The Daily Nugget- Love Your Enemy

Love Your Enemy

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.

(Matthew 5:44)

"BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD."

(Romans 12:20, NASB)

The Pharisees in Jesus’ day hated their enemies and taught their followers to do the same. But Jesus used the Sermon on The Mount to correct this false teaching.The Pharisees had taken an Old Testament command to love one’s neighbour (Leviticus 19:18) and added these words: “and hate your enemy” (Matthew 5:43). The Old Testament does not teach that believers should hate “our enemies”,quite the opposite.In fact, it teaches just the opposite “being kind to your enemies”(Exodus 23:4-5).So Jesus called out the Pharisees for rewriting of Leviticus 19:18 and corrected it. “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you” (Matthew 5:44). Both Stephen (Acts 7:59-60) and Jesus (Luke 23:34) prayed that God would forgive those who were putting them to death.

As Christians our enemies could be anyone we don't get along with or anyone who may have offended us with an unkind word or action, but with the help of the Holy Spirit living within us,we can love our enemies just as Jesus loves us.In the words of the wonderful Corrie Ten Boom "You never so touch the ocean of God’s love as when you forgive and love your enemies” Amen !