E If we look upon those who oppose, hurt, or persecute us as irredeemable, unchangeable Creatures of the Black Lagoon that are undeserving of our love and our forgiveness, then we must quickly run to the cross! Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.. All rights reserved. Matthew 5:43-47 (RSV)You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.[44] But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,[45] so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Remember that Jesus prefaces this whole section of His sermon by saying: For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven, (Matthew 5:20). Hatred of others is a useful tool used by ungodly authorities to create a unity based on rage, roots of bitterness, and the past sins of others. Hes expecting more out of them than God expected out of anyone before them. So he takes that straight out of the Old Testament, but he also says "you have heard it said that you should 'hate your enemy.'" That is a little more difficult, because nowhere in the Old Testament is there ever a command to hate one's enemy. Peacock's 'Mrs. The proposed idea is that Jesus turns the vengeance-consumed Old Testament on its head. Its authenticity is not seriously questioned and yet it is a revolutionary command. We are in no permanent position of hatred and enmity with others. And that is not only how to love your enemies, but also why we must love them. Want the Verse of the Day sent to your inbox? My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? The thesis of the book is simply is this: as Jesus forgave those who crucified Him, the cross of Christ was transformed from an instrument of shame to a sign of salvation. In both Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:27, Jesus calls for believers to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. In exasperation, the king of Syria laid siege to the city of Dothan, where Elisha lived, hoping to root out the source of his military frustrations. I The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. It may come as a surprise that some specific teachings on showing love toward enemies appear only in the Old Testament. Luke 6:27-36 NIV - Love for Enemies - "But to you who - Bible Gateway God is an unchanging God of love (cf. Dont misquote me on that. Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house. Interestingly, Mormonism alters Jesus words here and accidentally creates the very problem for which Jesus is falsely accused! Is the god of this world Satan or Jesus in 2 Cor. Paul quotes this proverb in Romans 12:20, most likely as a specific instantiation of Jesus command in the Sermon on the Mount. To follow Jesus, you must love your enemies. Why is this message an important one? He knows the Bible pretty well. (Matt 5:43). OpenBible.info 1 Samuel 25-26: Love Your Enemies - The Church of Jesus Christ of Create a free PRAY account and we'll send you our Weekly Wisdom Devotional emails each Tuesday. How can you learn to be optimistic? Jesus emphasizes the reality of reward in loving others. Why will you still be struck down? Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C,, Hit by friendly fire: what to do when fellow believers hurt you, 3 Real Ways Christians Can Love Their Enemies. And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone. When you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord, you shall offer it so that you may be accepted. And Elisha wasnt playing by the rules. Suppose ten are found there. He answered, For the sake of ten I will not destroy it., For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him., I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit. Interestingly, Jesus considered this the second-highest commandment in the law. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. To the choirmaster. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Moreover, those who persecute us today may, in Gods grace, become those who protect us tomorrow. . Matthew 5:43-48 NIV. Sign up for a free PRAYaccount and youll begin receiving our Weekly Wisdom Devotionals, sent to your inbox every Tuesday. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and . Pray.com is the easiest way to incorporate prayer into your daily life and grow your faith journey. Thats not a quotation. F 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.. Save 15% for life! For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. When Jesus said to love your enemy, hes asking us to make it our goal to love as our Heavenly Father loves. Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. Do We See Any Gospel Connections in the Book of Numbers? Sermon: Love the Lord Your God with All Your Heart Matthew 5:43-48 Im not implying that God is telling anyone to kill anybody today. No one shall come up with you, and let no one be seen throughout all the mountain. The question were asking today is about a very familiar commandment, love your enemies. What Does it Mean to 'Love Your Enemies'? God causes the sun to rise on evil people as well as the good and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous. You may have similar interests or similar experiences while growing up. Learn what manipulative behavior looks like and strategies for how to deal with manipulative people. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! You could also have similar jobs, common friends or family members, or similar personality traits., One surefire way to find common ground is by acknowledging your differences. When Jesus says, "You've heard it said," then he says, "You shall love your neighbor, hate your enemy," he's smart enough to know that the second part of that is not in the Old Testament anywhere. Praying is loving, as our Heavenly Father loves. Hes referring to this commandment, Love your neighbor. Great question. Michael A. Milton (PhD, Wales) is a long-time Presbyterian minister (PCA) and a regular contributor to Salem Web Network. 6506007), WTC is a Registered Charity (No. That they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the Lord your God. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Luke 6:28. Israel and Syria were locked in conflict (imagine!). You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. Is that really what the Mosaic Law taught? That is a valid question because under the Old Covenant, God told Israelites in some cases to wipe out people and to be separate from certain people, not to associate with certain people because of their incredibly sinful cultures and lies. You shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. However, those living without Christ are not unreachable. 5(B)If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it. He is also founder and president of Heavens Family, a Christian nonprofit that is advancing Jesus kingdom in more than 40 nations around the world. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. Verse Concepts. When he says, Youve heard it said, hes not saying, God said. Of course he didnt say, God said. He said, Youve heard that it was said. But the reality of it, it wasnt said. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18), God saves because we need saving! -Matthew 6:43-45. "You Have HeardBut I Say"Jesus' Six Counterpoints: Moral Upgrade or Moral Reclamation. Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? What Does the Bible Say About Loving Your Enemies? The alien is the same as the citizen. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and . 2:23, Job 25:3; Ps. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. There is only greater pain. He forgives you as you come to Him. He is defending the actual teaching of the Old Testament against this popular misrepresentation of its intent! And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. by Luke Wayne | Oct 3, 2017 | Questions, Other. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments. Thanks so much! And in a world where donkeys and oxen were means of personal livelihood, it is no small thing that the law commands Gods people to love their enemy by rescuing and returning their animals: When you come upon your enemys ox or donkey going astray, you shall bring it back. Matthew frequently records Jesus challenging the Pharisees with phrases like, Have you not read?1For example, Matthew 12:3, Matthew 12:5, Matthew 19:4, Matthew 21:16, Matthew 21:42 Matthew 22:31 Never, have you not heard? When speaking from the Prophet Daniel, Jesus bids let the reader understand, not let the hearer understand. This pattern is extremely consistent. Love Your Enemies Matthew 5:43-48 Delivered 11/24/2002. And he did so along the grain of its core ethical teachings. For as often as I speak against him, I do remember him still. And I said, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments. The gospel is, like C.S. love your enemies, bless those who curse you. But the Old Testament will be searched in vain for any precept which required the Israelites to entertain any hatred toward their enemies. Hes raising the standard, so under the Law of Moses, God didnt want Israel to love their enemies? Learn about the best Christian goals and how to accomplish them with pray.com. Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! That youre only obligated to love the people who love you, but you have no obligation to ever show mercy and grace to undeserving people? W Theyre twisting which has become so clear as weve been reading through this and weve already looked at three out of the six you have heard but I say to you statements by Jesus. Because if its a new ethic, a new standard, what youre saying is it cant be found in the Old Covenant anywhere. These are just a few ways to go about it. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. But along came the prophet Elisha (2 Kgs 6). Salem Media Group. I dont know what their conclusion was. He knows whats there. Like the first fruit on the fig tree in its first season, I saw your fathers. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if . Box 1353 |Nampa, ID 83653 USA1-800-803-8093, You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,, For example, Matthew 12:3, Matthew 12:5, Matthew 19:4, Matthew 21:16, Matthew 21:42 Matthew 22:31, For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven,, Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. [47] And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Dr. Lukes Sermon on the Plains, is shorter than the Sermon on the Mount. The Lord Jesus says that when we love our enemies, we prove that we are His children. TopicalBible L Do not even the tax collectors do the same? There was such a big problem with escalating vendettas that this law of retaliation was a way to limit those crimes., The sentencing was carried out by a court of elders, who assessed the damage done and distributed a monetary punishment to the guilty party., In the Old Testament, there is a verse in Leviticus 19:18 that states, Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people.. The result was that they no longer raised Israel: So where do we find love of enemy in the Old Testament? 5:8). That sounds like something out of the New Testament, no? And because you listen to these rules and keep and do them, the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the steadfast love that he swore to your fathers. These, like Matthew, and Zacchaeus, were tax collectors. Thats a good question. Matthew 5:44 KJV. Jesus said the greatest commands were to love God and to love our neighbor as ourself ( Matt. No end was in sight. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, It is something that is easy to say and nearly impossible to do: love your enemies. What does it mean to pray for your enemies? We skipped over the third one, looked at the fourth one last time. Discover 12 of the most powerful quotes on prayer from the worlds most notable figures. Matthew 5:43-48 - Love your enemies; Old Testament references. Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect., Jesus said that when we love our enemies, we resemble our Heavenly Father, who is perfect and merciful.. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'. Then hed notify the Israelite king Jehoram so he could pull a no-show. 3:6 ), and He cannot hate any person, nor can He command anyone else to do so. Hes not correcting the Law of Moses. I talked about previously on little lessons about how all of Gods moral commandments all emanate from his own character. But did Israel really live this out this ethos? Thou shalt "hate thine enemy" was a rabbinical invention pure and simple. God has a different plan for everyone, and sometimes that means your path in life doesnt match with someone elses. The Old Testament is God's love letter to his people in such a way that it shows how God created man, how he makes sure that He tends to them, and also how He saves his creations through His Son, Jesus Christ. What does it mean to love your neighbor as you love yourself? You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. Visit the Bible online to search for words if you dont know the specific passage yourre looking for. Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. We'd love to keep you up to date with what is happening at CARM. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Second, if there is plenty of evidence that the Bible is God's Word, and there is, then for finite man to deny the Bible because he doesn't like something or does not understand the reasons for some of what it . Too bad Jason can't trouble himself to have a ", "Hi Dave, I read your article with great interest. All rights reserved. Your enemy doesnt just mean some outside force that you fight with bayonets and swords., Put simply, loving our enemies means seeing them as human beings.. When you are facing obstacles, Jesus is always in your corner. The other contextual factor that exists in Jesus statement in the sermon on the mount is pride, position, and power. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. As the late Dr. John Stott wrote, In each antithesis (You have heard that it was said but I say to you ) he rejected the easy-going tradition of the scribes, reaffirmed the authority of Old Testament Scripture, and drew out the full and exacting implications of Gods moral law.2So, we can say that the presenting issues we observe in the text have to do with a misunderstanding of loving ones enemies. Love Your Enemies, Part 2 - Grace to You The lessons for their life might not be the same as yours, and thats okay., There's something we have in common with everybody if we look closely enough.
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