Humans have feelings of hate, motivated by an idea that another person has harmed us in some way. TopicalBible And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? To subscribe to David Servant's periodic e-teachings, click here. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. These three components of our Saviors sermons provide practical ways that we can love and forgive our enemies.. The gospel is, like C.S. 1 John 4:16; Mal. However, your enemies will force you to take a closer look at your life. Because if its a new ethic, a new standard, what youre saying is it cant be found in the Old Covenant anywhere. Visit the Bible online to search for words if you dont know the specific passage yourre looking for. Discover what it means to be an active listener and learn five actionable steps to become one. Elisha the prophet and Jesus both taught the importance of loving your enemies. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. Love your enemies. How can you learn to be optimistic? Hate Your Enemies or Love Your Enemies ~ The Bible Speaks to You Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master. So the king prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. (2 Kgs 6:21-22), Did this non-violent response work? love your enemies, bless those who curse you. We can learn how to apply Jesus' command in our own lives by following the fullness of the teaching. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. As David Holwerda wrote of Luke 6:17-26: Thus both the beatitudes and the woes [of the Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon on the Plains] are intended to shape the lives of disciples who live in this world as citizens of Gods kingdom., In both Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:27, Jesus calls for believers to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Too bad Jason can't trouble himself to have a ", "Hi Dave, I read your article with great interest. Matthew 5:44, the forty-fourth verse in the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament, also found in Luke 6:27-36, is part of the Sermon on the Mount.This is the second verse of the final antithesis, that on the commandment to "Love thy neighbour as thyself".In the chapter, Jesus refutes the teaching of some that one should "hate [one's] enemies". 5(B)If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it. Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel. C Loving your neighbor vs. loving your enemy. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall refrain from leaving it to him, you shall surely release it with him, (Exodus 23:4-5). Jesus says in verse 44, But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Now, some people say, We never heard that before. Hes raising the standard now. You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit. Labs Jesus refers to the Old Testament Scriptures often in Matthews Gospel, and He never uses any phrase like you have heard, to quote them. "Love Your Enemies." This is one of the few statements Jesus made that is readily accepted by believers and skeptics alike. Join today!. How long has God been loving his enemies? It may have been assumed by some Hebrews that to love the neighbor (a fellow member of one's community . There is no transformation in such scenarios. You don't have to love them like you love your parents or children or best friend. Old Testament The English word "love" has many different meanings. No end was in sight. God wants to bless your enemies and will bless your enemies. Publisher: OpenBible.info. The Gospel of Matthew doesnt present Jesus as speaking of the Scriptures themselves as something heard, but rather as something read. So in Matthew 5, when Jesus uses the formula of you have heard it saidbut I say, Jesus is not arguing with the passage itself. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments.