“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:43-44
July 20, 2023
The Old Testament does not say to hate your enemies, but supposed religious scholars had found a way to justify hating one’s enemies. In another contrast between distortions of the OT with Jesus’ teaching, kingdom citizens are to distinguish themselves in this world not by merely refraining from retaliatory measures when wronged. We who have put our trust in Christ are to be like Him. In a day when words are thrown around like snowballs with rocks in them, words like love and hate are made to be weapons. If we love others, enemies included, we seek to do what is good for them and God tells what that is. We are to hate evil, but not to do what is harmful to those who leave us with a black eye. There are many different kinds of enemies, little ones and big ones. We can have persecuting enemies, but all Christians can face little enemies: people whose personality we intensely dislike, a revolting relative, a spouse who is bearing a grudge toward you, a son or daughter who because of bitterness is withholding love. You can see that loving one’s enemies requires some spiritual heavy lifting. The place where we have to start is praying for our enemies. Start a list and keep it to yourself, but do some serious intercession. If they are not believers, pray for their salvation. If a fellow believer, pray for God’s grace and goodness to overtake them.
H
“Praying for an enemy and loving him will prove mutually reinforcing. The more we love, the more prayer; the more prayer, the more love.” D.A. Carson