they haven’t produced Christ- honoring love for enemies?
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Demand #30: Love Your Enemies - Do Good To Those Who Hate You, Give To The One Who Asks
Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.” — Matt. 18:21-22
But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. — Luke 6:27
And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? — Matt. 5:47
From the Workbook:
What is the opposite of forgiveness? Why is this the opposite of forgiveness? Why is it so important to seek rather than resist reconciliation?
God “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:45) without waiting for repentance. How should this knowledge influence the way we live?
What is hate? What are some ways that hate can manifest itself? How does it feel to be hated? How would you respond if you saw a person doing good in Christ’s name to someone who hated them?
Describe why the demands in Luke 6:29–30 are real and radical, yet not absolute descriptions of what love must do in every situation.
Think of an example in your life right now where you have the opportunity to “turn the other cheek” or “give your other tunic” or “give to the one who asks.” Try to biblically weigh what would be the most loving thing to do in this situation. Ask advice from others. Search relevant Scriptures. Act upon your convictions you come to over the course of the coming week.
But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. — Luke 6:27
And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? — Matt. 5:47
From the Workbook:
What is the opposite of forgiveness? Why is this the opposite of forgiveness? Why is it so important to seek rather than resist reconciliation?
God “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:45) without waiting for repentance. How should this knowledge influence the way we live?
What is hate? What are some ways that hate can manifest itself? How does it feel to be hated? How would you respond if you saw a person doing good in Christ’s name to someone who hated them?
Describe why the demands in Luke 6:29–30 are real and radical, yet not absolute descriptions of what love must do in every situation.
Think of an example in your life right now where you have the opportunity to “turn the other cheek” or “give your other tunic” or “give to the one who asks.” Try to biblically weigh what would be the most loving thing to do in this situation. Ask advice from others. Search relevant Scriptures. Act upon your convictions you come to over the course of the coming week.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Demand #29: Love Your Enemies - Pray For Those Who Abuse You
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. — Matt. 5:44
Pray for those who abuse you. — Luke 6:28
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. — Luke 23:34
From the workbook (see link at right):
What are the “imprecatory” Psalms? Describe how Piper understands the imprecatory Psalms.
What factors are important in his understanding for our understanding of Scripture and as it relates to Jesus’ demand to love our enemies? Should we imitate this type of imprecation? Why or why not?
What are some sins in your life which you think are your own personal or private sins that do not really affect other people? Why is there no such thing as a private sin that does not harm anyone else but our own self?
What is the first loving behavior toward our enemies that Jesus mentions in the Sermon on the
Mount? What do we learn about the nature of love from this?
How does Jesus’ prayer, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” illustrate both forgiveness and mercy?
Is there anyone in your life against whom you are harboring bitterness or anger or hatred? If yes, who? This week pray the blessings talked about this chapter for these people, and ask God to soften your heart and to create in you true affection and love for them?
Pray for those who abuse you. — Luke 6:28
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. — Luke 23:34
From the workbook (see link at right):
What are the “imprecatory” Psalms? Describe how Piper understands the imprecatory Psalms.
What factors are important in his understanding for our understanding of Scripture and as it relates to Jesus’ demand to love our enemies? Should we imitate this type of imprecation? Why or why not?
What are some sins in your life which you think are your own personal or private sins that do not really affect other people? Why is there no such thing as a private sin that does not harm anyone else but our own self?
What is the first loving behavior toward our enemies that Jesus mentions in the Sermon on the
Mount? What do we learn about the nature of love from this?
How does Jesus’ prayer, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” illustrate both forgiveness and mercy?
Is there anyone in your life against whom you are harboring bitterness or anger or hatred? If yes, who? This week pray the blessings talked about this chapter for these people, and ask God to soften your heart and to create in you true affection and love for them?
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Demand #28: Love Your Enemies - Lead Them To The Truth
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. — Matt. 5:44
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. — Luke 6:27-28
If you love those who love you, what benefit 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 benefit 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, to get back the same amount. — Luke 6:32-34
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. — John 17:17
From the workbook:
Why might having enemies be a sign that one is being a faithful disciple?
What does Piper show to be the root of love? Is this surprising to you? Why or why not? Why is it so essential to recognize this to be the root of love?
How might one use truth unlovingly? Have you ever seen someone doing this? Have you done this? Describe the situation.
Describe the modern conception of love. Who tends to have absolute say in what is and is not loving in today’s world?
What does Piper warn us of in the last section of this chapter? What has been his main point that makes this warning necessary? Which side do you tend to err on: speaking and/or pursuing truth unlovingly, or abdicating truth in hopes that you will be more loving if you do? How can you work toward cultivating more balance between the call to love and the need for truth?
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. — Luke 6:27-28
If you love those who love you, what benefit 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 benefit 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, to get back the same amount. — Luke 6:32-34
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. — John 17:17
From the workbook:
Why might having enemies be a sign that one is being a faithful disciple?
What does Piper show to be the root of love? Is this surprising to you? Why or why not? Why is it so essential to recognize this to be the root of love?
How might one use truth unlovingly? Have you ever seen someone doing this? Have you done this? Describe the situation.
Describe the modern conception of love. Who tends to have absolute say in what is and is not loving in today’s world?
What does Piper warn us of in the last section of this chapter? What has been his main point that makes this warning necessary? Which side do you tend to err on: speaking and/or pursuing truth unlovingly, or abdicating truth in hopes that you will be more loving if you do? How can you work toward cultivating more balance between the call to love and the need for truth?
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Demand #27: Your Righteousness Must Exceed That of the Pharisees, For Every Healthy Tree Bears Good Fruit
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. — Matt. 5:8
But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body
be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. — Matt. 5:28-30
Every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. — Matt. 7:17
From the workbook:
What is impurity according to Jesus? What is purity? How might these definitions change what you would otherwise think is impure? Would it reduce or enlarge the number of things that you could consider impure?
Describe how vigorously we must pursue purity.
What question has Piper been trying to answer throughout this book? What do you think his answer is thus far?
What does it mean to think of our assurance in terms of location and demonstration?
Examine the fruit of your life that you regularly and habitually bear. Is it good fruit? How would you know? On what basis should you judge good and bad fruit?
But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body
be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. — Matt. 5:28-30
Every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. — Matt. 7:17
From the workbook:
What is impurity according to Jesus? What is purity? How might these definitions change what you would otherwise think is impure? Would it reduce or enlarge the number of things that you could consider impure?
Describe how vigorously we must pursue purity.
What question has Piper been trying to answer throughout this book? What do you think his answer is thus far?
What does it mean to think of our assurance in terms of location and demonstration?
Examine the fruit of your life that you regularly and habitually bear. Is it good fruit? How would you know? On what basis should you judge good and bad fruit?
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