Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus Teaches about Loving Your Enemies

44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.

 

He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

 

46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

 

47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

 

48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

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This is the Word of the Lord ... It is meant to change the way that we think, and the way that we live.

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Commentary by Bob Pardue

What does Jesus say about loving your enemies ?

When I first started reading this passage I was a little confused. Love your enemies? Then, as I read further to verse 46 I realized what Jesus meant. It is easy to love those who love us back. We can love those people with almost no effort on our part. So, what did we accomplish for God by loving and cherishing them?

Vigilante Justice

By teaching us not to retaliate, Jesus keeps us from taking the law into our own hands. By loving and praying for our enemies, we can overcome evil with good.

Who Should We Love?

The Pharisees interpreted Leviticus 19:18 as teaching that they should love only those who love in return, and Psalm 139:19-22 and 140:9-11 as meaning that they should hate their enemies.

But Jesus says we are to love our enemies. If you love your enemies and treat them well, you will truly show that Jesus is Lord of your life. This is possible only for those who give themselves fully to God, because only He can deliver people from natural selfishness.

Use the Spirit to Guide You

We must trust the Holy Spirit to help us show love to those for whom we may not feel love.

I am certainly not saying that we shouldn't love our friends and family, not at all. But as Christians we should at least make an effort to care for those who hate us because that is precisely what Christ did when He died on the cross. He gave his life for a world who hated him so that we might have life. Can we try to love those who have wronged us and pray for them?

Love in Christ

- Bob

Matthew 5:38-42 - Jesus Teaches about Getting Even - "So angry I could ..." This thought ever enter your mind? Of course, we've all felt anger toward another person but most times we don't act out our feelings. Let's see what Jesus says about retaliation.