Some Relationship Advice

Some Relationship Advice

Luke 6:27-36

As we saw from the preceding verses last week, Sunday Morning, Jesus is here giving ministry advice to his disciples.
After encouraging them to recognize the blessings of ministry, He goes on to speak to them about that all-important aspect of ministry, relationships.
If we are unable to successfully navigate human relationships and if we retreat in the face of difficult relationships we will lose our effectiveness in ministry.
Jesus gives us in the following verses some poignant advice in dealing with difficult relationships.

Love, instead of hate, your enemies. Vs.27a
Ex 23:4 If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
Pr 25:21 ¶ If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.


Do good, instead of evil, to them which hate you.Vs.27b
Ex 23: 5 If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.


Bless, instead of curse, them that curse you.Vs.28a
1Co 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:


Pray for, instead of get bitter against, them which despitefully use you.Vs.28b
Lu 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Ac 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.


Forgive, instead of defend, when people hurt or wrong you. Vs.29
1Co 6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?


Give, instead of withold, to those who are unwilling or unable to repay you. Vs.30
De 15:7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:
8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.
9 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.
10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.
Pr 21:26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

Treat people as you would be treated. Vs.31
Mt 7:12 ¶ 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.


The motivation for following the above advice is simple: Vs.36 Because that is what God has done for us.

Paul carries the argument further (vs.32-35) to remind us that the world has its own brand of relationship advice, and it doesn't meet God's standard.