The Daily Nugget- Loving Our Enemies

Hi All,

Today we look at what Jesus meant when He said “Love Your Enemies”(Matthew 5:44). As humans this is probably one of the hardest things for us to do as it means forgiving those who have been unkind to us or hurt us or our loved ones. This is something we can only achieve with the help of the holy spirit working inside us.  When we forgive our enemies and show them love and compassion it enables us to have inner peace, reduce negative emotions like anger and resentment, and helps us to develop positive qualities like empathy and compassion. It also allows you to break free from the cycle of hatred and unforgiveness. 

Be Blessed and Encouraged

Loving Our Enemies

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)

The Pharisees in Jesus’ day hated their enemies and taught their followers to do the same. But Jesus corrected that inaccurate teaching when He preached the Sermon on the Mount(Matthew 5-7).

Scripture tells us not to “add or subtract anything from the word of God”(Deuteronomy 4 2).Despite this command 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 hating our enemies. In fact, it teaches just the opposite,being kind to our enemies (Exodus 23:4-5). So Jesus called out the Pharisees and their 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. 

In today's world anyone who upsets us or our loved ones either by cruel words or actions towards us may be seen as an “enemy”, but we must remember that our real enemy is Satan acting like a puppetmaster pulling the strings in the background. As we are told in scripture “ For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places”(Ephesians 6:12). When we realise this and with the help of the holy spirit within us we can learn to love our enemies as Christ 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 !