Matthew 5:43, 44 - How Do You Love Your Enemies?
Matthew 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,
COMMENTARY PEARLS
Choosing Love over Rights
We talk a lot about rights these days.
Yet the attention given to human entitlements
hasnt brought about corporate or personal freedom.
Instead, most people are prisoners of jealousy (you
have greater rights than I do!), greed (I deserve
more!), or bitterness (my rights have been
violated!).
Instead of focusing on the privileges due
us, we should take the biblical perspective of
loving enemies and forgiving persecutors (Matt.
5:44). Believers lay down their rights so they can
take up the cause of a holy kingdom. That
doesnt mean that we let people trample on us.
Rather, we offer a proper response according to
biblical principles. In short, believers should be
more concerned about showing Gods love to
those who do wrong than about demanding their
rights.
Maybe youre thinking, But he doesnt
know how Ive been mistreated. Indeed I do not.
But what I do know is how Jesus Christ, our
example, reacted to terrible abuse. He was betrayed
by His friends, persecuted by His people,
condemned by His peers, and crucified for our sins.
Yet He said, Father, forgive them (Luke
23:34).
Before assuming that Jesus capacity
for forgiveness and love is out of reach for
mere human beings, remember: His Spirit dwells in
believers. We can choose to give away our rights and
let Gods love work through us.
Luke 6:29 says to turn the other cheek
and give up more than is asked because
expressing love outweighs exerting our rights. You
cant lose when you show others the boundless care
of the Lord. You gain His blessing, and,
hopefully, someone will be saved because of your
example. [In Touch Daily Devotional by Charles
Stanley at www.intouch.org]
God Says Respond to Unfairness with Love
Unfairness is part of the human
condition. You cant live on this earth for long
without feeling like someone has treated you
unfairly. Maybe its a parent who put you through a
miserable childhood. Maybe its an employer who
treats you more harshly than they treat your
coworkers. Maybe you feel like you were handled
unfairly by the legal process.
You can choose to respond to the people
who hurt you by hurting them. Thats the
easiest choice to make, no doubt about it.
But God gives us another option in his
Word: 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 (Matthew 5:43-44 NIV).
When people hurt you, they expect you to
retaliate. They expect you to seek revenge. But God
wants you to do the exact opposite. He wants you
to respond in love.
If you respond to mistreatment with love,
youll keep the other person from controlling you.
You cant control when another person treats
you unfairly. You can control whether you get
bitter in the process. You can control your
response to injustice.
Just because you respond to an offender
lovingly doesnt mean you continue to allow
injustice. On the contrary, we must lovingly seek
justice. We must work for justice in the world
without retaliating. The Bible commands us to be
fair-minded and just. Do what is right! (Jeremiah
22:3 NLT).
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a great
example of this. He fought against injustice without
violence. He overcame evil through the power of love.
He followed the example of Jesus, who chose to
forgive his persecutors even as they were killing
him.
Thats our calling as followers of
Jesus. Unfairness and injustice may be part of the
human condition, but we must not feed into it.
Instead, God calls us to respond in love. [Daily
Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
To bless others is the very calling of a
Christian. As Peter writes, "Do not repay evil for evil
or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay
evil with blessing, because to this you were
called so that you may inherit a blessing." That's
part of the mystery and beauty of life in Jesus.
When you give something of value in His name - a
gift, an insight, a kind word, your time and help,
a prayer, a listening ear - it works its way
back to your benefit. But rarely at the same time
or in the same way! Filtered through God's
wisdom and providence, it returns to you as
something incredibly encouraging and helpful at a
moment when you least expect it. It may not even be
in this life at all, but it will accrue to your
benefit and delight in heaven. But be assured of
this: God is an incomparable bookkeeper, and He
never loses track of one kindness done in the name
of His Son.
What a delight! Bless You, Father, for
making this a principle of life: "Give, and it will
be given to you pressed down, shaken
together poured into your lap" (Luke 6:38). What
a sweetness to think that gifts given here on
earth have a triple impact - first on the
receiver, then on the giver, and then on Jesus
Himself! [A Spectacle of Glory by Joni Eareckson Tada
and Larry Libby re 1Pe. 3:9]
CLOSING THOUGHT
We know that Jesus desires to love our
enemies through us, and that He makes this
impossible task possible. Therefore, the question is no
longer, Can we love our enemies? but rather
Will we love our enemies? by Pete Briscoe
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
Matthew 5:43, 44 - How Do You Love Your
Enemies?
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2005/20051109-0957.html
Matthew 5:44 - Loving Your Enemies.
[addendum]
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2010/20100106-2045.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio (currently live):
https://bible.awr.org/the-warning/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug
Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
