How Should We Treat Others?

Luke 6:31,35-36 [31] And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. [35] But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. [36] Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

How should we treat others? How do we want to be treated? Verse 31 answers both questions.

But love ye your enemies, --To have benevolence or good will for those who are a foe; an adversary

Do you love your enemies?

and do good, --That which contributes to diminish or remove pain, or to increase happiness or prosperity; benefit; advantage;

Do you do good to your enemies?

hoping for nothing again; --indulging desire of good with the expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable.

What do you expect from your enemies?

and your reward shall be great, --Recompense, or equivalent return for good done, for kindness, for services and the like. Rewards may consist of money, goods or any return of kindness or happiness.

What happens when you treat your enemies as God would have you treat them?

and ye shall be the children of the Highest: --A son or a daughter; a male or female descendant, in the first degree; the immediate progeny of God

When you treat your enemies well...you glorify God.

for he is kind --Disposed to do good to others, and to make them happy by granting their requests, supplying their wants or assisting them in distress; having tenderness or goodness of nature; benevolent; benignant. 

Are you disposed to do good to your enemies?

unto the unthankful --Not thankful; ungrateful; not making acknowledgments for good received.

Are you disposed to do good to those who are unthankful?  This part is not about their actions, but all about yours.

and to the evil. --Moral evil is any deviation of a moral agent from the rules of conduct prescribed to him by God, or by legitimate human authority; or it is any violation of the plain principles of justice and rectitude.

Are you disposed to do good to those who are evil?  This part is also not about their actions, but all about yours.

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Merciful--Having or exercising mercy; compassionate; tender; disposed to pity offenders and to forgive their offenses; unwilling to punish for injuries; applied appropriately to the Supreme being.

Oh, to be more like Christ and show mercy!  Many of the issues are due to our enemies not believing and trusting in God.  What a change He could be in their lives! First and foremost, we should be trying too bring then to Christ.  

How we treat others is not all about us... It is about glorifying Him!