Enemies to be Loved

Intro

How many enemies do you have?

Co-worker you can’t stand; schoolyard bully; nosy neighbour, etc.

I’m in a weird position of not knowing many who might qualify as an “enemy”

Talk about learning of various rumors and opposition; send “fan mail” to [e-mail]

This fun exercise is to get us thinking about the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 5:43-48 where we are called to love our enemies

We need to know who they are first!

“Enemies” is a strong word; it works on a softer scale (annoying, frustrating, just don’t get along, etc.)

In other words, Jesus calls us to love those who are harder to love, and who will never reciprocate that love

But don’t just take my word for it! Read Mat. 5:43-48 and pray

Upside-Down Religious Teaching (v. 43 - 44)

You have heard it said...

I mentioned last week that the kingdom of God is “upside-down” because it is counter-cultural and counter-intuitive

This teaching is both, but Jesus starts by picking on the accepted religious teaching of His day; Jesus turns religious teaching upside-down

Namely, that it was God-honouring to love your neighbour and hate your enemy

The first part of this teaching is Scriptural and quoted by Jesus

Cf. Leviticus 19:18.

Not only is Jesus not taking issue with this part of the religious norm, it remains vital in throughout his own teaching

Part of the greatest commandment in Matthew 22 and drilled down in the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10.

This is an important starting point for us: We begin by loving our neighbours

Use “block party” as a fairly literal example here

But the second half of the teaching (to hate your enemies) was NOT Scriptural

It was a product of poor teaching by the religious leaders

The current interpretations and teachings were hyper-focused on rule following and legalism, and had little room for grace and mercy

And a concession to human nature

If we are to go on “auto-pilot,” we will love our neighbours and hate our enemies; it is completely natural… to our sinful nature

But I say to you...

Jesus turns the religious teaching upside-down in His call to love our enemies

Even though the lesson appears “upside-down,” it is not new; it is instead a call back to what the heart of God has always been

Cf. Exodus 23:4-5.

Yes, love for your enemy in the ANE was about how you treated their livestock

But you can see how the people had strayed from their understanding; drifted away from the heart of the Father towards all people

Part of our lesson is to avoid this drift away from the truth

Which is why I am committed to preaching and teaching from Scripture

Core value of SBF

I am not infallible, I am not authoritative, but the Bible is

This is a huge way that we all stay grounded and properly understand the heart of God, which is what we want to strive for

Imitate our Heavenly Father (v. 44 - 45)

We love our enemies because we imitate our Heavenly Father

“So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” (v. 45)

NOT to be understood that we keep a commandment to gain a status or favour

“you may be” = ginomai = to be born

When we are born again as spiritual children of God, we will therefore live differently, just as our Father is different

Use the illustration of my children imitating me while working out; but also playing video games, being impatient… who knows what else?

Cf. Ephesians 5:1.

Jesus drives the point home: If we are God’s children who imitate the Father, His example is one of love for enemies

He provides for everyone (sun rise on evil and good; rain for just and unjust)

This is the heart of God; it is the example of God; and His people must follow this example

Likewise, we must be dedicated to loving those who oppose us

Start by praying for them (v. 44)

Talk about how prayer changes our heart towards someone; important starting point

Repay evil for good (instead of the other way around)

Refer to marriage advice of avoiding escalating conflict

Cf. Romans 12:19-21.

Eventually spills into generosity and active good deeds

Start with small generosity (kind words, cards, gift card, etc.)

However, loving our enemies does NOT mean a lack of boundaries

Do not repay abuse with abuse; but do not stay in abuse, either

You can pray for others and have God heal your heart towards them while putting up apporpriate boundaries and staying safe

In case we missed the not-so-subtle call to imitate the Father, Jesus finishes with a “mic-drop” moment

Re-read Matthew 5:48 “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

What does He mean by “perfect?” More on that in a moment

But make no mistake, we are clearly called to live exactly as our heavenly Father lives

This is a hallmark of the upside-down kingdom of heaven: where God’s will is carried out

Be Remarkable (v. 46 - 48)

As we live out our Father’s priorities and examples as His children, we will stand out to the rest of the world

At the beginning, the “upside-down” kingdom was counter cultural; now it is counter-intuitive

Everyone understands love for neighbour and hate of enemies because it is human nature

Tax collectors, gentiles, sinners, the world… we will be the same

English loses some emphasis, time for more Greek

Re-read Matthew 5:47 “And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?”

What “more” are you doing = beyond, extraordinary… remarkable

If we state this positively, when we imitate our heavenly Father by loving our enemeies, we will be remarkable

The people of God will stand out to the world, we will be different, and the world can take notice

Refer to Dirk Willems and picture of his statue; focus on “remarkable.” Arrested in the Netherlands in 1569, escaped, saved pursuing captor from the ice, was recapture and burned at the stake

Jesus takes it a step further in v. 48: We are called to be remarkable, but also perfect

Is this an unattainable command?

Led some scholars to interpret much of the Sermon on the Mount as exaggerated language that points to a goal, but can’t actually be lived out

Are we really called to never get angry, not look at anyone and think a lustful thought, never retaliate, love our enemies… and be perfect?

As we have learned before, “perfect” does not mean sinlessness; it means to be mature, complete and fully developed

We should understand this as an ongoing process:

When we come to faith in Jesus, we are “born again” as children of God, and made citizens of the upside-down kingdom of heaven

As children of God and citizens of His kingdom, we are called to imitate our heavenly Father in all things (including love for our enemies)

When we faithfully imitate our Father, He is at work in our hearts and lives, using His power to make us more like Him

In other words, it is God’s work to fill us up to completion (perfection) and make us more like Him in character and deed

He is sanctifying us, and I believe that is what Jesus is talking about in verse 48

It is more about the work of God in us (making us complete), then pressure to have to live a sinless life (which is indeed impossible)

Conclusion

It is certainly easy to love those who love us, and not those who don’t

But in the “upside-down” kingdom of heaven, we are called to love all people, even our enemies

This is an important point of emphasis because it comes from the heart and example of our heavenly Father

And further displayed on the cross by Jesus, who prayed for forgiveness for those crucifying Him

If we live with the upside-down kingdom priority of loving our enemies, we will stand out to the world around us

Be remarkable, and as God works in you, be made perfect

Pray