Loving our enemies

https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/04/opinions/amber-guyger-brandt-jean-courtroom-hug-bailey/index.html

For this study I want you to open up to Mathew 5:43-48

Romans 12:19-21
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

We are going to look at certain verses and study them to see what God is trying to tell us here. 

In verse 43 love your neighbor and hate your enemy. The first half of this is found in Moses’ law (Lev. 19:18). The second part was found in how the scribes and Pharisees explained it. Jesus’ application was exactly the opposite, resulting in a much higher standard: Love for one’s neighbors should extend even to those neighbors who are enemies (v. 44). Even the OT taught that God’s people should do good to their enemies (Prov. 25:21).

Now in verse 43 hate your enemy. These Words are not found anywhere in the OT. However, hatred for one’s enemies was an accepted part of Jewish ethics at that time in some circles (cf., e.g., the Dead Sea Scrolls work, The Rule of the Community 1.4,10). See note on Lev 19:18.

So we can see here that this was a man-made rule by the Jews.

In verse 48 — “You are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

The only way to be perfect as the Father is to be clothed, through faith, with the righteousness of Christ (Is. 61:10; Gal. 3:26, 27; Col. 3:9–17). This is necessary, for without holiness “no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).

Jesus is teaching us that we must live by a higher standard than what the world expects—a standard that is impossible for us to attain by our efforts. It’s only through the power of God’s Spirit that His people can truly love and pray for those who intend to do them harm (Romans 12:14-21).

Loving your enemies is like putting hot coals on their heads. 

In  Romans 12:19-21 shows a picture of putting coals on a person’s head.  This initially sounds like it’s causing burning pain, but it is not. Instead, it seems to be a picture of stirring up the coals of a fire to rouse it back to life again. It is a picture of stirring within a person a response of remorse when they see your kindness in the face of their meanness. This must also be the sense of Paul’s passage – we cause our enemies to be remorseful for their actions toward us, and in doing so we overcome evil by doing good.

To love our enemies, we have to take action!

How do we do that? By serving them. Just like it says in Romans If your enemy is hungry, feed them and If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. We have to show them that we do love them sincerely.  If we’re doing it intending to say “ha, I’m going to kill them with kindness and show them I’m the better person”! be careful because that’s not loving, remember love doesn’t boast or behave proud fully or arrogant.  We need to make sure we are doing it with a sincere heart because we do love them and we see that the reason why they are our enemies is that there is a lack in their life. We still need to be a beacon of light in their lives. http://lifeinhisword.com/beacon-of-light/

Let’s look at an example of serving our enemy:

Jesus washes the feet of Judas

Have you ever read the story where Jesus washes the feet of his betrayer? Here’s what struck me: Judas was heavily influenced by Satan (if not possessed) at this point ( John 13:2), but Judas was present for Jesus to wash his feet.  I find this humbling and encouraging.  What?!?  Yes, encouraging.  Why?  Because even though Jesus KNEW Judas was going to betray Him, Jesus served him.  Jesus knew what was in Judas’ heart.  He knew the betrayal was coming.  Jesus knew the anguish that was coming. The beatings, the scourging, the agonizing walk to Golgotha, and the ultimate torture, THE CROSS!  Yet, even in this moment of knowing all of this information, Jesus washed Judas’ feet, Jesus humbled Himself and SERVED His greatest enemy. 

Here are some questions to ask ourselves? 

• Can you put backstabbers’ needs before your own? The person who went behind your back to slander and say lies about you? Will you continue to serve them and love them? Will you wash their feet?
• Will you continue to serve the person whom you know will one day turn their backs on you?

We murdered Christ, yet he’s allowed us to serve Him and spread the gospel. Guys, we aren’t better than our enemies just because we have Jesus. We have to remember that we were once in their place and we were an enemy of God, yet he loved and pursued us and was kind to us. Never forget where you came from.

How to love the difficult person 

2 Timothy 2:23-26
23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

This scripture explains how we should be with those who oppose the truth and the results we can get after. People are difficult and too often we get entangled in some foolish arguments that instead of bringing this person closer to Christ, we push them farther. I love how this scripture breaks it down and says ” A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people” We have to be patient and kind. Especially with difficult people in the hopes that one day, they will come to their senses and believe in Jesus. That’s what it’s all about. That people may come to Jesus. It is not the easiest task but if Jesus said it then He will give us the wisdom and grace for it.

Reflection 

Lastly, we must always remember 1 Corinthians 13 where it says “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not [b]puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [c]thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

This is true love. This is how God intends for us to love others and even love our enemies. It is a brave thing when we can lay our lives down not only for our friends but also our enemies.