Untitled Sermon

Introduction

Last week recap: Loving others is second only to loving God. It’s a crucial part of being who God wants us to be.

Because of this, we have to evaluate our own attitudes toward loving others, especially in light of what it says about how we love God.

Build on the idea of what Jesus says about loving difficult people.

Exegetical

V 43. “You have heard it said”

Jesus was speaking to a Jewish audience. Regardless of who was present, it is obvious from culture to culture that if someone does us wrong then we often retaliate. “You have heard it said” is a statement to everybody in the audience would recognize.

“You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.”

This was the common phrase that everybody would know and understand.

V 44. “But I say to you”

Jesus making a bold statement

“Love Your enemies”

perhaps one of the hardest commandments for christians to follow. (, )

“Pray for those who persecute you”

Not only are we to love our enemies, but take it to the next level and pray for them.

V. 45. “Loving and Praying for our enemies gives evidence that we are children of God.”

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V. 45 “For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

God’s Provision for mankind regarldess

Evidence of God.