Love Your Enemies

Grow up

Mission and Vision

The logic of Chapter 5

Matthew 5:43–48 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? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

What does it mean to be perfect as your heavenly Father?

Love your neighbor - hate your enemy.

Leviticus 19:18 ESV

18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

God doesn’t say hate?

Psalm 139:17–24 ESV

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. 19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! 20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

The Psalmist - Identifying with God and not those around him

God can handle your struggle, but He has more for you.

Don’t settle there - grow up

But Jesus says

Command to Love & Pray

Enemies & Persecution

Vilify

Ideological - (Rome) Demarcates and Republicans - I am not paying for that.

Morally - Drunkenness & Infidelity

Religious - (Samaritans) Muslims

Personal Enemies

Love

Hate the sin, love the sinner

Aka - when they act right, I will treat them right

Love here is not passive but active

Pray

Don’t give God your agenda - take on his agenda

SO THAT - Strategy

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.

oil

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?

Matthew 5:48 ESV

48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Perfect (wholly) / mature (Grownup)

19 times - 12 prefect - 7 Mature

Knowledge about God’s Heart

Love & Pray

And we mature

Get our identity right first.

When our identity is whole like God’s, we are not threatened

Then love God’s way

Love is an unconditional commitment to an imperfect person in which we give of ourselves to bring the relationship to God’s intended purpose.

Palm Sunday