The Opposite is True

Hate Your Enemies

What is most interesting about this series is that it does not take long before we come to realise that everything about what the Bible teaches is diametrically opposed to how we might naturally think, to hate your enemies is normal, but to love them?

The natural tendency of the world is to hate your enemy. It seems to go without saying that for a person to be considered an enemy, hatred of him is prerequisite. How else can an enemy be defined? If love was the that determined upon an enemy, how can they be an enemy?

Precisely!

The Lord said   — 

^“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”

(Matt 5:43-44).

But how can this be?

What kind of Love would love those who hate you? How can we bless those who curse us and do good to them which use and persecute us?

A Love founded in eternity can.

The Bible tells us that “…while we were yet sinners (see ‘Enemies’ Rom 5:10 ) Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). 

The example set forth is that in line with the character and nature of God and not the devil. Hatred is the natural state of Satan, who is a liar and the father of lies, he was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44) And if hatred is the precursor of murder according to Christ (Deut 4:42) then the true lot of the Children of God, is the love which brings life.

The 45th verse of that first passage above examples that very reason, saying

“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:” (Matt 5:45a)

Eternal love, gained by Christ, is the only way the Children of God can love their enemies. Without the infinite resource through Jesus, the Children of the world cannot do so.

May I ask you; if you are commanded to “love your enemies” how are you then to be toward a friend or family member who has wronged you?

Pr Edi G