Haters Gotta Hate, Christians Gotta...

Matthew 5:

Matthew 5:44 ESV

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Matthew 5:43-4

Matthew 5:43–47 ESV

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 makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

- “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”

1_Gotta be careful of assuming God’s will

Matthew 5:43 ESV

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

Be careful of assuming God’s will

1 + 1 isn’t always 2

Matthew 5:43

1 + 1 isn’t always 2

We assume God’s will when:

Everyone else is doing it

No one else is doing it

We’ve done it before

We understand the what but not the why

We only focus on one verse

2_Gotta Love

Matthew 5:44 ESV

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

Matthew 5:

3_Gotta Pray

Gotta Pray

Matthew 5:44 ESV

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

Who do you pray for? ME!

Pray for those who seek to hurt you. You know you have forgiven when you want those who have hurt you to be blessed.

4_ Gotta be like Jesus

Matthew 5:45a ESV

45 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.

Matthew 5:

so that you may be - not how to get to heaven but how to be like Christ

4_Gotta Forgive

5_Gotta Forgive

Matthew 5:45

Matthew 5:45 ESV

45 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.

It’s all grace. God’s common grace, saving grace. It’s shown in forgiveness.

6_Gotta be Different

Matthew 5:46–47 ESV

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

Love those who don’t love back. Reach out to those who are alone.

Jesus is no longer talking about love and hate of enemies. He’s talking about our unique position as believers and our need to be the ones who are different. To be salt, to be light, to shine like stars in a dark universe.