Love Your Enemies
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that 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.”
Matthew 5:43-45
Once again, Jesus refers to the Law of Moses, then interprets the Law in ways that seem to contradict it. The phrase Jesus uses, “love your neighbor and hate your enemies” comes from two sources. Leviticus teaches the need to love one’s neighbors;[1] it was the commentary upon the Law, issued by the scribes and Pharisees, which told Israel to hate its enemies. Nevertheless, the phrase was probably in common use at the time of Christ. Hate is a very hard word, especially when it is applied to people. Jesus teaches that, though we may hate evil, we should love our enemies. This is a far cry from the shrill hectoring that would have us wipe our assailants off the face of the earth.
There is nothing new in Jesus’ words, which is as we would expect. Jesus is not destroying the Law. He is certainly not turning it on its head, as some have suggested. His purpose is to draw out the inner meaning of the Law, and then to apply it. Despite what some commentators will tell you, Israel did not simply relate to its enemies by butchering them. In response to God’s command, Israel acted decisively to rid the land of pagan practices that were often simply abhorrent. But when it came to external enemies, Israel was taught that God’s people should do good to those who oppose them.[2] Jesus reinforces the meaning of the Law. It is better to do good than to wage war.
Underlying the passage is what theologians call “common grace.” God’s benevolent good will extends towards all people. Just as He makes the sun to shine on everyone, and the rain to fall on the just as well as the unjust, so His grace extends to all. If life is a gift, as it certainly is, then it is clearly a gift in which all people may participate. The temptation is to confuse common grace, which is available to all, with saving grace, which is the gift of God to those who believe in His Son. We cannot and must not say that all are saved. But we can say that all are blessed. God calls us to live out that blessing in the way we deal with all of our neighbors, even our enemies.
God of blessing,
I confess that there have been times when I have failed to love, as You command.
I have exchanged curses instead of mercy.
I have thought more of my wounded pride than of the wounds of Christ.
Since I have received so much, may I be found willing and ready to love as I have been loved.
Though Christ my Lord.
Amen.
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