“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,“ (Matthew 5:43-44, ESV)
In His sermon explaining the rules of the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus again presents a precept that contradicts the way of the world.
The world system says to hate your enemies and Jesus says to love them. What does He mean by such a difficult demand?
The Law commanded that one love his neighbor. However, by inference tradition had it that one therefore should hate his enemy. Jesus indicated that the world operates by a love-hate system (v46, 47). Jesus presented a precept contradictory to this and used the fact that God extends the blessing of “his sun” and the “rain,” on all (v45).
In Jesus’ day, the Jews had a prejudicial view of the Gentiles, which resulted in their living by the world’s love-hate system. Jesus sought to tear down this system of prejudice by stating “I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Here is the point. True citizens of the Heavenly Kingdom will live by the rules of this kingdom. The rules of the Kingdom are those that flow forth from the heart of God. We read of God’s awesome love for the world in John 3:16.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“ (John 3:16, ESV)
Therefore, the heart of true citizens of the Kingdom should be a love for those of the world, both inside and outside the body of faith. Moreover, if we love, we cannot hate for hate is antithetical to love.
Now, from a practical standpoint, I can tell you that this is not easy. I have, at times, succeeded and at other times struggled with loving my enemies. You know when you are on the wrong side of this issue. You know it when your blood boils up and you fester with burning anger towards another. How can we overcome this love-hate way of the world system? It is only by the grace of God for the flesh desires to operate in the world system and the Spirit in the heavenly system. We can only have victory in this when we can yield control to the Spirit of God, to lead us in the purposes and ways of God.
So how do we enter this Spirit controlled life? There are a couple of practical steps. First, when we find ourselves hating others, we must confess it as falling short of God’s ideal as Jesus taught here. Second, we should consider our own shortcomings and that as God showers His grace upon us, we should do the same towards others. Third, we must understand that the love Jesus spoke of here, agape, is a love based not on affection but on the will of God. Finally, we should take action to love our enemies by blessing and praying for them. These steps will curb our emotions and manifest the heart of God towards those who we consider as enemies and persecutors.
There are significant upsides to expressing love towards our enemies. When we love our enemies, we will overcome evil with good. See Paul’s words, referencing the Psalms.
“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.“ (Romans 12:17-21, ESV)
Renewing the Heart 