Matthew 5:43, 44 - How Do You Love Your Enemies?
Mat 5:43, 44: How Do You Love Your Enemies?
Mat 5:43, 44 (NIV) "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your
neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray
for those who persecute you,
Mat 5:43, 44 (paraphrase) Love everyone unselfishly with
respect, regard and control over your feelings; then pray for them.
DEVOTIONAL PEARL
"Love thy neighbour." Perhaps he rolls in riches, and thou art
poor, and living in thy little cot side-by-side with his lordly
mansion; thou seest every day his estates, his fine linen, and his
sumptuous banquets; God has given him these gifts, covet not his wealth,
and think no hard thoughts concerning him. Be content with thine own
lot, if thou canst not better it, but do not look upon thy neighbour,
and wish that he were as thyself. Love him, and then thou wilt not
envy him.
Perhaps, on the other hand, thou art rich, and near thee reside
the poor. Do not scorn to call them neighbour. Own that thou art
bound to love them. The world calls them thy inferiors. In what are
they inferior? They are far more thine equals than thine inferiors,
for "God hath made of one blood all people that dwell upon the face
of the earth." It is thy coat which is better than theirs, but thou
art by no means better than they. They are men, and what art thou
more than that? Take heed that thou love thy neighbour even though he
be in rags, or sunken in the depths of poverty.
But, perhaps, you say, "I cannot love my neighbours, because for
all I do they return ingratitude and contempt." So much the more
room for the heroism of love. Wouldst thou be a feather-bed warrior,
instead of bearing the rough fight of love? He who dares the most, shall
win the most; and if rough be thy path of love, tread it boldly,
still loving thy neighbours through thick and thin. Heap coals of fire
on their heads, and if they be hard to please, seek not to please
them, but to please thy Master; and remember if they spurn thy love,
thy Master hath not spurned it, and thy deed is as acceptable to him
as if it had been acceptable to them. Love thy neighbour, for in so
doing thou art following the footsteps of Christ. [Morning and Evening
by Charles H. Spurgeon]
THE FOLLOWING ARE FOR THOSE WHO DESIRE DEEPER STUDY:
CONTENT; What's in the verse; Translations; Paraphrase; Word
Study:
Mat 5:43, 44 (KJV) Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou
shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you,
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute
you;
Mat 5:43, 44 (NIV) "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your
neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray
for those who persecute you,
Mat 5:43, 44 (paraphrase) Love everyone unselfishly with
respect, regard and control over your feelings; then pray for them.
LOVE
Love. Gr. agapaō, Our word "love" means so many different
things, and conveys so many diverse ideas, that the true meaning of
agapē is obscured by this translation. The Greeks had three words to
convey the ideas we seek to express by our one word "love": agapan,
philein, and eran.
Philein in general describes affectionate, sentimental love
based on the emotions and feelings. Insofar as it is based on the
feelings it is subject to change as the feelings change. Eran denotes
passionate, sensual "love," love that operates essentially on the physical
plane. Certain forms of infatuation may be classed under this variety
of "love." Eran is not used in the NT. In the NT agapan, when
contrasted with philein, describes love from the standpoint of respect and
esteem. It adds principle to feeling in such a way that principle
controls the feelings. It brings into play the higher powers of the mind
and intelligence. Whereas philein tends to make us "love" only those
who "love" us, agapan extends love even to those who do not love us.
Agapan is selfless, whereas eran is purely selfish, and even philein
may, at times, be marred by selfishness.
The noun form, agapē, is confined almost exclusively to the
Bible. The agapē of the NT is love in its highest and truest form,
the love than which there is no greater--love that impels a man to
sacrifice himself for others (John 15:13). It implies reverence for God
and respect for one's fellow men. It is a divine principle of
thought and action that modifies the character, governs the impulses,
controls the passions, and ennobles the affections. [SDA Commentary]
HATE YOUR ENEMY
Hate your enemy is not found in Moses' writings. This was a
principle drawn by the scribes and Pharisees from Lev. 19:18. [Nelson SB]
Hate thine enemy. This is not a part of the quotation from Lev.
19:18, but doubtless a popular maxim. Hatred or contempt for others is
the natural product of pride in self. Thinking themselves, as sons
of Abraham (John 8:33; see on Matt. 3:9), superior to other men
(cf. Luke 18:11), the Jews looked with contempt on all Gentiles. [SDA
Commentary]
The rabbis corrupted Lev. 19:18, which sums up the Law of
Israel, by adding "and hate your enemy." By thus tampering with
Scripture, they intended to define their neighbors to include only Jews and
to exclude Samaritans and Gentiles. Kingdom citizens must practice
self-denying, self-giving, nondiscriminating love toward all men, even their
enemies, for God does the same (v. 45). [Believer's SB]
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
Love your enemies. The word for "love," agapan, denotes the love
of respect in contrast with philein, which describes the love of
emotion (filial love), such as exists between members of the family (see
on Matt. 5:43). The command would be impossible if it enjoined men
to philein their enemies, for they could not feel toward their
enemies the same emotional warmth of affection that they feel toward the
immediate members of their families, nor is that expected. Philein is
spontaneous, emotional, and is nowhere commanded in the NT. Agapan, on the
other hand, can be and is commanded, for it is under the control of
the will. To agapan our bitterest enemies is to treat them with
respect and courtesy and to regard them as God regards them. [SDA
Commentary]
BLESS
Bless. Important textual evidence may be cited for omitting the
second and third clauses of this declaration, as well as the words
"despitefully use you." According to these ancient witnesses Christ simply
said, "Love your enemies, pray for them that persecute you." However,
compare Luke 6:27, 28. [SDA Commentary]
44 "enemies": Some late manuscripts: enemies, bless those who
curse you, do good to those who hate you> [NIV SB]
CONTEXT; What's around the verse; Overview; Topic:
Overview
Jesus announced blessings for citizens of His kingdom (5:1-12).
He expects citizens of His kingdom to do good deeds (vv. 13-16),
for He requires a righteousness that surpasses that of even the
zealous Pharisees (vv. 17-20). Christ looked behind the acts the Law
regulated to call for purity of heart (vv. 21-42) and that crowning
expression of kingdom righteousness: a love like the Heavenly Father's for
one's enemies (vv. 43-48). [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
5:17-48 The Fulfilled Law: Divine Perfection
Jesus gave five examples of the fulfillment of the law. He
corrected a possible misunderstanding concerning the purpose of his coming
(5:17-20). He did not come to abolish the law (5:17). But he did come to
demand perfection (cf. 5:48). Jesus had just spoken of good works
(5:16), and he, like the prophets of old, demanded the same holy
character and acts of obedience. He brought no new way of living in God's
kingdom. He simply expanded and deepened God's long-standing desire for
his creation's obedience and holiness. He started with the
Pharisees' standard of righteousness: obedience to the law. But he applied
that law not only to the external deeds that a person might do, but
also to the attitudes and thoughts in the depths of a person's heart.
Fulfilled law is no longer the law imposed upon a person from the outside,
but that which is written on the heart and becomes an integral part
of that person (cf. 5:22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44). If the law becomes
internalized, obedience becomes instinctive and pleasant, not something a
person is forced to do. Throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus
called his hearers to move from external obedience to an obedience
motivated by the law written upon the heart (5:22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44;
6:19-24).
Five examples of how the Pharisees failed to fulfill the law
were given in 5:21-28: (1) murder and anger 5:21-26; (2) adultery and
lust 5:27-32; (3) vows and simplicity (5:33-37; cf. Lev. 19:12; Num.
30:2); (4) revenge and nonresistance (Matt. 5:38-42); and (5) loving
enemies (5:43-48).
The Old Testament had taught love for one's neighbor (Lev.
19:18), and the principle of hatred for one's enemies was a Pharisaic
perversion (Matt. 5:43). Passages like Deuteronomy 23:3-4 were not excuses
to hate one's enemies but needed to be interpreted in context.
Deuteronomy 23:7-8 goes on to require the acceptance of Edomites and
Egyptians. The issue was holiness in God's assembly, not a generic excuse
to hate anyone who was offensive. The essential teaching for
dealing with the problem of enemies was reliance upon God's, not man's,
justice. For Matthew 5:40, compare 1 Corinthians 6:7. These acts of
nonresistance motivated by unselfish love would clearly represent the shining
good works that were to characterize the kingdom of heaven (Matt.
5:16).
God was the model for the characteristics of righteousness
spoken of in the Sermon on the Mount. Believers were being asked to do
what was humanly impossible. They were to do what God did: love their
enemies--the very thing God did for mankind through the incarnation of his
Son.... Jesus rejected the Pharisaic interpretation of the law as
superficial. He emphasized inner conformity to the spirit of the law rather
than mere outward conformity to the letter of the law. The true
requirements of the law were highlighted to convict listeners of their need
to turn to Jesus, the one true source of righteousness. [New Bible
Companion]
SIX WAYS TO THINK LIKE CHRIST
Reference/ Example It's not enough to: We must also:
5:21-22/ Murder Avoid killing Avoid anger and
hatred
5:23-26/ Offerings Offer regular gifts Have right relationships
with God and others
5:27-30/ Adultery Avoid adultery Keep our hearts from
lusting and be faithful
5:31-32/ Divorce Be legally married Live out our marriage
commitments
5:33-37/ Oaths Make an oath A void casual &
irresponsible commitments to God
5:38-47/ Revenge Seek justice for self Show mercy and love to
others
[Life Application SB]
We are, more often than not, guilty of avoiding the extreme sins
while regularly committing the types of sins with which Jesus was most
concerned. In these six examples, our real struggle with sin is exposed.
Jesus pointed out what kind of lives would be required of his
followers. Are you living as Jesus taught? [Life Application SB]
SECTION HEADINGS
Personal Relationships
Love All People
Teaching about Love for Enemies
CROSS REFERENCES; What's in verses elsewhere.
Leviticus 19:18 (KJV) Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any
grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.
Matthew 22:39-40 (KJV) And the second is like unto it, Thou
shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [40] On these two commandments
hang all the law and the prophets.
Galatians 5:14 (KJV) For all the law is fulfilled in one word,
even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Proverbs 25:21-22 (KJV) If thine enemy be hungry, give him
bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: [22] For
thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall
reward thee.
Luke 6:27-28 (KJV) But I say unto you which hear, Love your
enemies, do good to them which hate you, [28] Bless them that curse you,
and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Luke 6:34-35 (KJV) And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to
receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive
as much again. [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.
Luke 23:34 (KJV) Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for
they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast
lots.
Romans 12:14 (KJV) Bless them which persecute you: bless, and
curse not.
Romans 12:20-21 (KJV) Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed
him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap
coals of fire on his head. [21] Be not overcome of evil, but overcome
evil with good.
1 Cor. 13:4-8 (KJV) Charity suffereth long, and is kind;
charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, [5]
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily
provoked, thinketh no evil; [6] Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth
in the truth; [7] Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth
all things, endureth all things. [8] Charity never faileth: but
whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues,
they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION: Moving From The Head To The Heart
What is God teaching here? What does it teach about Jesus?
Jesus calls for responding to enemies with love, which can
transform them. [Cambridge Annotated SB]
We are not to regard persons as enemies but to love them as
people God created and as potential followers of Christ. [Disciple SB]
"Thou shalt love thy neighbour." - Matthew 5:43
"Love thy neighbour." Perhaps he rolls in riches, and thou art
poor, and living in thy little cot side-by-side with his lordly
mansion; thou seest every day his estates, his fine linen, and his
sumptuous banquets; God has given him these gifts, covet not his wealth,
and think no hard thoughts concerning him. Be content with thine own
lot, if thou canst not better it, but do not look upon thy neighbour,
and wish that he were as thyself. Love him, and then thou wilt not
envy him.
Perhaps, on the other hand, thou art rich, and near thee reside
the poor. Do not scorn to call them neighbour. Own that thou art
bound to love them. The world calls them thy inferiors. In what are
they inferior? They are far more thine equals than thine inferiors,
for "God hath made of one blood all people that dwell upon the face
of the earth." It is thy coat which is better than theirs, but thou
art by no means better than they. They are men, and what art thou
more than that? Take heed that thou love thy neighbour even though he
be in rags, or sunken in the depths of poverty.
But, perhaps, you say, "I cannot love my neighbours, because for
all I do they return ingratitude and contempt." So much the more
room for the heroism of love. Wouldst thou be a feather-bed warrior,
instead of bearing the rough fight of love? He who dares the most, shall
win the most; and if rough be thy path of love, tread it boldly,
still loving thy neighbours through thick and thin. Heap coals of fire
on their heads, and if they be hard to please, seek not to please
them, but to please thy Master; and remember if they spurn thy love,
thy Master hath not spurned it, and thy deed is as acceptable to him
as if it had been acceptable to them. Love thy neighbour, for in so
doing thou art following the footsteps of Christ. [Morning and Evening
by Charles H. Spurgeon]
Love Your Whom? (Matt. 5:21-48)
Jesus at first seems such a demanding King.
In this portion of His Sermon on the Mount Jesus made it clear
that He expects citizens of His kingdom to do more than keep laws. He
expects us to be the kind of people who never even want to break them!
In a series of illustrations He explained that His citizens
aren't to get angry, much less strike out at another. We citizens
aren't to lust, much less commit adultery. We're not to want a divorce,
to plan to deceive, or even to want revenge when injured (vv.
21-42).
But then Jesus topped it off. Citizens of His kingdom are to
"love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (v. 44). He
explained that God is the kind of Person who "causes His sun to rise on
the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the
unrighteous" (v. 45). And we are to be "sons of your Father in heaven." It's
really simple. We can sum up everything Jesus asks in a single phrase.
"Just be like God."
This would be impossible if it weren't for one thing. Jesus
said, "Sons of your Father in heaven." You see, everyone in Jesus'
kingdom is also family.
Through faith in Christ we enter a unique "your Father"
relationship with God Himself. And God establishes a unique relationship with
us. In Peter's words, God shares with us "His own indestructible
heredity" (1 Peter 1:23, PH). Because God has poured His own life into us,
it's not unreasonable at all to expect us to display a family
resemblance.
I remember discovering as a teenager why I had the habit of
cocking my head to one side when I rode in the car. Sitting in the
backseat one day, I noticed that my dad held his head the same way, due
to an old injury. From childhood I had been imitating him, without
ever realizing it.
God isn't interested in the way we hold our heads. But He does
want us to watch Him intently, see how He relates to us and to
others, and so gradually become more and more like Him within.
As we live as faithful citizens of Jesus' present kingdom, this
is just what happens. We find to our amazement that we not only do
good, we are becoming good! Transformed from within by the power of
the King, we increasingly resemble our righteous and perfect God.
[The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
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