GOSPEL OF MATTHEW - RADICAL LOVE

THE HEART OF THE KINGDOM - MATTHEW 5:38-48

In the middle of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus calls us to have a righteousness that exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees in order to enter heaven – He then went onto contrasting what the Torah and traditional interpretations with 6 different illustrations.  Murder and ager, adultery and lust, divorce and oaths.  He wants our Yes to be Yes – He calls us to live a life of integrity so that when we speak, people believe us and when we testify to God’s Love and Forgiveness – people will believe because we have established that integrity by our words and our actions matching, aligning.  Today we will look at retaliation and the Christ-like answer to retaliation – Love Your enemies.

Whereas current terminology has detrimentally changed what the word radical means – Jesus was radical and calls us to radical living and today we look at the radical love that our Messiah is calling us to!

Let us pray!

Sermon Title: "Radical Love: The Heart of the Kingdom"

Text: Matthew 5:38–48 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. “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, 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. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

1. Go Beyond Fairness – Go The Extra Mile (Matthew 5:38–42)

Illustration: Imagine you're driving and someone cuts you off. The instinct might be to honk, yell, or try to get ahead again. But what if instead you backed off, stayed calm, and let it go? That kind of self-control isn’t weakness—it’s Christlike strength (What I try to do)

Key Idea: Jesus calls us not to return hurt for hurt, but to respond with generosity and humility, even when wronged.

Godliness transcend human reactions – God is asking us to respond and not react (EXPLAIN Diff).

Jesus calls us to go beyond even forgiveness and kindness here – He is literally calling us to do as He did

- If slapped – give the other cheek                                       

o World – Hit back

- Sues you for your coat – give him your suit as well             

o World – sue to ruin, fight back

- Forces you to walk a mile with them – go beyond & go 2 – (Romans soldiers requiring people to carry military equipment       

o World – refuse or resent

The first three deal with retaliation

The fourth deals with generosity -

- Give to those who beg and do not refuse a borrower            

o World – don’t give –your needs first

This is the radical – goes against everything the world says

We are called to reject the desire to retaliate but go the extra mile and be generous with what God has given us and be generous with those who would oppose us

St Augustine said of this verse – God commands us to give to everyone who asks but He does not command we give them everything they ask for

Supporting Scripture:

Proverbs 25:21 – "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you."

Romans 12:17–21 – " Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

2. Love the Unlovable (Matthew 5:43–45)

Illustration: Corrie ten Boom, a Holocaust survivor, met one of the guards from the concentration camp where her sister died. He asked for forgiveness. Though she struggled, she reached out her hand and forgave him—choosing love over hate, grace over bitterness.

During the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln was often criticized for speaking kindly about the Southern states. One of his advisors said, “Mr. President, you should destroy your enemies, not befriend them!”

Lincoln replied, “Am I not destroying my enemies when I make them my friends?”

Jesus calls us to something even deeper: to love, bless, and pray for those who mistreat us—not just to be civil, but to reflect God’s heart. In Matthew 5:45, Jesus reminds us that God “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good.” His love is not earned—it is given freely.

Loving our enemies doesn’t mean we agree with them or excuse wrong, but that we reflect the kind of love that transforms hate into healing.

This is not phila – brotherly love

         Not storge – familia love

         Not Eros – romantic love

It is Agape love – the word Jesus uses here is agapao – ag a pa o

Key Idea: Loving our friends is natural; loving our enemies is supernatural—and it reflects the love of God (Story of Denise and praying for her – psalm 140:10 – Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise!).

Comes from Leviticus 19:18 – You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Nowhere in Scripture does it call us to “hate” our enemy – God hates sin – Proverbs 8:13 says the fear of the Lord is to hate evil

Love your enemy – the ultimate antitheses of what the world says – if we are to be radical and stand out – be separated from the pagans and unbelievers – Jesus calls us to a radical love – reminds us of the radical love God calls us to –

Stephen – Acts 7:59-60 – While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

While they were stoning him – he prays for God to forgive them and not hold this against them – that is the agape love Jesus is calling us to!  In the midst of persecution – he prayed for them – Jesus on the cross – He prayed for them

This was always God’s plan – He told Jonah – pray for Ninevah – Proverbs 24 and 25 talk about giving bread to your enemy – David with Saul

Supporting Scripture:

Luke 6:35 – "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil."

1 John 4:7–8 – "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."

3. Reflect the Father’s Heart (Matthew 5:46–48)

Illustration: Think of the sun—it shines on the good and the bad, the kind and the cruel. It doesn’t choose favorites. Jesus says God’s love is like that. And as His people, we’re called to love with the same consistency.

We are called to reflect the Father’s heart – think of the moon – it does not give off its own light it only reflects the Sun and when it is perfectly aligned with the sun – it gives off the most light – it is the brightest

Key Idea: God’s love is perfect and impartial. As His children, we’re called to grow in that same kind of love, not settling for ordinary kindness but pursuing spiritual maturity.

Romans 5:8 – but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Paul reminds us that while we were still sinners – He didn’t send Christ to die for those that repented or had their lives aligned with God already – that while we were still sinners –

All lives are valuable – all lives are lovable

How are you different from others – Jesus said even the tax collectors love their family and friends –

It's is the call be to radical – different – set apart

It's not just praying for our enemies – it is doing good to them – for them – loving our enemies is it imitate God – be aligned with Him and allowing His light to fully be reflected in us

Therefore – Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect – Jesus calls us to stride to be more like God everyday in the way we love and treat others

Leviticus 19:2 – You must be Holy because I Lord am Holy

To be perfect – teleios – tel i os

         Complete, mature, lacking nothing, growing up in the likeness of God

         Hold nothing back – a life totally integrated into the Holy Spirit – God the Father

Supporting Scripture:

Ephesians 5:1–2 – " Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Colossians 3:12–14 – " Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Conclusion:  Jesus raises the bar—not just to avoid harm, but to actively bless. His call is radical because it reflects the radical love of God. To follow Him is to let go of vengeance, choose generosity, love enemies, and live with God’s heart in every interaction.

Challenge: This week, find one practical way to show love or generosity to someone who doesn’t expect it—especially someone who’s difficult to love. Let your actions be a testimony of God’s perfect love working through you.

Closing Scripture – 1 John 4:11-12 – "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."

Big Idea

Kingdom living means rejecting retaliation and embracing radical love, even for our enemies—reflecting the perfect love of our Heavenly Father.

Benediction – May you go now in the love of the Father, who loved you even when you were far from Him.

May the grace of Jesus fill your heart, empowering you to love not only friends, but even those who oppose you.

And may the Holy Spirit guide your words, your steps, and your heart—so that in every action, you reflect the perfect love of your Heavenly Father.

Go in peace to love—even your enemies— and to shine like children of God. Amen.