PT-2 “The Reaction to Kingdom Love” (Luke 6:29-30)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/22/2026 9:50 AM

My Worship Time                                                 Focus: PT-2 “The Reaction to Kingdom Love”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                 Reference:  Luke 6:29-30

            Message of the verses:  “Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.  Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.”

            I will quote the first paragraph from MacArthur’s commentary in order to set the stage for what we will look at this morning:  “Kingdom love is marked not only by how it acts toward others, but also by how it reacts to what others do.  Jesus gave four illustrations of how to respond properly to ill treatment from the children of Satan.”  I looked at the first illustration in last evening’s SD, and will look at the next three in this morning’s SD.

            MacArthur writes “The second illustration is similar to the first one.  Whoever takes away your coat (whether by theft or legal action [cf. Matt. 5:40]),”  “40  And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.” We must remember that what Jesus taught in Matthew 5-7, The Sermon on the Mount, is being taught in a abbreviated form in this sixth chapter of Luke.  “Jesus said, do not withhold your shirt from him either.  Many people owned only one coat, or cloak, which also served as a blanket when they slept.  Because of that, the Mosaic law required that any coat taken as a pledge had to be returned before sunset (Ex. 22:26; Deut. 24:13).”

(Ex. 22:26; Deut. 24:13)

“26  If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down,”

“13  You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the LORD your God.”

“To keep a person’s cloak would constitute serious abuse.  But when that happens, Christ’s disciples are not to retaliate, but rather to continue to lovingly minister to those who persecute them—even if that results in losing their shirt (Inner garment) as well.

            “The third illustration, being willing to give to everyone who asks of you, takes place in the context of borrowing and lending (cf. v. 34; Matt. 5:42).”

(cf. v. 34; Matt. 5:42)

“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.”

“42  Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”

“The assumption is that the person has a legitimate need, since Scripture condemns laziness and indolence (cf. Prov. 6:6-12; 20:4; 24:30-34; 2 Thess. 3:10).”

(cf. Prov. 6:6-12; 20:4; 24:30-34; 2 Thess. 3:10)

“6 ¶  Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7  Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8  she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. 9  How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 11  and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.  12 ¶  A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech,”

“4 ¶  The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.”

“30 ¶  I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, 31  and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. 32  Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. 33  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 34  and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.”

“10  For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.”

“That a person may take advantage of a Christian’s generosity and not repay the loan should not keep the believer from graciously, lovingly meeting the need.

            “The final illustration, when someone takes away what is yours, envisions a situation where someone actually robs a believer.  Even in a case of outright theft, Christians are not to descend to retaliation, but to continue showing love and not demand the stolen item back.  As R. C. H. Lenske notes, ‘The disciple loses less by letting his things be taken wrongfully then he would by with a selfish heart clamoring to have them returned” (The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel [Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1946], 364).

            “No matter what the circumstances, kingdom love does not seek revenge (Prov. 24:29; Rom. 12:17, 19) when wronged.”

(Prov. 24:29; Rom. 12:17, 19)

“29  Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.’”

“17  Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.”

“19  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’”

“Christ’s true disciples will follow His example, who ‘while being reviled, He did not revive in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously’ (1 Peter 2:23).”

Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Let me just say that this section has stepped on my spiritual toes, as it came at the right time in my life.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to trust the Lord to have my wife get a much needed procedure to help her endure her cancer better.

7/22/2026 10:33 AM

 

 

 

PT-1 “The Reaction to Kingdom Love” (Luke 6:29-30)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/21/2026 9:38 PM

My Worship Time                                                 Focus: PT-1 “The Reaction to Kingdom Love”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                 Reference:  Luke 6:29-30

            Message of the verses:  “Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.  Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.”

            John MacArthur’s first sentence in this section states “Kingdom love is marked not only by how it acts toward others, but also by how it reacts to what others do.  Jesus gave four illustrations how to respond properly to ill treatment from the children of Satan.”  I am not really sure how far that I will get with this section this evening, but from this introduction it seems that there will be some good stopping places as it is made up of four illustrations on how we are to respond in the proper way to ill treatment from the children of Satan.

            He goes on to write “The command, whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also, does not preclude the self-defense mechanisms God has provided for self-preservation.  Jesus was not forbidding His followers to defend themselves if they were dangerously attacked.  In Luke 22:36 He instructed the apostles to buy a sword for protection if they did not have one.”  “36  He said to them, "But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.”  I am happy that MacArthur is explaining this section because it has always been troublesome to me.  “Governments are in place to protect their citizens with swords, and prevent evil action and anarchy (cf. Rom. 13:3-4), and Luke 3:14, where John the Baptist did not forbid men to be soldiers, but told them not to abuse their authority).”

(cf. Rom. 13:3-4), and Luke 3:14)

“3  For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4  for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.”

“14  Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.’”

“When the disciples were put out of the synagogues, as Jesus warned would happen (John 16:2), they would often be beaten (as Paul was five times [2 Cor. 11:24]) or slapped across the face.”

(John 16:2)

“2  They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.”

(2 Cor. 11:24)

“24  Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.”

“When dishonored with such insults and unable to defend themselves, they were not to retaliate, but to accept that mistreatment and continue to love their oppressors.

            “Jesus demonstrated the proper response to being unjustly humiliated during His trial before the high priest.  When one of the officers struck Him (John 18:22), He did not turn His head and ask to be struck again.”

(John 18:22)

22  When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?””  The truth is that Jesus is the High Priest.

“But neither did He lash out in anger and revenge at His mistreatment.  Instead, He calmly pointed out the injustice of the act (v. 23).”

(v. 23)

“23  Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”’

“To turn the other cheek is, like Jesus did, to accept hostility and ill treatment without hatred or retaliation, but to show love in return.”

This is where I will end this SD for this evening, and Lord willing I will look at the nest three illustrations in tomorrow morning’s SD.

            My wife has to have a procedure on Friday morning, and because of her illness it will take a lot out of her. Please pray this will be successful so that she can have relief from a difficult problem.

7/21/2026 10:51 PM

PT-2 “The Commands of Kingdom Love” (Luke 6:27-28)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/21/2026 8:48 AM

My Worship Time                                             Focus: PT-2 “The Commands of Kingdom Love”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                 Reference:  Luke 6:27-28

            Message of the verses:  “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

            I want to continue looking at these verses in this morning’s SD.

            I begin with a quotation from John MacArthur’s commentary: “Paradoxically, love and hate are linked in connection with the gospel.  The Lord’s command to the apostles in John 15:17, ‘This I command you, that you love one another’ was followed immediately by a warning that the world would hate them (vv. 18-19).”  “18 ¶  "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”  “Since sinners love darkness rather than light (John 3:19), and believers are children of the light (Eph. 5:8), who present Jesus Christ as the light of the world (John 8:12), they can expect to be hated by the world.”

(John 3:19)

“19  And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.”

(Eph. 5:8)

“8  for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”

(John 8:12)

“12 ¶  Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”

            “Surprisingly, the most intense hatred always comes from religious people.  Nothing is more precious to religious sinners than the illusion of their virtue and lofty position before God.  They in effect erect their own personal tower of Babel, a monument to their own supposed piosity.  But the gospel strips away sinners’ religious veneer of self-righteousness and reveals them to be wretched, helpless, blind rebels, facing eternal judgment.  In response to being unmasked, they lash out in hatred at those who proclaim the truth to them.

            “When believers face hatred, they are to respond by seeking the welfare of those who hate them, thereby reinforcing their supernatural love.  The credibility of the gospel is at stake and believers must love the lost evangelistically.

            “Christ’s disciples must not only manifest love for their enemies by what they do, but also by what they say.  Instead of reviling them, they are to bless those who curse them; to say good things in response to their evil words.  Many of Christ’s followers were vilified, cursed, and ostracized in an unofficial way, just as Jesus had warned would happen (Matt. 10:35-37; Luke 12:51-53).”

(Matt. 10:35-37; Luke 12:51-53)

35  For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36  And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37  Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”

“51  Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52  For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53  They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’’

“Others were cursed in an official way by being excommunicated from the synagogue, which Jesus had also predicted would be the case (John 16:2; cf. 9:22; 34; 12:42).

(John 16:2; cf. 9:22; 34; 12:42)

“2  They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.”

“22  (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.)

“34  They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.”

“42 ¶  Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue;”

            “This command does not preclude warning unbelievers of the consequences of their sin, as the Lord Himself did (cf. 6:24-26; Matt. 23:13-36).

(cf. 6:24-26; Matt. 23:13-36)

“24  "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25  “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. ”Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26  "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.”

(I will not quote Matthew 23:13-36 because of the length of it.

“Apart from such warnings, there could be no conviction of sin (cf. John  17:7-11).”

(cf. John  17:7-11)

“7  Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8  For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9  I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10  All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 ¶  And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.”

“Unbelievers must be confronted with the reality that apart from repentance from sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ they are cursed (1 Cor. 16:7-11).”

(1 Cor. 16:7-11)

“7  For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8  But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9  for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 10 ¶  When Timothy comes, that see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. 11  So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.”

“But when Christ’s followers confront sinners they must, like Paul, have an attitude of deep concern and love for them (cf. Rom. 9:1-3; 10:1).”

(cf. Rom. 9:1-3; 10:1)

“1 ¶  I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2  that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3  For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.”

“1 ¶  Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.”

“And, like Paul, they must be willing to pay whatever price is necessary to take the gospel to the lost (cf. 1 Cor. 9:22: 2 Cor. 11:22-33).”

(cf. 1 Cor. 9:22: 2 Cor. 11:22-33)

“22  To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.”

I am not going to quote 2 Cor. 11:22-33 because of the length of it.

            “Finally, Jesus commanded His followers to pray for those who mistreat them.  Specifically in this context, they are to pray for their salvation, as Jesus (Luke 23:34) and Stephen (Acts 7:59-60) did.”

(Luke 23:34)

34  Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.’”

“59  And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60  And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

7/21/2026 10:27 AM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PT-1 “The Commands of Kingdom Love” (Luke 6:27-28)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/20/2026 9:31 PM

My Worship Time                                                     Focus:  “The Commands of Kingdom Love”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                 Reference:  Luke 6:27-28

            Message of the verses:  “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

            It took three SD’s to get through the introduction to MacArthur’s introduction, and now this evening I begin the first main point he writes on the first two verses of this section.

            Now as noted earlier, the Lord addressed these four simple yet profound commands to His genuine disciples, the ones who hear and obey His Word, something all true believers should be doing.  These words describe a supernatural love that is vastly different from the kind of love found in the world.  Vengeance is a virtue to the unbelievers, who make heroes out of those who take nothing from anyone, and who lash out at those who wrong them and make they pay.  Joseph Stalin, who perhaps is the most brutal and vindictive dictator of the twentieth century, captured the essence of the world’s lust for revenge when he said , “To choose one’s victim, to prepare one’s plan minutely, to slake an implacable vengeance, and then to go to bed—there is nothing sweeter in the world’ (Death in the Kremlin: Killer of the Masses” [Time magazine, March 16, 1953; http://www.time. Com/time/magazine/article/o,917,935828-7,00.html;accessed 12 January 2010]).  Millions of people tasted the bitterness of Stalin’s :implacable vengeance,” suffering torture, exile, and death.

            Now attitudes were little different in the days of Jesus, not even in Israel.  The first century Judaism was narrow, exclusive, intolerant, and hence largely loveless and condemning.  There was hatred of their enemies, especially Gentiles (and above all their Roman occupiers), was elevated the status of a spiritual virtue (Matthew 5:43).

(Matthew 5:43)

“43 ¶  "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’”

MacArthur writes “The medieval Jewish scholar Maimonides recorded the Talmud’s maxim that a Jew should not rescue a Gentile who fell into the sea.  Some Zealot extremists took that contemptuous disregard for Gentile life one step further by actually murdering Romans.  Many Jews thus found Jesus’ command love your enemies to be incomprehensible, shocking, and unacceptable.

            “But such vengeful hatred of one’s enemies was contrary to the Old Testament law.  It is true that the imprecatory Psalms call for God’s promised judgment on His foes.  But to arrogate that right to themselves, as some Jews did, contradicted God’s declaration in Deuteronomy 32:35 that vengeance belongs to Him (cf. Rom. 12:19; Heb. 10:30).”

(cf. Rom. 12:19; Heb. 10:30)

“19  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

“30  For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”

“Instead of seeking revenge, Proverbs 25:21 commands, ‘If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink’ (cf. Ex. 23:4-5).”

(cf. Ex. 23:4-5)

“4  "If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. 5  If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.”

“Leviticus 19:18 summarizes the Old Testament teaching of how to view one’s enemies: ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  The term ‘neighbor’ refers to anyone in need (Luke 10:29-37), not merely to fellow Jews.”

(Luke 10:29-37)

29  But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30  Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31  Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32  So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33  But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34  He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35  And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36  Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" 37  He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.’”

            “Instead of seeking revenge, Christ’s disciples are to do good to those who hate them.  Kalos (good) describes what is inherently, not superficially, good.  It refers here to doing things that will benefit one’s enemies.  When they love like that, believers will ‘overcome evil with good’ (Rom. 12:21; cf. 1 Peter 3:9).”

(Rom. 12:21; cf. 1 Peter 3:9)

“21  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

“9  Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”

7/20/2026 10:59 PM

 

 

 

 

PT-3 Intro to “Kingdom of Love” (Luke 6:27-38)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/20/2026 9:45 AM

My Worship Time                                                     Focus PT-3 Intro to “Kingdom of Love”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                Reference:  Luke 6:27-38

            Message of the verses:  “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who are abusive to you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat people the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? 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 expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 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 Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil people. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. ‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.’”

            I will continue to quote from John MacArthur’s introduction to these verses in this morning’s SD.

            “Jesus opened the Sermon on the Mount by describing how the  righteous view themselves (6:20-26).”

(6:20-26)

“20 ¶  And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21  “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. ”Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22  "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23  Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. 24  "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25  “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. ”Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26  "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.”

“He declared blessed those who are spiritually poor, acknowledging their utter lack of any resources by which they might obtain salvation; who are hungry, longing desperately for the righteousness that only God can give; who morn, consumed with grief and sorrow over their sin; and who are persecuted, yet consider it cause for rejoicing when they are hated, ostracized, and insulted for their loyalty to Jeus Christ.

            “In this next section of His message, the Lord addressed His genuine disciples (those who hear, understand, and obey God’s word, in contrast to unbelievers, who have no such capacity [1 Cor. 2:14]).”

(1 Cor. 2:14)

“14  The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

“Instructing them on how they are to view others.  They are to be marked not only by hatred of their sin, but also by love for their enemies.

            “The command to love one’s enemies provides an important balance against and tendency toward isolation.  Some believers, over-balance against any tendency toward isolation.  Some believers, over whelmed by a sense of sinful inadequacy, might seek to withdraw themselves.  Others might want to avoid the influence of and persecution by evil people.  Some Christians caught up in politics even view non-believers as the enemy, rather than the mission field.  But for Christ’s true followers to isolate themselves, hate or resent the lost and their agenda, violates the church’s mandate to preach the gospel to the lost world (Matt. 28:19-20; cf Rom. 10:14-15).

(Matt. 28:19-20; cf Rom. 10:14-15)

“19  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”

“14  How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15  And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’”

            “This important portion of our Lord’s kingdom teaching reveals that His true disciples are to be marked by  a supernatural love that does good to others—even their enemies.  The passage unfolds six aspects of kingdom love: its commands, the reactions to it, the principle behind it, its essence, its benefits, and its goal.”

Spiritual Meaning for my Life Today:  To share the Word of God with others in a good way, not pressuring them to accept it, but allowing the Holy Spirit of God to do that.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I am trusting the Lord to get Sandy through these next five days without troubles before she gets her next drainage of her abdomen.

7/20/2026 10:06 AM

 

           

 

PT-2 Intro to “Kingdom of Love” (Luke 6:27-38)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/19/2026 8:01 PM

My Worship Time                                                     Focus PT-2 Intro to “Kingdom of Love”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                 Reference:  Luke 6:27-38

            Message of the verses:  “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who are abusive to you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat people the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? 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 expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 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 Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil people. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. ‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.’”

            I will continue to quote from John MacArthur’s introduction to these verses in this evening’s SD.

            “But the most foundational mark of a genuine believer in Jesus Christ is love.  First, Christians love God, which Jesus declared to be the greatest and most important principle in Scripture (Matt. 22:37-38; cf. Deut. 6:5; 11:1; Josh. 22:5; Rom. 8:28; 1 Cor. 2:9; 1 John 5:2).

(Matt. 22:37-38; cf. Deut. 6:5; 11:1; Josh. 22:5; Rom. 8:28; 1 Cor. 2:9; 1 John 5:2)

“37  And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38  This is the great and first commandment.”

“5  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

“1 ¶  "You shall therefore love the LORD your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always.”

“5  Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.’”

“28  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

“9  But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him’”

“2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.”

“Love for fellow believers also marks Christ’s true disciples (John 13:34-45; cf. 15:12; 1 Thes. 4:9; Heb. 13:1; 1 Peter 1:22; 4:8; 1 John 3:11, 14; 4:7, 21:2; 2 John 5).”

(John 13:34-35; cf. 15:12; 1 Thes. 4:9; Heb. 13:1; 1 Peter 1:22; 4:8; 1 John 3:11, 14; 4:7, 21:2; 2 John 5)

“34  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’”

“12  "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

“9 ¶  Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,”

“1 ¶  Let brotherly love continue.”

“22  Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,”

“8  Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

“11 ¶  For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”

“14 ¶  We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.”

“7 ¶  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”

“21  And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

“5 ¶  And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.”

            “Along with loving God and fellow believers, Christians are also to love unbelievers.  While they are forbidden to love the evil, satanic world system (1 John 2:15-17), believers are nevertheless to love the lost sinners trapped within it.”

(1 John 2:15-17)

“15  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16  For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17  And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

“By doing so they follow the example of their heavenly Father, who ‘causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous’ (Matt. 5:45), and the Lord Jesus “Christ, who loved even those who rejected Him (Mark 10:21 cf. Luke 23:34).”

(Mark 10:21 cf. Luke 23:34)

“21  And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’”

“34  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.”

7/19/2026 8:24 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intro to “Kingdom of Love” (Luke 6:27-38)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/19/2026 9:59 AM

My Worship Time                                                                    Focus Intro to “Kingdom of Love”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                 Reference:  Luke 6:27-38

            Message of the verses:  “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who are abusive to you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat people the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? 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 expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 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 Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil people. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. ‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.’”

            I will quote John MacArthur’s introduction to these verses in this morning’s SD.

            “There are many things that mark a true Christian, including repentance (2 Cor. 7:10; 1 John 1:8-10), humility (James 1:21; 4:6, 10; 1 Peter 5:5), living for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31), prayer (Luke 18:1; “Eph. 6:18; Phil. 4:6), separation from the world (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17), bearing spiritual fruit (Matt. 13:23; John 15:5, 8), obedience (Matt. 7:21; John 15:14; 1 Peter 1:1-2; 1 John 2:3-5), hunger for God’s Word (1 Peter 2:1-2), and a transformed life (2 Cor. 5:17).”  Now I will take the time to quote all of these verses in the order they are seen in this paragraph.

repentance (2 Cor. 7:10; 1 John 1:8-10)

“10  For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”

“8 ¶  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

humility (James 1:21; 4:6, 10; 1 Peter 5:5)

“21  Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

“6  But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

“10  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

“5 ¶  Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”

living for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31)

“31  So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

prayer (Luke 18:1; “Eph. 6:18; Phil. 4:6)

“1 ¶  And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”

“18  praying at all times in the Spirit, with all and prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,”

“6  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

separation from the world (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17)

“4  You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

“15  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16  For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17  And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

spiritual growth (Eph. 4:11-15; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18)

“11  And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12  to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13  until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14  so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,”

“2  Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—”

“18  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

bearing spiritual fruit (Matt. 13:23; John 15:5, 8)

“23  As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’”

“5  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

“8  By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

obedience (Matt. 7:21; John 15:14; 1 Peter 1:1-2; 1 John 2:3-5)

“21 ¶  "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

“14  You are my friends if you do what I command you.”

“  1 ¶  Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2  according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”

“3 ¶  And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4  Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5  but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:”

hunger for God’s Word (1 Peter 2:1-2)

“1 ¶  So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2  Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation”

a transformed life (2 Cor. 5:17)

“17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Spiritual Meaning for my Life Today:  To try to live up to what these verses are saying, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  As I take care of my wife, who has cancer, I need to be under the control of the Holy Spirit to give effective help to her.

7/19/2026 10:38 AM