In the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus tells us to love our enemies. Today, many of us think of love as nothing more than a warm, fuzzy emotion—a feel-good sentiment reserved for those we already care about. So, what is Jesus really saying? How can I possibly muster up warm, fuzzy feelings for someone who might be out to harm me? How could I ever want to hug someone who’s nailing me to a cross?
The trouble starts when we misunderstand what love truly means. Love isn’t just a feeling; it’s an act of will. It’s about choosing the good of another person—even if that means sacrificing our own desires. It’s the self-gift of our whole being, given freely without expecting anything in return.
How do we know that this is what love is all about? Because it’s exactly how God loves us. He creates us and offers Himself as a gift, not because He benefits in any way, but solely for our benefit. He redeems us by sending His Son, enduring suffering and death—not to gain something for Himself, but to give us everything.
This kind of selfless love is what Christ demands of us. In fact, a close reading of the Old Testament shows that this has always been expected. When we choose our own good over the good of others, we fall into sin. We put ourselves before God and our neighbors, opting for our own interests rather than the sacrificial love that we’re called to give.
Let’s be honest—this level of selflessness doesn’t come naturally to us. Like other animals, we’re hardwired to look after our own well-being. We’re tempted to put our interests first, and that’s why God grants us grace—the intimate gift of His own presence—to help us love the way He loves. Sin robs us of our God-given ability to love properly. The natural, unredeemed man simply can’t love this way; it takes the spiritual life that comes from God. That’s why the new Adam—Christ—comes to restore our ability to truly love.
Even when we’re capable of loving in this way, it isn’t easy. Real love always involves a risk. Sacrificial love leaves us vulnerable—it means giving of ourselves completely, even when there’s a risk of rejection, hurt, or unreturned affection. I’m sure every one of us has felt the sting of unreturned love. Every act of unguarded love challenges our instinct to protect ourselves, yet in that very risk lies our strength, mirroring the courage of Christ’s own sacrifice.
And yet, that’s exactly what Jesus teaches. The person who slaps you on the cheek isn’t showing you love, but Jesus tells you to love him anyway. If someone takes your cloak, offer him your tunic too. He’s telling us that true love means giving everything—letting go of our attachments—so that we can offer ourselves fully. Do they deserve it? No, of course not. They haven’t earned it. But that’s the point: love isn’t something you can earn. God loves us not because we did something to deserve it, but simply because of who we are. He loves us in spite of our unlovable qualities, and we are to extend that same unmerited love to others—even those who hurt or mistreat us.
When we choose to love in this radical, sacrificial way, we break the cycle of retaliation and open the door to genuine healing. Such love doesn’t just change our relationships—it changes us, molding our character and renewing our hearts in ways that ripple outwards to our communities. When we live out this self-giving love, we set off a chain reaction that can transform families, heal communities, and even bridge societal divides. Radical love becomes a powerful testimony to a different way of living—a life that values mercy over punishment and generosity over self-interest.
Consider David and Saul. David had every reason to seek revenge, yet he chose not to harm Saul—even though Saul would have killed him without hesitation. David didn’t harm someone God had chosen and anointed, even when that person had repeatedly tried to kill him. David’s mercy wasn’t given because Saul deserved it—in fact, Saul probably deserved death. Instead, David showed mercy because that’s what God’s mercy looks like. And that, ultimately, is the essence of true love—a love that transforms us, makes us vulnerable, and ripples out to impact the world around us.
We can live this out in our own lives. We can respond to hurtful words with kindness instead of retaliation. We can forgive those who wrong us—even if they never apologize. We can serve others, especially those who are difficult to love. We can spend time in prayer, asking for the strength to love as Christ loves, and surround ourselves with a community that supports us on this challenging journey. Don’t be discouraged if love feels difficult at times— maybe even impossible—every one of us has a long way to go. Still, God is waiting to help us step forward in love and each step forward is a testament to the transformative power of radical, sacrificial love.
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