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Loving Your Enemy
March 30, 2019

It may seem strange but according to Jesus, becoming perfect like our Father in heaven requires an act of loving our enemies, of blessing those who curse us, repaying good for evil, and praying for those who despitefully use and persecute us. He reminds us that God is the Father of all, and that there is no inherit reward in repaying kindness for kindness and love for love and likens those who practice this to the publicans, or tax collectors.

Matthew 5:43-48
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 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; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Paul would later restate Jesus' teachings and tell the Romans to abhor evil and cleave to that which is good, to be kind in brotherly love honoring one another. He also shared that we are to bless those who persecute us, to not repay evil with evil, to not seek vengeance, and to care for our enemies. We are to overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:9-21
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Many think that these teachings were far different from what was taught in the Old Testament. Proverbs tells us to not rejoice when our enemies fall while also reminding us that there is no reward for the evil.

Proverbs 24:17-20
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

Jesus reminds us that we are imperfect and must be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect. The path to perfection begins by loving our enemies and overcoming evil with good.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
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