In the New Testament, Jesus spoke of God's desire for His people to pray for enemies and to love one's neighbor as one's self. Each time the Syrian King tried to attack Israel, Elisha used his prophetic radar to anticipate his attacks. It's stressful when someone you love is undergoing surgery. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love Your Enemies Matthew 5:43-48 Delivered 11/24/2002. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. L It is, after all, what comes naturally to us. This is the proof right here. David has served for more than 40 years in vocational ministry, pioneering and pastoring three churches during 20 of those years, and personally ministering in more than 50 of the worlds nations. This is especially true regarding social media and how we use it., But we need to watch out for feelings of resentment because resentment can turn into hatred if were not careful., Since we are so divided, it can seem impossible to love your enemies. God loves your enemies. Show your enemies the genuine respect that every human being deserves. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. When Jesus said we are to love our enemies, He was creating a new standard for relationships. I'm a "progressive" ", "Dear Bob, Read Chapter 6 of Orgien's On Prayer, a work that Mr. Engwer himself ", "Excellent as always. Pray.com is the easiest way to incorporate prayer into your daily life and grow your faith journey. He is defending the actual teaching of the Old Testament against this popular misrepresentation of its intent! Be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to me on the top of the mountain. Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the Lord your God. Humans have feelings of hate, motivated by an idea that another person has harmed us in some way. We might hate the wicked ways of those around us as they represent an affront to Gods holiness. You may have similar interests or similar experiences while growing up. Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. And I said, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments. Every evil of theirs is in Gilgal; there I began to hate them. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand. Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! Jesus is raising the bar now that hes come to the earth and hes got a set of followers. While you handily dismantle his claim ". Thats a good question. Verse Concepts. What did Jesus mean when He instructed us to love our enemies? 65:913; Luke 12:16, 17; Acts 14:17, NKJV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture, NKJV, Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Third Edition, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Kingdom Equipping Through the Power of the Word, NKJV, Woman's Study Bible, Red Letter, Full-Color: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation, NKJV, Abide Bible, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV Study Bible, Full-Color, Comfort Print: The Complete Resource for Studying Gods Word, NKJV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People. Do not even the tax collectors do the same? David was a type of this kind of searching love when he returned to Jerusalem. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments. Grace Alone and Faith Alone: What is Wrong with the First Two Solas? We are also concerned with Luke 6:27: But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. The Wisdom books warn hearers not to rejoice when enemies face disaster (e.g., Prov 24:17; Job 31:29; cf. During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told the listeners: You have heard it 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. B . To continue hating, resenting, or holding a grudge against another person is to remain on the cross. What Does the Bible Say About Forgiving Your Enemies? - OpenBible.info I will strike them down. (v. 21a). You could also have similar jobs, common friends or family members, or similar personality traits., One surefire way to find common ground is by acknowledging your differences. Israel and Syria were locked in conflict (imagine!). So why does Jesus say that it says to hate your enemies? But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. The Old Testament commands to kill entire enemy peoples were specific and limited to particular events. "You Have HeardBut I Say"Jesus' Six Counterpoints: Moral Upgrade or Moral Reclamation. love your enemies, bless those who curse you. Some critics challenge, however, that this creates a problem with Jesus ' own teaching, which seems . God causes the sun to rise on evil people as well as the good and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous. Love Your Enemies (A History of the Tradition and Interpretation of Its When Jesus says, Youve heard it said, then he says, You shall love your neighbor, hate your enemy, hes smart enough to know that the second part of that is not in the Old Testament anywhere. This is the first and greatest commandment. [1] In addition to ethical Docetism, attempts to see Jesus as a lone and subversive revolutionary often lead to the anachronistic claim that he taught something completely unprecedented here. It does not dishonor others, it isn't self-seeking, it isn't easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.". Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer. Cite this page: Editor: Stephen Smith. And Jesus knew this when he gave his sermon on the mount in the book of Matthew., On a mountainside, Jesus gave a long sermon on a number of topics ranging from adultery to murder. The Wisdom books warn hearers not to rejoice when enemies face disaster (e.g., Prov 24:17; Job 31:29; cf. The gospel is, like C.S. To the choirmaster. Love Your Neighborand Your Enemies Read the Old Testament. 1123573), Ali Blacklee Whittall Seeing the Women of the OT, Ruth Perrin and Ed Earnshaw Student Ministry, Jasper Knecht Reading the Scriptures with the Early Church, Christine Westhoff Reframing the Prophetic, Tim Mackie Biblical Studies and Christology, The Bible as Narrative Tobias Siegenthaler, The value of friendship in the Christian life Andy Hudson, Tobias Siegenthaler The Bible as Narrative, Bridging the funding gap for deaf students Janey Lawry-White, The Bible and Culture by Ben Witherington. Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. Then Jehoram even asks Elisha twice, Shall I strike them down? 23:6; Ps. Pray.com provides people from all walks of life inspiration through Daily Prayers, Bible in a Year Programs, and Bedtime Bible Stories. They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Second, if there is plenty of evidence that the Bible is God's Word, and there is, then for finite man to deny the Bible because he doesn't like something or does not understand the reasons for some of what it . Often, theres more than one person who has caused us anger, hatred, or resentment in the past., There is something in the teachings of Jesus that is worth considering regardless of whether youre a Christian or not.. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Jesus was consistent with and upheld all that had been revealed before His earthly coming. Early Christians sought to take the . So what about those enemies in the Old Testament? Examples of Loving your Enemies in the Bible; "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.". I There was such a big problem with escalating vendettas that this law of retaliation was a way to limit those crimes., The sentencing was carried out by a court of elders, who assessed the damage done and distributed a monetary punishment to the guilty party., In the Old Testament, there is a verse in Leviticus 19:18 that states, Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people.. "Think of what this admonition alone [to love your enemies] would do in your neighborhood and mine, in the communities in which you and your children live, in the nations which make up our great global family. Always remember that life in the community of man is not divided into the 'Hatfields and McCoys.' So, let's talk about what it means to love one's enemies, as well as some examples of how to do so. First, just as a beginning, it should be noted that the Israelites were not always commanded to annihilate all their enemies, only certain ones. Remember he's God. What does it mean to pray for your enemies? Youre proving that youre sons of your father when you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute. God never commanded anyone to hate their enemies. It may come as a surprise that some specific teachings on showing love toward enemies appear only in the Old Testament. Theyre twisting which has become so clear as weve been reading through this and weve already looked at three out of the six you have heard but I say to you statements by Jesus. Loving your neighbor vs. loving your enemy. Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. In this article, we hope we can help unpack the meaning of two critical passages that guide us in this area: Matthew 6:44 and Luke 6:27. God wants to bless your enemies and will bless your enemies. When you are facing obstacles, Jesus is always in your corner. God has a different plan for everyone, and sometimes that means your path in life doesnt match with someone elses. I will love them no more; all their princes are rebels. When you acknowledge that there are differences between you, you can open the door to commonalities., Talk about small things, like hobbies, or films you enjoy even food you like to eat., If you come across a topic that you disagree on, try your best to listen without judgment. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. That sounds like something out of the New Testament, no? Pray for those who persecute you! The passage in Luke 6 refers to Jesus Sermon on the Plains. The Lord Jesus had descended the mount after a night of prayer. Dr. Lukes Sermon on the Plains, is shorter than the Sermon on the Mount. Why does God command so much killing in the Old Testament? Does God But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. To love as Christ loved us is to receive and share the reward of such love: new life. Too bad Jason can't trouble himself to have a ", "Hi Dave, I read your article with great interest. 10:30], Matt. "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love for one's enemy even extended to his animal. [Deut. Who Taught "Hate Your Enemy'', and Why? They and other unscrupulous figures who use their delegated authority from Rome to fleece their own people represent an existential threat to Israels identity. The Old Testament nowhere requires Israel to hate its enemies. Part of it was what was said but not all of it. 1:3 ). Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect., Jesus said that when we love our enemies, we resemble our Heavenly Father, who is perfect and merciful.. Luke 6:27-36 NIV - Love for Enemies - "But to you who - Bible Gateway And because you listen to these rules and keep and do them, the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the steadfast love that he swore to your fathers. W Z. It was quite a day for trolls yesterday. I think anyone whos ever read the Old Testament knows that and so Jesus is correcting this idea thats so prevalent in his day that not only is it okay to hate certain people that you label as enemies, its commanded by God but it wasnt. Something went wrong while submitting the form. He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Love your enemies. A simple way to look at it is everybodys got something. We are in no permanent position of hatred and enmity with others. The fault here, however, is not with Jesus or the Old Testament. "Love Your Enemies." Seriously? | Kyle Roberts - Unsystematic Theology All rights reserved. The command says to love your neighbor, but it never says anything about hating your enemies. We hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in your life today. What happened in the past cannot be changed. Save 15% for life! 5:44, "pray for those who persecute you," is a synonymous parallel to "love your enemies." Thus, those persecuting you are included in your enemies. As an Old Testament scholar, the proposed contrast is like nails on a chalkboard. Forgiveness - Love your enemies - The teaching of Jesus - CCEA - GCSE The very core of the heart of God is summed up in three words: "love your enemies" ( Romans 5:10 ). It is the belief that you should love your enemies. The simple answer is that Jesus doesnt say that at all. Sermon on the Mount: Love Your Enemies - Matthew 5:43-48 Loving your enemies, is that a New or an Old Testament concept? God said to Moses, I am who I am. And he said, Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you.. Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.. [47] And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says that the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so they will not see the CARM is a nonprofit, non-denominational, multi-staffed Christian Apologetics Ministry that supports evangelism, radio outreach, and provides full-time support for several foreign missionaries. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! To love your enemy means to try and understand them and behave toward them as you would like them to do to you. One way to go about this would be to address them directly. We want to provide easy-to-read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. H Elsewhere in the Old Testament, we read words such as: If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, (Proverbs 25:21). "Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you." Love your Neighbor but Hate Your Enemy | Gospel Insights | Torah Portions I realize this doctrine poses a significant . Oba 1:12). Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. Moreover, those who persecute us today may, in Gods grace, become those who protect us tomorrow. The thesis of the book is simply is this: as Jesus forgave those who crucified Him, the cross of Christ was transformed from an instrument of shame to a sign of salvation. To follow Jesus, you must love your enemies. The Gospel of Matthew doesnt present Jesus as speaking of the Scriptures themselves as something heard, but rather as something read. So in Matthew 5, when Jesus uses the formula of you have heard it saidbut I say, Jesus is not arguing with the passage itself. Why will you continue to rebel? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Throughout the Scriptures, we are commanded to treat even those who hate us with dignity and compassion as men and women created in the image of God. Whether its a loss of a job, a loved one, self-esteem, or their own health, there are plenty of reasons people do what they do., The next step is to accept where they are in their life. First, seek to understand their side and try hard to understand where they're coming from. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Yeshua said, "You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy" (Mathew 5:43). If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. And he prayed to the Lord and said, O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And Jesus knew this when he said, Forgive them, Father.. When we show respect to our enemies, we allow ourselves to become more like the Holy Spirit. 13. What Does the Bible Say About Love In The Old Testament? He said to the woman, Did God actually say, You shall not eat of any tree in the garden? And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. But the serpent said to the woman, You will not surely die. In exasperation, the king of Syria laid siege to the city of Dothan, where Elisha lived, hoping to root out the source of his military frustrations. Thank you for your interest in supporting CARM. He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. Remember hes God. In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. Psalm 136:1-26 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful. Love for Enemies in the Old Testament - TheoMisc Blog 5:8). Love Your Enemies: Old Testament Teaching Too? This is why Paul writes, And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13, NKJV). He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18), God saves because we need saving! Surely youd want the person to do the same when you voice your opinion., Can you truly forgive an enemy for what theyve done in your heart?, Jesus makes it clear many times in the Bible that we must model our forgiveness of others on God's forgiveness of our sins., In Matthew 6:14-15, the Bible says, "If you forgive others the wrongs they've done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. That nowhere in the Old Covenant and the Law of Moses that there was any provision for showing mercy and grace for undeserving people and turn the other cheek? And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. We skipped over the third one, looked at the fourth one last time. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice., He said, Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you., Then he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Sunday Welfare and Thanksgivng Service | Sunday Welfare and Thanksgivng 19. No end was in sight. Benjamin Breckenridge Warfield (1851-1921) of old Princeton reminded us that the greatest truth of John 3:16 is that God pursues those who rebelled against Him that He might bless them. Turn to these in moments where forgiveness seems too difficult to manage., In 1 Corinthians 13:45, the Bible says, Love is patient, love is kind. F As the late Dr. John Stott wrote, In each antithesis (You have heard that it was said but I say to you ) he rejected the easy-going tradition of the scribes, reaffirmed the authority of Old Testament Scripture, and drew out the full and exacting implications of Gods moral law.2So, we can say that the presenting issues we observe in the text have to do with a misunderstanding of loving ones enemies. Hes raising the standard, so under the Law of Moses, God didnt want Israel to love their enemies? For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Q He is also founder and president of Heavens Family, a Christian nonprofit that is advancing Jesus kingdom in more than 40 nations around the world. Whos my neighbor? Luke 6:35-36. But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. The word perfect, in the original Greek, means complete. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. God doesnt change. [46] For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Matthew 5:43-47 (RSV) "You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'. That's a sentiment that is easy to get behind. Such accounts certainly are not to be used in any modern context in such a way. But if we keep reading what Jesus said here in the context of the fact that hes correcting pharisaical teaching seems pretty safe to conclude that the scribes and Pharisees had determined your neighbor is the person who loves you. Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. Hes correcting the false beliefs, the false ideas, false interpretations, things taught by scribes and Pharisees. E God is an unchanging God of love (cf. I can't offer kindness to those who have wronged me unless your Spirit stirs within me. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the Lord your God. Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. But did Israel really live this out this ethos? The Lord Jesus says that when we love our enemies, we prove that we are His children. Proverbsand we have to remember that these were popular sayingseven states that those who rejoice over anothers misfortune will not go unpunished (17:15). Oops! Hes the inspirer of it, the giver of it. 139:21-22 ). M It simply means moving on from the past. Knowledge of the Old Testament should lead us to reject what we might call a docetic ethics, a belief that Jesus ethical teachings just dropped from heaven. But Jesus, as he so often does, turns . In both Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:27, Jesus calls for believers to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This humbling situation is magnified by the appointed Jewish governors and other public officials who are seen as turncoats. Publication date: Apr 27, 2023. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:43-47 (RSV)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. A blog by WTC faculty and friends where we can post our latest thoughts and reflections, write about what were working on, or what were teaching on, as well as hosting a variety of contributors.