Love Your Enemies
Ithaca, NY, 2008
My dear friends,
The continued teachings of Jesus from the Sermon on the Plain, as recorded in Luke 6:27-38, remind us of the true nature of love, compassion, and kindness, something we must practice not just towards our friends but even towards our enemies.
Love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you,
pray for those who abuse you.
If anyone strikes you on the cheek,
offer the other also;
and from anyone who takes away your coat
do not withhold even your shirt.
Give to everyone who begs from you;
and if anyone takes away your goods,
do not ask for them again."
This scripture invites us to counter hatred not with animosity, but with love and understanding. It calls for patience and tolerance, even in the face of adversity. If someone strikes you, it advises to offer the other cheek, an example of responding to aggression with peace. We are encouraged to give generously, and not to hold onto material possessions with a tight grip. These actions may seem difficult, but they hold the key to true peace, both within and around us.
This simple, universal teaching – the Golden Rule – is at the heart of every ethical system. It urges us to understand and respect others, to empathize with their experiences, and to act towards them as we would want them to act towards us.
For even sinners love those who love them.
If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?
For even sinners do the same.
If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.
Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High;
for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked."
True virtue lies not in loving those who love us, but in extending our compassion to those who may not reciprocate it. Even those we regard as "sinners" are capable of loving their friends and doing good to those who benefit them. The test of true benevolence – a divine quality – lies in loving our enemies, doing good, and lending without expectation of return.
Do not judge, and you will not be judged;
do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.
Forgive, and you will be forgiven;
give, and it will be given to you.
A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap;
for the measure you give will be the measure you get back."
This is a profound call to cultivate inner qualities of mercy, non-judgment, and forgiveness. We are urged not to judge or condemn others, but to forgive. This is not merely about our relations with others, but about freeing our own hearts from the burdens of resentment and hostility – an abundant reward in itself.
These teachings are not exclusive to any single faith, but echo through all of humanity's great spiritual traditions. They illuminate the universal values of love, kindness, generosity, and forgiveness. Whether we are believers or non-believers, these values are essential for creating a peaceful society and a happy, meaningful life.
We should strive not merely to admire these teachings, but to internalize them, to make them a living part of our daily actions and attitudes. May we all find the courage and wisdom to embody these teachings in our lives, and in doing so, contribute to a more compassionate, peaceful world.