Blog 09-30-2010
Thursday
PRaP 09-30-2010
250 Events In The Life Of Christ/ A Harmony Of The Gospels Part 57
Section 2: Message And Ministry Of Jesus
“Jesus Teaches About Loving Enemies”
Matthew:
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[b] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Luke:
27“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
This is a difficult teaching for all of us. Even children have difficulty with this teaching. We all have this built in anger system that makes us lash out at someone who has hurt us. We surely don’t want to be nice to someone who has done something to us that hurt. We only got so many cheeks to turn Lord! As much as I know this is good and right it isn’t easy to do but we must be obedient in the things our Lord Jesus has commanded us. This too makes me look at what the US Government is doing. They are always giving to our enemies, people who are a threat to our very existence. They even sell advanced military weapons to our enemies as if there would never be a chance that they would turn those very weapons back on us. Is it Biblical or just stupid? I will refrain from commenting about the validity of our governmental leaders at this point other than to say that you never give to one who is wanting you dead the very gun to shoot you with. OK enough politics. Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. They are weak but He is strong. Yes Jesus loves me.
Peace and Agape Love,
Pastor Steve
