Study Guide:
To Love Like Jesus (Luke 6:27-38)
Summary
Jesus teaches His disciples that the defining characteristic of God's Kingdom is an extraordinary, unconditional love — a love that is fundamentally different from human love. This love responds rather than retaliates, acts proactively rather than reactively, and mirrors God's own love for the unthankful and evil. This radical love cannot be achieved through human effort but through the indwelling power of Christ's Spirit. When the church collectively lives out this love, it becomes a visible manifestation of God's Kingdom on earth.
Key Points
Love Responds, It Does Not Repay (Luke 6:27-30)
Jesus calls His disciples to have an unusual, Kingdom love.
Love your enemies with agape—divine love—not merely kindness or diplomacy
This love is supernatural and only possible through Christ living in and through us
Love Is Proactive, Not Reactive (Luke 6:31)
Love acts first!
God demonstrated proactive love by loving us while we were still sinners
Divine love takes initiative and does not depend on reciprocation
Love as God Loves, Not as Humans Love (Luke 6:32-36)
Even sinners can love those who love them; Kingdom love is different
Our reward and our sonship is not on earth, but in heaven
God is kind to the unthankful and evil; therefore, we are called to be merciful as our Father is merciful
Key Verses
Luke 6:27-28 — "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you."
Luke 6:31 — "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise." (The Golden Rule)
Luke 6:35-36 — "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful."
Romans 5:8 — "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 8:15-17 — On adoption into God's family and becoming joint heirs with Christ
Points for Further Study
The Authority of Jesus' Words — Study the phrase "But I say to you" throughout the Gospels and how Jesus elevated the standard of the Law
The Nature of Agape Love — Research how agape differs from other forms of love and study 1 Corinthians 13 applied to difficult relationships
Supernatural Love Through the Holy Spirit — Explore Galatians 2:20 and how Christ empowers believers to love as He loved
Sonship and Inheritance — Study what it means to be adopted into God's family and joint heirs with Christ (see Romans 8:15-17)
The Balance Between Justice and Mercy — Explore how loving enemies relates to God's justice against evil and God's mercy toward an evil person
Questions for Discussion
What does Jesus mean when He says "But I say to you"? What authority is He claiming?
How does Jesus' command to "love your enemies" differ from the world's approach? What makes this love "unusual"?
Who is a difficult person in your life right now? How might you apply the four disciplines Jesus mentions (love, do good, bless, pray) toward this person?
What is the difference between human love and God's love? Why is this distinction important for understanding the Kingdom of God?
How does the promise of being "sons of the Most High" motivate us to love as Jesus teaches?
Jesus says God "is kind to the unthankful and evil." How does understanding God's character help us love our enemies?
How might your workplace, neighborhood, or family be different if you and other believers consistently loved enemies and blessed those who curse you?
Challenges
How do we balance Jesus' teaching to love enemies with God's call for justice? Can we love someone and still hold them accountable?
What are the biggest obstacles you face in loving as Jesus teaches?
How does the indwelling presence of Christ make it possible to love enemies?
What does it look like to rely on Christ's love rather than your own?