Daily Bible Reading 6th June 2026 // Luke 6:27-38
27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 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. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 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. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Another characteristic of the new life is love. One commentator observes: 'The Greek language has three words for love, which enable us to distinguish Christian love (agape) from passionate devotion (eros) and warm affection (philia). Jesus did not tell His disciples to fall in love with their enemies, or to feel for them as they felt for their families and friends. Agape is a gracious, determined, and active interest in the true welfare of others, which is not deterred even by hatred, cursing, and abuse, not limited by calculation of deserts or results, based solely on the nature of God. Love does not retaliate (27-31), seeks no reward (32-36), is not censorious (37, 38). It must be conceded that no word has been so devalued and adulterated as love. It is evident that the misunderstanding that bedevilled so much thinking then - and this is as true today was to think of love in terms of natural attraction for people (32). But love is not natural attraction, nor is it a feeling of generosity towards people, or being well-disposed towards them. It is not a feeling at all, but an attitude. It is the confusion between feeling and attitude that explains the perplexity many experience when faced with the biblical command 'Thou shalt love... .' ‘How can one love like that, to order?', they ask. But this is to confuse loving with liking. Liking cannot be commanded, because it is a feeling. 'I like Beethoven, I do not like....' What is the basis of this? One appeals to me, the other does not. In this realm, the liking is called forth by something in the other. And one does not turn that on to order. But to love is different. It is the adoption of a certain attitude towards people, at the command of God, without reference to anything in the people themselves, and independently of them. It involves the adoption of a certain attitude of thought and action towards them. And thought and action, as distinct from feelings, can be controlled and turned on, to order! This is what it is to love!