One day a lawyer asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus made it clear that anyone in need is our “neighbor”. Studying this Sunday’s text I would like to ask Jesus “Who is my enemy that I’m to love?”
Does “loving our enemies” include terrorists who wreak death and destruction, criminals who harm innocent victims, celebrities who mock Christian values, gossips that ruin reputations, and those who wrong us or our loved ones?
Does “loving our enemies” mean we never fight a war, punish criminals or oppose those who teach error?
To be commanded to “love our enemies” assumes we have enemies. Who do we picture in our minds as “the enemy”? How would we “love” them? Would that “love” be primarily an emotion or an action? Is our attitude toward “the enemy” one of resolution (if possible) or retaliation?
May the Spirit of Jesus stretch us and teach us as we consider “loving our enemies”.
See You Sunday!
1. What is the promise to Abraham’s descendants about their enemies? Genesis
22:17
2. Psalm 23:5 mentions a prepared table in the presence of our enemies – what
might that mean?
3. What is David’s prayer request in Psalm 59:1-2?
4. Does God have any enemies? Psalm 68:1
5. Have we ever been “the enemy”? Romans 5:10
6. Who does the New Testament say is our enemy? I Peter 5:8
7. What is the “last” enemy? I Corinthians 15:23-26
8. Compare Matthew 5:44 and Matthew 6:12.
9. Do you think Jesus may have had these proverbs in mind when teaching us to
love our enemies? Proverbs 24:17, 25:21
