Are you sure youre right about that? 12:19; Heb. Love for one's enemy even extended to his animal. Pray for those who persecute you. It proved difficult for the Syrian king to fight when his enemy didnt show up. For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face. The result was that they no longer raised Israel: So where do we find love of enemy in the Old Testament? By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. Pray.com provides people from all walks of life inspiration through Daily Prayers, Bible in a Year Programs, and Bedtime Bible Stories. Read the Old Testament. Elisha the prophet and Jesus both taught the importance of loving your enemies. Dont misquote me on that. We hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in your life today. I think its a valid question. The Arameans no longer came raiding into the land of Israel. (v. 23), [In my next post Ill look at the relationship between Jesus views on revenge and the Old Testament teachings on that topic (e.g., Matt 5:38).]. This also means we dont necessarily have to stay in contact with people who have wronged us. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. All right, so you've got tradition in Jesus time. And that is not only how to love your enemies, but also why we must love them. These are just a few ways to go about it. As an Old Testament scholar, the proposed contrast is like nails on a chalkboard. There is only greater pain. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. The practical implication of this teaching is clear: There is great reward in loving our enemies and forgiving them for their sins against us. You shall not spread a false report. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. Theyre trying to figure that out. So, by carelessly altering Jesus words, the Book of Mormon actually creates a false situation where Jesus does accuse the Old Testament of containing the command to hate your enemy. 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. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! When you are facing obstacles, Jesus is always in your corner. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you've done. God never commanded anyone to hate their enemies. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. In this passage, Jesus is seated before a crowd and teaching the Word of God that is being fulfilled in His own person. You cant find that anywhere in the Law of Moses? B Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. It is the case, though, that God's People have always sought to circumvent this teaching of Scripture down through the centuries. 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. Is Ephraim my dear son? 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 . Matthew 5:43-48 ESV / 168 helpful votesHelpfulNot Helpful. God loves your enemies. Witchcraft is a practice that involves the use of spells, incantations, special objects, symbols, and ceremonies to by Matt Slick | Mar 22, 2023 | Questions, Marriage, Sexuality. He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. Love Your Enemies: Old Testament Teaching Too? Today we come to Matthew chapter five in verse number 43. Matthew 5:43-48 NIV. First, note from Matt. While you handily dismantle his claim ". So he takes that straight out of the Old Testament, but he also says "you have heard it said that you should 'hate your enemy.'" That is a little more difficult, because nowhere in the Old Testament is there ever a command to hate one's enemy. Moreover, those who persecute us today may, in Gods grace, become those who protect us tomorrow. This is a worthwhile act of empathy that anyone can do in any situation.. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. 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. Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? God causes the sun to rise on evil people as well as the good and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous. The Old Testament. His most recent book is a second edition release: Hit by Friendly Fire: What to do when Another Believer Hurts You(Resource Publications, 2022). If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. Launched in 2017 with a mission to grow faith and cultivate community, Pray.com is the worlds No. What does it mean to pray for your enemies? To love as Christ loved us is to receive and share the reward of such love: new life. Im not implying that God is telling anyone to kill anybody today. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone. 3 Lessons on Real Ways to Love Your Enemies. Matthew 7:12. Dr. Lukes Sermon on the Plains, is shorter than the Sermon on the Mount. Blog, A 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.. During His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus utters the powerful words: 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). F Hes referring to this commandment, Love your neighbor. Great question. 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. In both passages, Jesus provides the theological necessity for loving our enemies, as well as the blessed consequence of obedience. Jesus goes on . You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your . O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. The other contextual factor that exists in Jesus statement in the sermon on the mount is pride, position, and power. He believed it was nearly as vital as loving God with your whole heart. Thats not a quotation. Jesus began to teach a message very similar to the Sermon on the Mount. Create a free PRAY account and we'll send you our Weekly Wisdom Devotional emails each Tuesday. The Lord said there, You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor. Always remember that life in the community of man is not divided into the 'Hatfields and McCoys.' He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Visit the Bible online to search for words if you dont know the specific passage yourre looking for. Its one thing to have laws and teachings about loving enemies. Well that's the Old Testament. Ill focus on one in this first post, and offer it in the form of a positive thesis. 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. I talked about previously on little lessons about how all of Gods moral commandments all emanate from his own character. "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:44-45). Its not in all caps because its not a quote. In Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus says, 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. Jesus demonstrated love for his enemies by forgiving those who mistreated him. Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Werent they all to be stoned or run through with swords? 19. And said, By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. 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. bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? You come down from the cross, out of the tomb, and are, like the Lord, renewed to eternal life. Hes not correcting the Law of Moses. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. We will seek to understand the presenting issues and context that brought about that statement from our Lord Jesus and discover the meaning for our lives. 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. Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. H Matthew 5:43-47 (RSV) "You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'. Proverbsand we have to remember that these were . If you have any issues, please call the office at 385-246-1048 or email us at [emailprotected], by Matt Slick | Apr 1, 2023 | Questions, The Occult. . Given the Qumran use of Nahum 1:2 in applying Lev 19, we can see why Jesus grounds his instruction of love toward enemies in the character and example of God (v. 45). For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Well, no. We might hate the wicked ways of those around us as they represent an affront to Gods holiness. [Deut. How easily a unified people become Balkanized (broken into competing groups, divided) when pride and self-interests supersede love and a common heritage in God.
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