“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:43-45
“Love your neighbor” is a phrase where the “neighbor” was a fellow Israelite, which prompted a lawyer to ask Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” in Luke 10:29.
The command “hate your enemy” is not found in Moses’ writings. This was a principle drawn by the scribes and Pharisees from Leviticus 19:18, “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.”
“Love your enemies” … Jesus was not so much commanding an emotion as He was commanding loving actions.
The terms “pray … persecute” demonstrate the actions both Christ on the cross and the martyr Stephen took. Early church author wrote this about Jesus, “When he himself was stripped, beaten and blasphemed by the soldiers, scribes, Pharisees, officers, and priests, not even then did he pronounce any malediction, but he prayed, saying: ‘Father forgive them’”.
“Be children of your Father” means that believers will be like their Father, whose nature it is to love the world, and who displays His love without discrimination. Jesus died for God’s enemies. To love one’s enemies is to share in God’s peacemaking.
“Sun … rain” are examples from nature to demonstrate that God has mercy on everyone.
God’s blessings on your day…