27 “But I say to you who are willing to hear: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you.
Reflection
Jesus set the world on its ear when he said in Matthew 25:43 “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.”
This goes against everything I’ve ever read—except for verses in the Bible.
It’s very similar to Luke 6:27-28, which says, “But I say to you who are willing to hear: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you.
Going back to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, Jesus was telling them that everything they heard was wrong. They were told to love their neighbor and hate their enemies and persecutors.
Jeus gave a new command. He told them to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. It’s not natural. It can’t be right, can it?
What does it mean to love their enemies?
In a website called LOGOS, Rebekah Eklund called loving your enemies the most challenging command that Jesus gave. The San Mateo Journal says loving your neighbor is a practice, not a slogan. No matter how you say it, loving your neighbor and enemies is hard.
A good place to start is in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. In Matthew 22, beginning in verse 36, Jesus was asked by an expert in the law which commandment was the greatest. Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
But let’s go back to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. Jesus began by listing the Beatitudes. Among many things, Jesus said he didn’t come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. And then he listed several “You have heard it said,” verses, beginning with not to murder.
“But I tell you, that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” And on and on, until Jesus said in verses 43 and 44, “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.
He said the same thing in Luke 6:27-2, when he said, “But I say to you who are willing to hear: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you.” He continues through the of the chapter in verse 49.
No, loving your enemies is truly hard. But imagine the type of world we would have if we were obedient. And as Christians, we must be obedient—or are we truly his disciples?
There is no option.
By Rick Reed
For Pondering and Prayer
This is very challenging for me. But as I’ve written, there is no option. We must also love our enemies. And in light of all that is happening, it is very hard. But with God’s help, we can.
Prayer: All mighty and loving Father, we need you maybe now more than ever. Help us to love our neighbors and even more so to love our enemies. In your name. Amen.
