Love Your Enemies.
Matt 5: 38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
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, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
45 that you may be sons of your Father 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 have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Matt 5: 38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
An eye for an eye.—Here again the scribes first took their stand on the letter, regardless of the aim and purpose, of the Law, and then expanded it in a wrong direction.
The truth of this scripture was what a judge would do to bring about equilibrium.
The old law directed judges to inflict penalties precisely equivalent to offences-’an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth’ Exodus 21:24
The judgement is about making restitution.
It was not about retaliation or vengeance.
This law was given for societies benefit not for individuals to exact vengeance on anyone.
Jesus was not disagreeing with the law, He was pointing out that the law should not be used for selfish vengeance.
Jesus uses three mild attacks, a slap on the cheek. He is not referring here to a full on fisticuffs, a serious attack that could lead to serious damage.
Rather than blow it out of proportion, rather than contend and fight, we should take it patiently, and turn the other cheek.
This does not, however, prevent our remonstrating firmly yet mildly on the injustice of the thing, and insisting that justice should be done us, as is evident from the example of the Jesus himself. See John 18:23.
Joh 18:23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
It is not wrong to question the attack, to require an explanation but not to retaliate.
40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
The second example Jesus gives is if someone take you to court and tries to take advantage of the law to take something from you, in this case your shirt. Instead of getting into a legal wrangle and it become a vexation, it would be better to say, OK take it and here have my coat also. It is better to yield over a small thing than enter into a vexatious battle.
After all, this is only about property and not about conscience and life.
41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
The third example was in relation to the Roman law. If a Roman bade you carry his equipment, you were bound to carry it for one mile. Jesus was saying don’t argue, rather than resist carry it two miles.
The fourth example:
42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
What Jesus words here teach, is the ideal of the perfect life which we ought to aim at.
Looking in love and with a generous spirit towards those in need.
We should not just turn away, but consider the need and react in the best way we can.
Giving what is asked for if we honestly believe that it is really for the good of him who asks, giving something else if that would seem to be really better for him.
Rightly understood, the words do not bid us idly give alms to the idle or the impostor; and St. Paul’s rule, “If a man will not work, neither let him eat”
It would not be good for us, on request, to give a bottle of alcohol to an alcoholic or money to a drug addict.
However if there is a genuine need, “do not turn away”. Consider and act responsibly.
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V43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.'
Remember what Jesus was trying to do in His teaching on the sermon on the Mount.
He was trying to get the people to understand that what the law of Moses said was far deeper than the written word.
Remember He said the law says, Thou shalt not kill (murder), but I say if you have murder in your heart you are as guilty.
Thou shalt not commit adultery but I say if you lust after another, you are guilty of adultery.
Here again we see Jesus teaching the deeper meaning of loving your neighbour.
Now the Old Testament does not teach, hate your enemy, so why did Jesus say this is what is being said?
"Love your neighbour" comes from Leviticus 19:18 and is part of the Great Commandment.
In Jesus' time, the understanding taught by the Rabbi’s was that a neighbour was interpreted to mean fellow Israelites, and to exclude all others.
I.E, a Samaritan was not a Jew, so he was an enemy of Israel.
In full, the Leviticus verse states that you should love your neighbour "as you love yourself." Leaving out this last phrase somewhat reduces its demands. As the second part makes clear, however, Jesus was probably not making a reference to scripture, but rather to a common interpretation.
Nowhere in the Old Testament does it directly state that one should hate one's enemies, but it is implied by several verses, such as in Psalm 137 which calls for vengeance.
Psa 137:8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
Psa 137:9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
At the time Jewish thinkers were thus divided, some extolled universal love, others hatred of enemies.
On the contrary in many places the Old Testament talks about loving your enemy.
Leviticus 19:18 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.
It appears that the Jewish teachers added on to the verse 'You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.'
We know that this is a human trait, how can one love someone who dislikes or even hates us?
We don’t find it difficult to love those who love us but to love those who may want to do us harm, well that is a different matter.
This was the natural way of thinking in the time of Christ but this thinking had entered into the teaching in the synagogues.
Jesus knew this and He is taking these scriptures to a deeper level.
V43 "You have heard that it was said, (Not read)
Now, here comes that phrase again, Mat 5:44 But I say unto you,
The idea that was being taught, was that only a Hebrew was a Hebrews neighbour but we know that this is not how Jesus saw it.
We know this from what Jesus says in Luke’s Gospel when in chapter 10:29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”
Jesus then goes on to tell the parable of the good Samaritan, Luke 10: 30-39, showing that Jesus was teaching that not only a fellow Hebrew is their neighbour but all men. Even those who do or wish evil on us.
Why did Jesus use a Samaritan as His example?
Because He knew that a Samaritan would have been hated by the Jews. Yet the Samaritan was the good person in the parable.
Then we see Jesus building phrase upon phrase of how we should react to those who we consider our enemy.
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
Should we become like them, or should we do the Godly thing.
Some may say, "I can't forgive that person for what they have done".
Is it right for us as Christians to be in a position where we can't forgive?
What is the Godly thing?
Jesus died for sinners.
God is not willing (wishing) that any should perish, however, Christ's death is only appropriated in the lives of the repentant sinner.
If there is no repentance, no remorse, there can be no forgiveness.
Christ was willing to die, God is willing to forgive.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
So too, should we be willing to forgive others. However, the question is, should we forgive the unrepentant?.
Even when one says sorry for what they have done, do we withhold our forgiveness until they have made restitution?
God knows the heart of every person who says "I am sorry", however saying sorry is not enough if it is not meant.
We are not God, we have to make a judgement when someone says sorry. How many times have we heard the words, "I am sorry" and we can tell that they really are not sorry at all.
There needs to be true repentance. Sometimes proof of sorrow.
God will only forgive the truly repentant sinner and this means a change of heart to the act done and in some cases full restitution.
Forgiveness is conditional.
The condition is true repentance.
Whether one is forced to make full restitution may not always be a condition.
This is where mercy applies. True sorrow may suffice. On the other hand there may be a need for restitution as a punishment or for a lesson to be learned.
There are situations that we have seen, where a parent of a murdered child, when being interviewed has said, "I forgive the person who killed my child.
This shows a willingness to forgive but that forgiveness can only be applied when and if the murderer repents and shows remorse.
Also, even if that happens and they are forgiven, restitution must be made for the crime committed.
Reconciliation depends on repentance..
Col 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled.
45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;
Jesus then compounds His words by the challenge.
If you only love those who love you what gain is it? Even the unbeliever does that, therefore you are no different than the unbeliever.
If you confess to love God with all your heart, soul and mind. Then you should also love your enemy.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
The Apostle Paul teaches us how to ride above our feelings, even if we are a victim of hate and take steps to exhibit the marks of the true Christian.
Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
If our enemy hates us, if he does evil towards us, we should not allow our feelings to force us into the same mould. We according to the teaching of Christ, should rise above our feeling and act in a manner that honours God.
Notice these actions.
If someone hates you or does evil against you, it is a good thing not to retaliate. That is a Christian response,
V17 Recompense to no man evil for evil.
However, what Jesus is emphasising here is going one step further.
If your enemy slaps you on one cheek, turn the other.
If he sues you for your shirt, give him your coat also.
If he asks you to go one mile, go an extra mile.
If anyone asks you for something, don’t turn away, consider it.
If your enemy hates you or does evil to you, Don’t hate him, bless him, do good to him, and pray for him.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
