Note to parents:

Children have a very strong sense of justice! How many times do you hear them cry: ‘It’s not fair!’ The question of how to take Jesus’ teaching here in Luke 6:27-36, and put it into practise will feel just as problematic for them as it does for us.

I’ve found that putting it in a context, or framework, in the way Paul does in Rom.12:18-21, or as Peter does in I Pet.2:19-24 frames it well. It helps us to understand for example, that Jesus is not asking us to do anything that He hasn’t first done Himself, and that He has given us the resources to put His teaching into practise as we follow His example. It also helps us to grasp that we aren’t denying justice, but rather deferring it. Justice will still be done – just not now and not by us. And that is fair!

It’s highly likely that your child(ren) will have at least one experience of suffering injustice... a time when someone has been mean to them, and maybe even hit them. It might be tricky depending on the circumstances, but getting them to talk about that might be a good place to start.

some helpful discussion starters:

‘They started it’! If we get into a fight with someone (verbal or physical), whose fault is it?

How can we stop ourselves from mean to someone else when they are mean to us?

What does Jesus teach us we should do to them and for them instead?

When we read Jesus’ teaching, does it mean that we shouldn’t tell our parents, or a teacher if someone bullies us, or ill-treats us? Are there times when Jesus teaches us that we shouldn’t turn the other cheek?

a great activity:

Read through the account of Jesus’ suffering and death (e.g. Luke 22:39-23:49). How many different ways can you find of Jesus putting into practise what He preaches?

a fun video resource:

There is a Superbook episode looking at the issue of loving your enemies. You can view it here.

a family prayer:

Father, thank you that you loved your enemies when you sent Jesus into this world.

Forgive us when we don’t follow your example. Help us by your Spirit to be more like you, even when people do something wrong to us. Help us to control our temper and to behave in a way that show other people what you are like; Amen.

You might enjoy discovering the story of Martin Luther King. As a Christian pastor, he took Jesus’ teaching and used it in a political context to seek to reconcile a divided society... or at least to take some steps toward reconciling a divided society. There’s an animated video exploring the life of King here

and you can see his famous ‘I have a dream’ speech here

Jesus’ teaching is so powerful that even when it is put into practise in context Jesus didn’t mean for it, it can still achieve a great deal!!