Matthew 5:43-48

Matthew 5:43-48 NIV

“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 children 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. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Have you ever noticed that children don't always do as their parents forever them? Obedient children do as they are told, but defiance arises and the willful child goes her own way. Jesus commands His disciples to love their enemies that they may "be children of your Father in heaven." This implies that children do the will their Father. (Note: Nowhere in the Law of Moses does it say to "hate your enemies". The phrase came from either rabbinical teaching or a popular attitude in Jesus' day.)

Another way to read this verse is love your enemies so that you "may become" or you "may show yourselves to be" children of your Father in heaven. The point here is that the act of loving those who do not love us, and are cruel to us, is the kind of love God gives to all, both the right and the wrong. To love like God is to grow in God's love. Practice loving those who hate you and your life will become more like Christ. Love your enemies and you will be known as a child of God, because you will reflect His perfect love.

According to the apostle John, perfect or complete love drives fear out of a disciple's heart. What fears keep me from owning a perfect love? Prejudices are a form of fear based loathing. We tend to dislike that which causes us discomfort. We share this world with so many different races, faiths and languages. Another culture that is different from our own can be hard to understand. It takes effort to connect. Rather than face the difficulties of the effort to communicate and relate, we take the comfortable road and only associate with those who are like us. The truth is many times we don't like sharing because we're afraid there won't be enough for us, or that we are losing something.

The Egyptians loathed the Hebrews, so they enslaved them and treated them harshly. Listen to the fear in their prejudice.

Exodus 1:9-10, 12-13 NIV

“Look,” he (Pharaoh) said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.” But the more they (The Hebrews) were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly.

Prejudice is a powerful force in our world. Wars are fought over centuries old grudges. The Hatfields feuded with the McCoys for generations. They even forgot the reason why. They were raised in a family that taught to hate and even kill the other. Today racial prejudices and the loathing of the sexually different is pervasive. Such fears drive unkind thoughts, stereotyping, and sometimes violence.

The church is a congregation of forgiven sinners living by the power of transforming grace. The recipients of the Spirit of the Lord have divine power available to them, at only a prayer's utterance. Yet the church struggles to be known as children of God. Instead we are depicted as the opposite because of hostile rhetoric and even violence, like attacks against workers at abortion clinics. This should not be. Jesus commands His disciples to love generously, as our Father in heaven loves.

God gives the rain to those who love and obey Him, as well as to those who despise and rebel against Him. How can we rightfully withhold the amazing, life changing love God has freely given to us? Perhaps it is because we have not allowed the fullness of God's love to take hold of us. We are at some level hiding from God, like naked and ashamed Adam.

Practice loving your enemies. Be kind to those who are cruel and pray for their souls. Do not wait for them to change, but believe in their divine potential and trust God's grace to be at work. Your heart will change. You will possess more and more the fullness of God's love. When you love those who despise you, you will show yourself a child of your Father in heaven.