From the Mouth of the Master- Part 11- Matthew 5:43-48

Introduction

In the previous section, Jesus gave instruction regarding retaliation in personal conflicts. He instructed His disciples to “turn the other cheek” to be willing to give their cloak to those who would sue them for their coat, and that they should be willing to “go the second mile.”

The concepts that Jesus taught here were in stark contrast to the ideology of the day and they are still radical concepts today.

The passage we will be dealing with today is linked with this instruction and takes it even further as Jesus instructs His disciples to love their enemies.

This was again a radical idea that would certainly set the disciples of Christ apart as distinct from the rest of the world.

This is the last of the 6 statements that Jesus makes instructing His disciples with regard to the traditional interpretations of the law, and once again Jesus speaks with divine authority on this issue.

Notice first...

The Letter of the Law (Vs. 43)

This statement is not to be found anywhere in the law in its entirety, but it becomes clear that this was the traditional interpretation of the command which was given regarding loving one’s neighbor.

Leviticus 19:18 KJV 1900

Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.

Once again the law had been narrowly interpreted to mean that you were required to love your neighbor but that it was ok to hate your enemies.

It is not likely that there were religious teachers actually going about teaching the people to hate their enemies but this is nonetheless exactly what was being practiced.

It was apparently standard practice to harbor hatred for one’s enemies and to consider this no breach of the law of God.

This is a perfect example of how we can often take what God says and then make our own assumptions as to the application of it.

Instead of taking the commandment to mean that they were to show love towards all that they came into contact with, they took it to mean that their responsibility to love others was limited to those nearby and those who loved them.

Sadly there are many believers today who are guilty of this same attitude. We are more than willing to love those who love us and who treat us favorably, but we struggle to see how we can love those who oppose us who we might call our enemies.

Once Jesus has dealt with the narrow interpretation of the letter of the law He again offers to His disciples...

A Fresh Interpretation (Vs. 44 & 45)

Jesus plainly instructs His disciples to love their enemies. This is a concept completely foreign to fleshly thought.

Jesus once again raises the bar, instructing His followers to go beyond loving only those who love them, but to love also those who hate them.

Who are the enemies that Jesus is referring to? Those who curse instead of bless you, those who hate instead of love you, those who use and abuse you rather than treat you kindly, those who persecute instead of support you.

It is not difficult to love those who are kind to us and who show love towards us, but it is completely against our natural inclinations to love those who would treat us in such a manner.

As Jesus gives this instruction, He reminds His disciples that this is exactly what their heavenly father does. He presents an illustration to them which proves God’s love for even those which hate Him.

The sun in His creation and He could certainly cause that its benefits would only be felt by those that love Him and that His enemies would not receive its light or warmth and yet He has chose that even His enemies enjoy the blessed benefits of the sun’s shining.

This is true also as He sends the rain which nourishes and renews. God could quite easily restrict the rains to fall only on the property of those who are just, but instead He sends rain upon the fields of the just and the unjust alike.

If we are to be like our heavenly father, we must follow His example and choose to extend our love to even those who we would consider to be our enemies.

Jesus in this portion of His sermon gives some specific details with regard to how His disciples should treat their enemies. In these we can see...

The Practical Implications (Vs. 44, 46-48)

Jesus not only instructed His disciples to love their enemies, He gave them detailed commands for how they were to love them.

He begins with a command to “bless them that curse you.” This means that when we are cursed by someone, we do not retaliate with cursing, but instead we respond with blessing. This proves our love for them.

Jesus then says to His disciples that they are to “do good to them that hate you.” There may be some who hate you because of your stand for the truth or for some other reason, but the disciple of Christ does not return hatred to them. Instead we are commanded to do good to them that hate us.

Can you think of someone right now who harbors hatred towards you? What would be their response if you simply decided to do good to them in spite of their hatred for you?

Jesus also instructs His disciples to “pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Is there someone in your life who has taken advantage of you or who has persecuted you because of your faith? Are you praying for them?

Political leaders who would abuse and persecute believers, we have a responsibility to pray for them.

How many enemies do you have on your prayer list? How often have you returned blessing for cursing? How many times have you gone out of your way to do good to someone who hates you?

Romans 9:1–4 KJV 1900

I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

Paul was often persecuted by the Jews and on many occasions they attempted to take his life and yet his love for them is evident.

These unusual behaviors are what set the disciples of Christ apart from the lost world. Lost people do not behave in this manner and no one expects them to.

Now even the most wicked sinners among us are capable of loving those that love them so this is no significant accomplishment.

Gang members- Mafia members- these love those who share their allegiances and love them in return. Yet these have a shared hatred and animosity towards their enemies.

A choice to live out these principles is a choice once again to be distinct from others and to be like Christ.

Romans 5:10 KJV 1900

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Jesus died for those which were His enemies and yet He loved them enough to lay down His life for them.

Even as He hung on the cruel cross of calvary, He prayed for the very people who had put Him there.

Luke 23:33–34 KJV 1900

And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Once again Jesus is the supreme example of the love that we are to have for our enemies.

Others may love those who love them and who bear the same allegiances, but we must do more! We must love our enemies because our heavenly father loves all men and would have all men to be saved so also should we share this desire.

We choose to love our enemies in the hope that they may ultimately come to Christ at which point they will become our brothers and sisters!

1 Timothy 2:4–6 KJV 1900

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Conclusion

It is not difficult at all to love those which love us in return, but it is supremely difficult to love those who curse, abuse, persecute, and hate us.

Yet this is exactly what Jesus has commanded us to do! This unnatural love is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit which works within us.

If we will embrace this commandment and will purpose to love our enemies, we will be distinct from the world and we will have the opportunity to share the love of Christ with them.

Jesus Christ loved you while you were yet a sinner fighting against God. He willingly laid down His life to pay the penalty for your sins so that you could be saved from wrath through Him. Have you responded to this love by placing your faith in Him?

If you have then how much more reason do you need to love your enemies? It just may be that they may see the love of Christ on display in your life!