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?
1 comment:
“Blessed are you when others disparage you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven” (Matt. 5:11-12).
What a great command to go along with the study of 1 Peter.
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