Love For Enemies?

Continuing our Sermon on the Mount study, Jesus tells us to "love our enemies." Let's dive into the text:

 Matthew 5:43-48 NIV

[43]  “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ [44] But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his 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 own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? [48] Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

He says "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." These are all the people we don't get along with. God says love them too. He is impartial and does not show favoritism, so we shouldn't either. Verse 45 shows us this when He says, "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." 

So, He shows us how to live by treating everyone the same. Love everyone the same. How? Again, Romans 13:10a.

Romans 13:10 NIV

[10] Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

We never do harm to anyone. Enemy or friends. This is how we love everyone. Never do harm to anyone. 

Then it says we are being "perfect" like God is.

So, Jesus is showing us a new way to live, which is loving everyone. Never doing harm to anyone, friend or foe. Always love impartially. Do not show favoritism. Love everyone. So good!!

This ends chapter 5. So, now on to chapter 6 of Matthew.

Love you all dear readers,

Jeffrey Post