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“Love Your Enemies”
"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." (Matthew 5:44)
In recent years our society has become more polarized politically, morally, and spiritually than any time in my life. Paranoia coupled with bitterness has manifested itself in deeds and words or anger. Ironically, in a post-modern world that is supposedly "tolerant", the ebemy of God's people is easily idenitifed.
In the sermon recorded in Matthew 5 through 7, Jesus teaaches teh heavenly ethics that marks the character of God's people. In this logic of how one must treat others, Jesus proceeds from "turning the other cheek" to the principle of "doing good" and "praying" for those who mistreat us. These actions are summarized by one word: agape.
"Love" (agape) is active good will toward anotehr. It involves one's volition overruling one's emothiosn. Certinly one would not feel loving toward a persecutor, but goodwill must override the intuition to hurt. The disciple is commanded to seek the highest good of his enemies.
Jesus marks the enemy among those who "curse you", "hate you", and "despitefully use you and persecute you". These atrocities may include hurtful words, defamation of character, and physical harm. Your advesary may be a co-worker, family member, neighbor, or spouse. One is obviosly not going to feel loving toward his enemies.
Agape will express itself in active good deeds. It will go beyond simple non-resistance (Matthew 5:38-42) and a refusal to retaliate. One is expected to "do good" - i.e. giving sacrificially of one's self that the other might live. If possible one must conquer the enemy by destroying the enmity. These sacrificial deeds must be couopled with returning blessing for cursing an dpraying for God to turn their hearts to kindness.
Love is the badge of the Christian. It is practicing this virtue that we become like the Father we called upon the imitate. For even when we were his enemies, He gave his Son that we might live. (Romans 5:8)
