Love Like Your Father Loves You

Opening

We seek justice and vengeance all the time.

Example

Jesus Calls Us to Something Else. He Turns The Idea of Vengence Upside Down. He Calls Us to Love Like Our Father Loves Us.

Context

Sermon On Mount Is A Series Of Sermons From Jesus To His Disciples. In This Section There Are 6 Unique Teachings All Starting With “You Have Heard It Said.” Jesus Is Addressing OT Law And Practice. When We First Read The Scripture It Can Seem Like Jesus Is Rewriting The Law, But In Fact He Is Directing The Disciples To The Intention Of The Laws.

Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”

Love Those Who Are Not Easy To Love

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’

This idea of “an eye for an eye” was well known to the Jews and Gentiles. The Code of Hammurabi, which in fact predated the Mosaic Law, said the same thing. Goal To Keep People From Blood Feuds. Punishment Should Not Exceed The Crime.

39 “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

Jesus Is Saying Do Not Seek Retaliation At All. Right Cheek Slap Is An Insult. Jesus Is Saying Be Insulted. Don’t Get Upset When People Insult You. When You Are Insulted Speak Words Of Blessing.

40 “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.

Shirt Is Considered An Undergarment. Jesus Calls Disciples To Give Up Their Valuable Coat Too. Clothes Can Be Replaced, So Have A Unselfish Attitude When It Comes To Our Rights And Property. Give Up Your Rights. Pray That God Blesses The person You Don’t Want To.

41 “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

Roman Soldiers Could Order You To Carry Equipment 1,000 Steps Or 1 Mile. Jews Resented This Task And Avoided It. Jesus Says Volunteer And Go Beyond The Minimum. When You Want To Give Up Take One More Step.

42 “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

Jesus Calls Disciples To Change Attitude About Property. Put The Needs Of Others Before Your Own Needs And Comforts. Be Generous. This Is A Radical Expression Of Unselfish Concern For Others. Give To Someone Who Doesn’t Have Anything To Give You.

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,”

Jesus Makes It Clear There Is Neither Neighbor Nor Enemy When It Comes To Love. Love Is Not Discriminating. There Is No One We Should Not Love. How Do We Love Our Enemy? Jesus Makes This Even More Clear In Romans 12.

19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Overcome Evil With Love. Jesus Is Calling His Disciples To Turn From Vengence And Revenge Towards A Love That Reflects Himself. If You Are A Christian You Are Called To Reflect Christ In Every Area Of Your Life. That Might Mean Giving Up Some Things, So People Can See The Love Of God In Your Life. You May Go Without, So Someone Can Experience Christs Love. But God Will Provide In Your Need.

45 “For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

God’s Provision Is Not Discriminating. God’s Love Is Not Discriminating. Why Would God Call His Disciples To Subject Themselves To Such Conditions?

45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven;

Jesus Calls His Disciples To Be Children Of The Father.

How Many Of Us Are Children? How Many Of Us Do Something, Wether Good Or Bad Just Like Our Parents? My Dad… I do the same...

Jesus Says Be Like Your Father. Do These Things And You Will Be Like The Father. Love Like This And You Will Love Like The Father.

Why Do We Love? How Do We Love? Not Only Because We Are Called To Be His Children, But...

We Love Because God Loves Us

We Love Because God First Loved Us. He Created Us. He Called Us. He Provided For Us. We Rejected Him. We Sinned Against A Holy God And Because Of That We Were Removed From His Presence. But Then Jesus Came, It Says In Romans 5...

10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

The Life Of Jesus Is A Life Of Love Poured Out For Each Of Us.