²⁷Jesus continued with some radical challenges: ‘But I say to you who are listening: don’t just love your own people but also love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Look for opportunities to be kind to them. ²⁸Give a blessing to people who curse you; pray for those who insult you or treat you badly. ²⁹Don’t stand up for your rights. For example, if someone insults you by slapping you on one cheek, don’t take revenge by hitting back, but offer them your other cheek too! If someone takes away your coat, don’t keep back your shirt from them! ³⁰Give to everyone who asks you for something. And if anyone takes away what is yours, don’t demand that they give it back to you. Be kind and generous to help people in need because your Father in heaven loves you so generously. ³¹Constantly put yourself in other people’s shoes, think how you would like to be treated and then treat them in that way.

³²‘If you love only people who love you in return, why should anyone praise you for that? I ask this because even sinners and rogues love people who love them. ³³And if you do good only to people who do good to you, why should anyone praise you for that? I ask this because even sinners and rogues do the same. ³⁴And if you lend money only to people whom you expect will repay you, why should anyone praise you for that? Even sinners lend to other sinners, and rogues lend to other rogues, expecting to be repaid in full. ³⁵But, I say to you, love your enemies. Do them good and lend money to them without expecting to receive anything from them in return. If you do that, your reward will be great, and you will show that you are children of the Most High God, because he is kind to the rogues of this world, people who are ungrateful and evil. ³⁶Be kind and merciful, just as your Father in heaven is kind and merciful. Aim to lead a life that shows what God is like.

Luke 6:27-36

Key Thought: Look for opportunities to be kind to your opponents.