Matthew 5:43-48 Love Your Enemies – audio

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Text: Matthew 5:43-48

Introduction

It seems as if this time of year you learn who your friends are, and who your enemies are.

• Families gather together for the holidays, only to see in-laws go at it or siblings renew former spats and squabbles.
• Neighbors compete to see who can display the best holiday decorations.
• Rivalry weekend pairs teams to play each other that do not like one another.

This may seem like a big deal to us now, but consider what it was like many years ago—Jews and Gentiles were at odds, as were Pharisees and Sadducees.

Jesus taught a lesson that we need to learn even today: love our neighbors! Text: Matthew 5:43-48.

Body

I. Jesus recognized the law.

Jesus knew the multitudes have been taught the things according to the Old Law. He reminds them of the things Moses taught: loving their neighbors and hating their enemies (see Leviticus 19:15-18 and Deuteronomy 23:3-6).

A. Who is your neighbor?

A certain lawyer knew the law said to love his neighbor as himself, yet wanted to justify himself by asking who his neighbor was. Jesus taught the parable of the Good Samaritan to show him, and gave him a similar command (Luke 10:25-37).

B. Who is your enemy?

An enemy is hated by one who opposes his beliefs. In the original language, this term hate means to: hate, despise, disregard, or be indifferent to.”

II. Jesus taught different than the law.

Even though He identified the law, He shows a change. He said, “But I say to you (Matthew 5:43)…” Jesus spoke as one having authority and not as the scribes (Matthew 7:29), for He received all authority from His Heavenly Father (Matthew 28:18).

III. Contrary to the law, Jesus said to…

A. …love your enemies.

John teaches that we must love by our actions, not by just mere words (1 John 3:18). Love is more than a feeling; it’s an action! We may not like our enemies, but we must love them! Paul gave us a reminder of what we can do for our enemies (Romans 12:20), as Solomon said in his wisdom from God (Proverbs 25:21-22).

B. …bless them.

James teaches Christians that we are not to bless and curse; rather, we should speak what is good for necessary edification (James 3:6-10; Ephesians 4:29).

C. …pray for them.

Even Stephen asked, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin (Acts 7:60)” as he was being stoned to death for preaching the gospel of Christ. Yes, even Christ prayed a similar prayer: “Father, forgive them, for they know what they do (Luke 23:34)” as He was about to die. He prayed for the very ones who killed Him (as Stephen)!

IV. As Jesus is God’s Son, we must prove we are His children.

A. We must suffer from our enemies just as Christ did (Romans 8:14-17).

B. We let our lights shine in a dark world while being blameless and harmless (Philippians 2:15; Matthew 5:16).

C. As God our Father is perfect, so we are to be perfect (Matthew 5:48).

Paul wants all Christians to be perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:28). After all, we are to be imitators of God as dear children (Ephesians 5:1). Jews and Gentiles alike make Christ complete.

There is only one body, the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4; Colossians 1:18-20). The body of Christ is made up of many different members, but there should be no schism in it (1 Corinthians 12:24b-27).

Conclusion

We may have enemies, but we must treat them kindly. Jesus taught us to love them no matter what; after all, He died for them!

What would you want to do to your enemies? Would you want your enemies to return the favor? Remember the words of Christ: “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12).”

We are Christians first, and then our individual selves.