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Nov 23

Sermon on the Mount – Love Our Enemies

Matt 5：38-48 （ESV）

Retaliation

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ ³⁹ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰ And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. ⁴¹ And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Love Your Enemies

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.

 

Meditation:

This passage brings us to the climax of the Sermon on the Mount. This teaching of Jesus receives the most praises and censures. Jesus taught us to love those who are evil (v39) and our enemies (v44). No other teaching has such a big challenge. This reflects the obvious difference between Christian culture and other culture. The need for the power of the Holy Spirit in this case is also more demanding that in other cases (Love is the first in the fruit of the spiritual).

• If you have a friend who keeps borrowing things from you and not returning them or returning with damages. There is no point to argue with him. What are you going to do? 1. Will you ask him to pay for the damages? 2. Refuse to lend him anymore, or 3. Continue to lend him things he asks? What is your principle?
• Read Matt 5:39-42. What do you think is the natural response when we face this situation? How is it different from what Jesus expects us to do?
• How do you apply this command of Jesus to your situation today? How should we follow Jesus’ teaching to treat our enemies?
• Is there someone you know that you have grievance with? Pray to God for strength to love them.