A Greater Righteousness (7)

Announce text: Matthew 5:43-48

Key Text: Matthew 5:43-48

Review

autoplay BP_VC_Creative-Nonviolence (2:08)

In the Sermon on the Mount, JESUS announces the good news of the KINGdom of GOD. HE declares that GOD has sent the long-promised human ruler—HIMSELF—to do what humanity cannot: create a renewed people who live by GOD’s will and partner with HIM in wisely and lovingly ruling creation.

Surprisingly, JESUS does not address the elite or powerful. Instead, HE gathers ordinary people—outsiders and nobodies—and tells them that the KINGdom is arriving through them. HE begins with nine blessings (the Beatitudes), then uses vivid metaphors: they are the salt of the earth, a city on a hill, and the light of the world. Through HIM, they carry forward the legacy of GOD’s renewed covenant people—royal priests representing GOD to the nations.

JESUS then launches into six case studies that illustrate “greater righteousness”—the superior way of living in justice, equity, and peace with GOD and others. These are not a new legal code, but ethical wisdom that helps discern GOD’s will through the Torah and forms a community grounded in human dignity and healthy cooperation.

The first three case studies focus on the profound dignity of every person. JESUS shows that murder, adultery, and unjust divorce all stem from the same root: degrading another human being in our thoughts and imagination. HE urges followers to treat the “seed” of contempt as seriously as the final act, using strong hyperbole (such as cutting off a hand or plucking out an eye) to emphasize the deadly consequences of dishonoring others.

The second triad shifts to cooperation and conflict. It addresses how we persuade others, manage differing wills, and handle situations where someone in authority abuses power or disgraces us. JESUS targets manipulation—especially invoking GOD to override someone’s judgment—and calls instead for honest, vulnerable communication that honors both parties.

In cases of oppression (being slapped, sued unjustly, or forced to carry a soldier’s load), JESUS teaches creative, nonviolent resistance: turning the other cheek, giving one’s cloak as well, and going the extra mile. These actions expose injustice, reclaim dignity, and subvert systems of domination without retaliation.

JESUS stresses a very crucial point—HE insists this resistance must flow from love and empathy, not a “get-even” attitude. True creative nonviolence transforms the heart, cultivates generosity toward the offender, and opens the door to reconciliation. This culminates in the final teaching: loving one’s enemies.

Announce text again: Matthew 5:43-48

Scripture Reading

Matthew 5:43–48 NASB95

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Prayer for added blessing to the reading of the Word

Message

Love Beyond Limits: Embracing Our Enemies

The title of the message this morning is Love Beyond Limits: Embracing Our Enemies.

When you hear the word enemy/enemies, who or what comes to mind? As someone who has been in church all your life, perhaps you are thinking of groups outside these four walls? Then again, maybe you have ill-will toward someone within these four walls? If you’re not a believer but happen to be attending today, maybe it is the group of people within the church who have hurt you in the past. Or perhaps you’re thinking politically, and those “on the other side” you really can’t stand. Maybe it’s that obnoxious co-worker again. He’s made several appearances, hasn’t he? As a student, maybe it’s someone in school or a member of an opposing team that you can’t stand. Perhaps, we’re thinking globally—national enemies.

What we’re going to discover from this passage is that JESUS teaches that love is not just an emotion but a deliberate action that transcends personal feelings. It emphasizes the power of love to bring reconciliation and healing, demonstrating that true discipleship involves following CHRIST's model of unconditional love.

Big Idea: Loving our enemies is a reflection of GOD's nature and a mark of true discipleship, demonstrating that love has the power to transform lives and relationships.

Righteousness in the Bible describes a world where individuals treat one another with dignity and respect, diligently resolving conflicts by doing right by each other. To discern this way of living, JESUS, in line with Israelite teachers, pointed to the ancient Scriptures—the Torah and Prophets, the Hebrew Bible—as the source of GOD's Wisdom. Meditating on the laws given to ancient Israel uncovers divine principles for relational harmony.

These timeless laws remain relevant today, to guide us, who are believers, in righteous conduct. In the Sermon on the Mount, JESUS exemplifies this by citing a Torah command and unveiling the deeper wisdom it embodies.

This morning, we are going to be looking at the sixth and final case study in which JESUS again quotes from the Torah words that are probably familiar to us. Before we jump into this, for those who like to learn about the structure, grammar, original word meanings, and such ...

briefly describe sermon structure (if not already done) and then the passage structure

So, we’re going to step through each of these sections to unpack what JESUS is teaching here, okay?

Matthew 5:43 NASB95

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

I’m sorry, but I just can’t help but hearing Nacho Libre in my head. Any Nacho fans? <Nacho-Libre>“… for it is in the Bible, not to wrestle your neighbor.” Anyway … You know … whatever!</Nacho-Libre>

The familiar words again introduce the command JESUS is highlighting, and the words that follow—the words JESUS uses—can be split up into two halves. The first half, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR,” comes directly from a passage in the Torah. So, again, let’s look at the source of the command in the Torah itself.

Leviticus 19:17–18 NASB95

17 ‘You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him. 18 ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.

So, where the law speaks about “fellow countryman (brother?)” or “sons of your people,” GOD warns not to “share in their guilt” (NIV). This goes back to previous teachings on offense. GOD warns against letting a negative attitude toward someone fester in our heart—which opens the door to vengeance, grudges/resentment, and murder (spiritual and physical). So, we are not to harbor ill feelings toward another, because this is not the way of holiness—of holy living. We must work toward reconciliation! This is the way of Love—GOD’s Love.

The phrase at the end of the verse, “I AM THE LORD,” I want to make note of. Keep this in mind, because we’ll see it again and come back to this later.

How are we doing with these attitudes? Are there any here harboring ill feelings toward another? “Leave your gift at the altar” and go humbly to the one where the offense lies and work toward making peace and reconciliation today.

We see the command in the law JESUS is referencing, but what about the second half of HIS statement—the “hate your enemy” bit? Where’s that found? What’s interesting about what JESUS says in the second half of HIS statement is that it does not appear anywhere in the Torah. HE is adding to the original command. What is HE adding? JESUS is referencing a popular teaching that grew in the Second Temple period, especially under Roman occupation, which said it was okay to hate your enemy. The Jewish people were limiting “neighbor” to fellow Israelites and justified hostility toward pagan oppressors.

Do we ever do that—take that kind of attitude toward those we see as our enemies? Do we justify our thoughts? Do we justify our actions? After all, they had it coming. They treated me unfairly. They acted unjustly toward me—toward us.

So, where did this teaching, that you should “hate your enemy,” come from? This misapplication arose from ambiguities in the text. A few verses later in the Leviticus 19 text, the view of "you shall love your neighbor” was broadened.

Leviticus 19:33–34 NASB95

33 ‘When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. 34 ‘The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.

Now, the command to love includes the foreigner—the immigrant. Uh-oh! There’s a lightning rod of a word for us today, isn’t it?

BTW, don’t get caught up in the immigrant wording used by politicians … we are a melting pot, a nation built on immigrants; what is being addressed are illegal aliens of which a portion of those are evil characters

GOD reminds them that they were once immigrants—they should remember what that was like when they consider the other groups of people living with them. Show them love. Again, the text ends with a variant of the phrase I just highlighted in the previous passage, “I AM THE LORD your GOD.” We’ll come back to this later.

Other Torah laws require active kindness toward personal enemies, like in:

Exodus 23:4–5 NASB95

4 “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him. 5 “If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall refrain from leaving it to him, you shall surely release it with him.

So, the law even requires helping an enemy’s animal that has fallen under its load. Yet, under centuries of foreign empires and occupation, some Israelites viewed hating pagan oppressors as patriotic or a religious duty, aligning with passages like this next one.

MWS concert

Psalm 139:19–22 NASB95

19 O that You would slay the wicked, O God; Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed. 20 For they speak against You wickedly, And Your enemies take Your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate those who hate You, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? 22 I hate them with the utmost hatred; They have become my enemies.

Here, and in many of his Psalms, we see King David—the man after GOD’s own heart—making a declaration of hating God’s enemies with “utmost (perfect) hatred.” The Hebrew Bible is complex, and so is the character of David. He treated Saul differently than he did the Moabites, but both could have been considered his enemies. Just because David was GOD’s anointed doesn’t mean he did everything right. We know of other instances of moral failure, as well as grace, love, and forgiveness.

So, tying this back to JESUS’ Words, by contrasting “love your neighbor” with the invented “hate your enemy,” JESUS exposes a narrow, insider‑only interpretation that had become the cultural norm. HE is not overturning the law; HE is re‑orienting its application from tribal protectionism to universal, GOD‑centered Love. And that’s were the statements I highlighted at the end of the commands—”I AM THE LORD-your GOD”—come in. This isn’t just a case of reminding the Israelites WHOSE in charge, right? YHWH was also reorienting their perspective to love like HE does because they are HIS children, and this is exactly what JESUS is about to do as we unpack the next verse.

Matthew 5:44 NASB95

44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

JESUS uses those familiar words to introduce the KINGdom‑standard—the Wisdom of GOD—that follows: “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Now, this sentence also has two halves. The greek word for love here is agapē, and we’ve seen the Hebrew equivalent in our study of the Shema, ahav (ahava). Both of these words denote a volitional, action‑oriented commitment. One can feel anger or offense yet still choose behaviors that promote the other person’s good. So, this isn’t about a feeling, all right? You may remember I have made this statement before (and you’ll likely hear it again): “What do your feelings have to do with it?” We so often react out of our emotion—our humanness—instead of responding in the SPIRIT. This type of love isn’t the euphoric kind. It is the practical action-oriented kind that moves rightly despite how we feel. We need to leave our feelings out of it, and always choose the way of righteousness—responding in love—the Love of GOD.

This transitions nicely into the second half of that statement of JESUS. Instead of a “liking” sentiment, JESUS calls for active goodwill toward those who harm us—prayer being the primary vehicle. Prayer seeks the enemy’s spiritual welfare and aligns us with GOD’s purposes.

The command reflects the impartial generosity of the FATHER, which we’ll see in JESUS’ statements that follow. Our love must therefore be unconditional, mirroring the divine pattern of blessing all creation—even our enemies.

How are we doing with this? I don’t know if JESUS’ Words were in my subconscious, or if HOLY SPIRIT just led me to this personally, but at some point in my life—in my later years—I have made this decision to pray and ask the LORD to change my attitude and my heart toward others when I am offended. I ask the LORD to reveal to me if there is any truth in what was said—if it was an offense of words. Even in the midst of the anger or hurt, I pray for the blessing of GOD in their life and the favor of GOD to rest on them? Why? Because even if they really did act unjustly toward me, the blessing of GOD—the favor of GOD—are manifestations of HIS Presence in their life, and in the FATHER’s Presence, there is healing! In the FATHER’s Presence, there is Peace! In the FATHER’s Presence, there is Grace! In the FATHER’s Presence, there is Mercy! In the FATHER’s Presence, every need is met in abundance!

I confess, I don’t always respond this way. Many times, I still react … but it is not the desire of my heart, and HE is transforming me more and more into HIS Image day-by-day, and as HE does, I am responding instead of reacting more and more.

The texts stress concrete actions (helping an enemy’s animal, returning a lost ox, etc.). What are some practical ways we can give action to the words of JESUS? Here are a few: interceding, forgiving, providing help, or simply praying for our enemies well-being—all ways of embodying GOD’s Compassionate Wisdom.

A moment ago, we talked about the generous Love of GOD. We will see an example of this as we unpack JESUS’ Words in the next verse.

Matthew 5:45 NASB95

45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

The natural phenomena of sunlight and rain are neutral gifts that sustain both the just and the unjust. This illustrates GOD’s Common Grace—the same divine favor that sustains all humanity regardless of moral standing.

GOD’s impartiality is the benchmark for our own conduct. When we love our enemies, we participate in the FATHER’s redemptive agenda, displaying the KINGdom’s inclusive nature to a divided world.

As we live from this perspective, it becomes the worldview that breaks the cycle of retaliation and prevents insider mentality—exclusivity, opening the way for genuine reconciliation and communal flourishing.

The KINGdom ethic demands something higher—a love that does not depend on the other’s response. JESUS continues to drive this home in the next portion of our text.

Matthew 5:46–47 NASB95

46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

If we limit love to those who love us, we are no different from the tax collectors (IRS—coming up soon) or Gentiles who already practice such reciprocity. All people bear the sacred imprint of the Creator (Genesis 1:27). This intrinsic dignity requires us to treat every person as a bearer of God’s image, not merely as a friend or foe.

We must cultivate empathy toward others—make generous assumptions about the hidden pain they are most likely going through and position ourselves as sources of refreshment rather than burden. Responding with regular prayer for those who have wronged us helps shift from reactive offense to intentional goodwill.

Loving only those who love us is the easy, human default. The KINGdom calls us to extend love outward, mirroring the FATHER’s impartial generosity, thereby displaying HIS Divine Character in our relationships.

Intentional practices—daily prayers for adversaries, intentional acts of kindness toward strangers, and reframing hostile encounters as opportunities for grace—train the heart to act in accordance with the Image-bearing nature of all people.

Matthew 5:48 NASB95

48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Maybe when you read and/or hear these words, you think like I did when I was younger, “Oh, great! Thanks a lot JESUS! Why don’t YOU give us a command we can’t keep? YOU know YOU’re the only perfect person WHO ever and will ever walk the face of the earth! We’ve already blown it! And we had no shot, either! Thanks Adam and Eve!” Right? Sound familiar? Of course it was all Adam and Eve’s fault! We would never … Mmm-hmm.

Well, good news!—sort of. Remember from previous messages, the biblical sense of perfect here is not without sin—like JESUS, the Spotless LAMB of GOD. The greek word for perfect is the word teleios and it means completeness, wholeness, and mature integrity, not sinless moral perfection. It denotes full development of the character GOD designed us to have—integrated love, humility, and justice.

The preceding verses in our case studies (anger, adultery, divorce, oath‑making, retaliation, love of enemies) each expand the scope of righteousness from private morality to public, KINGdom‑shaped relationships. Teleios signals the culmination of this expansion—the call to become whole‑hearted Image‑bearers of the FATHER.

Earlier commands (e.g., “You have heard it said…”) expose the limitations of the old covenant ethic. JESUS’ words “but I say to you” reforms each, moving from external compliance to internal transformation. The final exhortation to be teleios ties all six reforms together, demanding a mature, integrated life that reflects GOD’s impartial Love.

Becoming teleios involves ongoing intentionality, new habits, and reliance on HOLY SPIRIT—cultivating empathy, praying for enemies, practicing generosity, and pursuing reconciliation. It is a lifelong process of sanctification, not an instantaneous achievement.

When believers embody this complete, mature love, they manifest the kingdom on earth, showing the world a new humanity whose relationships are marked by vulnerability, honesty, creativity, and sacrificial love (cf. Paul’s “new humanity” in Eph 2:10‑22).

briefly discuss: three parts: intro, body, conclusion—each contain three parts—and each of the three parts within the body have three parts. I don’t know if you remember way back during the introduction to JESUS’ SOTM, but we talked about the structure of JESUS’ sermon—how it was broken up into multiple sections of three?

So, pj … What’s the point?

Conclusion

As we conclude this message this morning, let us remember that JESUS radically redefines love in Matthew 5:43-48—not as a selective emotion confined to allies, but as an active, deliberate commitment to seek the well-being of even those who oppose us. This enemy-love reflects GOD's impartial, generous Grace, WHO showers sun and rain on the righteous and unrighteous alike, calling us to wholeness (teleios)—a mature, integrated character that mirrors HIS own. As the capstone of the six case studies (Matthew 5:21-48), it elevates "greater righteousness" from rule-keeping to transformative relationships, breaking cycles of hatred and division.

In application, examine where grudges or ill-will limit your love, as we reflected at the start: perhaps toward a friend who betrayed you, a spouse amid conflict, a parent or child in family tension, a sibling rivalry that lingers, that obnoxious co-worker who grates on your nerves, a classmate or rival at school, those on the "other side" politically whom you can't stand, or even national/global enemies stirring fear or anger. In these spaces—inside or outside the church—embrace creative, nonviolent actions like prayer for their wellbeing, acts of kindness, or humble reconciliation efforts, allowing GOD's Grace to heal and reconcile. This embodies true discipleship, fostering empathy and unity, and a compelling witness in our fractured homes, workplaces, schools, communities, and world.

The teaching reveals GOD's heart: HIS relentless generosity toward undeserving humanity, as seen in Israel's story and our own. Ultimately, it points to CHRIST, WHO perfectly lived this—loving HIS crucifiers ("Father, forgive them") and dying to reconcile enemies to GOD. This teaching serves as the climax of the six case studies through which JESUS takes us from the letter of the law to the heart of GOD’s Character, culminating in the call to become whole‑hearted, mature reflections of the FATHER—teleios.

This teaching also concludes the entire “greater righteousness” section, in which JESUS reimagines human relationships. HE calls HIS followers to treat every person with dignity, cooperate without manipulation, and respond to conflict with courageous, loving creativity—ultimately revealing GOD’s KINGdom through transformed lives. JESUS ends with the famous line: **“Therefore, be perfect (or complete/whole) as your Father in the heavens is perfect.”** This statement summarizes the entire block on the Torah & Prophets and restates the call to greater righteousness.

May we, empowered by the SPIRIT, reflect HIS Image, turning hostility into hope and proving love's power to transform lives. Let us pray for strength to love beyond limits, becoming agents of HIS KINGdom Peace.

Closing prayer & benediction

Numbers 6:24–26 NASB95

24 The Lord bless you, and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; 26 The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’

Scripture records the following words in v.27:

Numbers 6:27 GW

“So whenever they use my name to bless the Israelites, I will bless them.” 

So, receive and go with the blessings of YAHWEH!