In other words, Gods character is loving and merciful. When Jesus said to love your enemy, hes asking us to make it our goal to love as our Heavenly Father loves. But they came to Baal-peor and consecrated themselves to the thing of shame, and became detestable like the thing they loved. This looked like the makings of an execution. What are the real ways that believers can love their enemies?, "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, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven." Proverbsand we have to remember that these were popular sayingseven states that those who rejoice over anothers misfortune will not go unpunished (17:15). In practice, many people felt that they should love fellow Jews and it did not matter if . 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.. Is the god of this world Satan or Jesus in 2 Cor. As Martyn Lloyd-Jones taught, we should not be surprised when unbelievers are converted to Christ. [46] For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Is Ephraim my dear son? No. 139:21-22 ). 2:23, Job 25:3; Ps. Verse 2, "If your brother be not near unto thee or if thou know him not," maybe it's somebody you don't even know. So what about those enemies in the Old Testament? In the Book of Mormon version, however, Jesus words are reported as: And behold it is written also, that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy; But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you, (3 Nephi 12:43-44). And he prayed to the Lord and said, O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? But the Old Testament will be searched in vain for any precept which required the Israelites to entertain any hatred toward their enemies. "Love Your Enemies": Old Testament Teaching Too? While no Bible verse explicitly says "hate your enemy," the Pharisees may have somewhat misapplied some of the Old Testament passages about hatred for God's enemies (Psalm 139:19-22; 140:9-11). However, we need to stop hating one another because hating one another is the easy way out. Oba 1:12). However, in the end, we must come to accept one another as children of God. The fault here, however, is not with Jesus or the Old Testament. I can't offer kindness to those who have wronged me unless your Spirit stirs within me. Praying is loving, as our Heavenly Father loves. Jesus is raising the bar now that hes come to the earth and hes got a set of followers. Love for Enemies. Sunday Welfare and Thanksgivng Service | Sunday Welfare and Thanksgivng Receive the Daily Devotional, Share prayers with others, and more on the Pray.com app. Love Your Enemies (). . If thine enemy be hungry, give . Remember hes God. Verse Concepts. Werent they all to be stoned or run through with swords? 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. We hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in your life today. This is the first and greatest commandment. Hes not correcting the Law of Moses. He and his wife, Mae, reside in Western North Carolina. And he made him a robe of many colors. R You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 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. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. It's not Jesus, it's the Jewish law of Moses, it's the Pentateuch of the Old Testament. What Does it Mean to 'Love Your Enemies'? 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. 10:30], Matt. The act of respect can often be expressed by simply saying, Peace be with you, and walking away., Putting yourself in your enemy's shoes is one of the most effective ways to show love for them.
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