SF918 - LOVE YOUR ENEMIES (Matthew 5 43-48)
Matthew 5:43-48
Introduction
In this section of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus expounds on the meaning of his command, “unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Our Lord uses the phrase, “You have heard that the ancients were told,” or a similar one, to introduce each of the six corrective illustrations He gives in this section of His sermon (see vv. 21, 27, 31, 33, 38, 43). The phrase has reference to rabbinical teaching, and in each illustration, Jesus contrasts that human teaching with the Word of God.
Together, these illustrations affirm that every area of our lives should be characterized and measured by God’s perfect standard of inner righteousness. [John MacArthur]
Five Basic Principles for 5:21-48
1. The spirit of the law is more important than the letter.
2. The law is positive as well as negative.
3. The law is not an end in itself; its supreme purpose is to glorify God.
4. God alone is qualified to judge men, He alone can judge hearts.
5. We are all commanded to live up to God’s perfect standard - no exceptions.
In His sixth, and last, illustration contrasting the false righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees with the true righteousness of God, Jesus contrasts the Pharisees’ kind of love with God’s kind of love.
1A. A Practice Examined (5:43)
1B. The principle of the Mosaic Law (5:43b)
In the OT God required forgiveness and love.
Leviticus 19:18 “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.”
In the OT God required that we treat our enemies with kindness.
Proverbs 25:21 “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink”
2B. The perversion of the Rabbinic tradition
Rabbinic teaching had perverted OT teaching both by what was omitted and by what was added.
What they omitted – “as yourself”
Ø It was inconceivable that they should care for any other person as much as they cared for themselves.
Ø The Rabbis had narrowed the meaning of neighbor to include only those people they approved, people like them. (The Good Samaritan, Luke 10:30-37)
What they added – “hate your enemy”
Ø Their addition was the logical extension of their all-consuming self-interest.
Ø Our attitude toward even the worst pagans or heretics is to love them and pray that they would be saved.
2A. A Principle Explained (5:44-48)
1B. Love your enemies (5:44a)
It is a command that demands our attention.
Egw legw = I (with authority) say to you.
Four words for love in Greek
Ø Philia is brotherly love and the love of friendship;
Ø Storgeô is the love of family;
Ø Eroôs is desiring, romantic, sexual love.
Ø Agapeô; the love that seeks and works to meet another’s highest welfare. Agape is used here.
It is a command that demands action.
Ø Agapeô love may involve emotion but it must involve action. (1 Corinthians 13:1-8)
Ø Agapeô love is the love that God is, that God demonstrates, and that God gives (1 John 4:7-10)
2B. Pray for your persecutors (5:44b)
Persecution is certain
John 15:20 “‘A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you….’”
Ø We are to pray for them that they will seek God’s forgiveness and grace.
Ø Our persecutors may not always be unbelievers. Christians can cause other Christians great trouble, and the first step toward healing those broken relationships is prayer.
3B. Live like sons of God. (5:45)
The proof that we are sons of God (5:45a)
Ø To love our enemies and to pray for our persecutors shows that we are “sons of [our] Father who is in heaven.”
Ø The aorist tense of geneôsthe (may be) indicates a once and for all established fact.
1 John 4:16 “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”
Ø When a life reflects God’s nature it proves that life now possesses His nature by the new birth.
The practice of the sons of God (5:45b)
Ø Those who are God’s children should show impartial love and care similar to what God shows.
Ø Verse 45 speaks of what theologians call common grace; God is indiscriminate in His benevolence.
Ø His divine love and providence in some forms benefit everyone, even those who rebel against Him or deny His existence.
Ø There is no good thing that anyone possesses or experiences that does not come from the hand of God.
James 1:17 “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights….”
Ø If God does that for everyone, His children should reflect that same generosity.
4B. Do not live like the world. (5:46-47)
How is the Christian different from the natural man?
1. The natural man sees the Law of God as a set of rules to be followed, the Christians sees it as a guide to godly living.
2. The natural man sees morality as a barrier to his enjoyment, the Christians sees morality as a means of his protection.
3. The natural man sees sin as an action, the Christians sees sin as an attitude.
4. The natural man will confess that he is less than perfect; the Christian will confess that he is “poor in spirit.”
5. The natural man sees God as someone who is to be obeyed and feared, the Christian sees God as his loving Father.
6. The natural man will endure his trials, the Christian will rejoice in his trials.
7. The natural man will avoid suffering at all costs; the Christians will gladly “take up his cross.”
8. The natural man may die with dignity, but the Christian will die with joy.
Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
5B. Be like your heavenly Father. (5:48)
Leviticus 19:2 “‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.’”
“The sum of all that Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount—in fact, the sum of all He teaches in Scripture—is in those words.” (MacArthur)
God’s standard is perfection
Teleios (perfect) basically means to reach an intended end or a completion and is often translated “mature.”
But the meaning here is obviously that of perfection, because the heavenly Father is the standard.
The natural man can never meet God’s standard
Matthew 19:26 “And looking at them Jesus said to them, ‘With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”
Application
That is precisely our Lord’s point in all these illustrations and in the whole sermon—to lead His audience to an overpowering sense of spiritual bankruptcy that shows them their need of a Savior, who alone can empower them to meet God’s standard of perfection.
Have you experienced the saving power of God that enables you to fulfill His standard?
I urge you to search your heart today and discover if you are “in Christ.”
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
Matthew 5:43-48
1A. A Practice Examined (5:43)
1B. The principle of the Mosaic Law (5:43b)
In the OT God required forgiveness and ______.
Leviticus 19:18
In the OT God required that we treat our enemies with _____________________.
Proverbs 25:21
2B. The perversion of the Rabbinic tradition
What they ___________________ – “as yourself”
What they ______________ – “hate your enemy”
2A. A Principle Explained (5:44-48)
1B. ____________________ your enemies (5:44a)
It is a command that demands our attention.
It is a command that demands _______________.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8
1 John 4:7-10
2B. Pray for your persecutors (5:44b)
Persecution is certain (John 15:20 )
3B. Live like sons of God. (5:45)
The ___________ that we are sons of God (5:45a)
1 John 4:16
The _______________ of the sons of God (5:45b)
James 1:17
4B. Do not live like the _____________. (5:46-47)
How is the Christian different from the natural man?
Ø The natural man sees the Law of God as a set of rules to be followed, the Christians sees it as a guide to godly living.
Ø The natural man sees morality as a barrier to his enjoyment, the Christians sees morality as a means of his protection.
Ø The natural man sees sin as an action, the Christians sees sin as an attitude.
Ø The natural man will confess that he is less than perfect; the Christian will confess that he is “poor in spirit.”
Ø The natural man sees God as someone who is to be obeyed and feared, the Christian sees God as his loving Father.
Ø The natural man will endure his trials, the Christian will rejoice in his trials.
Ø The natural man will avoid suffering at all costs; the Christians will gladly “take up his cross.”
Ø The natural man may die with dignity, but the Christian will die with joy.
Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
5B. Be __________ your heavenly Father. (5:48)
Leviticus 19:2
God’s standard is __________________________
The natural man can never meet God’s standard
Matthew 19:26