Verse of the Day 3/12

Verse of the Day 3/12

Matthew 5:43-44  "You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Five times in Matthew 5, from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made the statement "you have heard it said" followed by a lesson on the meaning of a "law" that had been misinterpreted by the Pharisees for generations.  The principal here was about how we are to treat our neighbors (our friends) and enemies.  It was commonly taught that we are to love our neighbors, those being of the same background and thinking that we have and that the natural course of action to take against someone who opposes us or has a different opinion was to treat them as our enemy.  In this short passage Jesus "blows up" that misinterpretation.

Perhaps nowhere else in society do we see the wrong interpretation played out every day more than in politics.  There is no longer any notion of "agreeing to disagree"; but rather; hatred is expressed and it results in the division of segments of society, neighbors and even households.  Part of the problem with the original teaching was that it had to do more with Old Testament relationships between nations and not individuals.  It is often applied to individuals today and when practiced it creates an endless cycle of discord between people that could and should be able to be friends and agree to disagree on matters but still strive to see the good in others.

For Jesus' followers He encouraged them to love everyone.  Showing the fruit of the Spirit in love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness and self control (among others in Galatians 5:22-24).  In doing so, there is a chance that you can "overcome" who would otherwise be your enemy, with good and both be able to consider each other as friends.

Verse 44 brings in another key component, that is praying for that other person.  The act itself helps you to focus on them, perhaps to try to understand them better and seek God's wisdom and grace in the situation, changing the way that we will act or react to them, even in trying situations.

Have you found yourself joining the "crowd" and labeling certain people, groups or political parties as your enemy?  Perhaps you can pray for them and see if there is something that you could do to show love and kindness and turn that enemy into a true friend.

For more on "friends and enemies" consider reading the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 where Jesus asks who "proved to be a neighbor".  The question is not so much "who is my neighbor" but rather "whose neighbor am I"?

Luke 10:36-37 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" ³⁷ He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."     English Standard Version (ESV)

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Matthew 5:43-48 English Standard Version (ESV)

Love Your Enemies

⁴³ "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers,^[a] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸ You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.