Week 8 (18 Feb) Day 2

Matthew 5.43-47

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 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.46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

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Personal Reflections This last of six illustrations highlights the apparent paradoxical values of the kingdom. How does one love one’s enemies when an enemy is firstly by definition one who is not loved? But here, Jesus is teaching us to love those who do not love us, which in itself is a reflection of God Himself, who loved us while we were still sinners and unlovable. By loving our enemies, we are living out the values that form part of our nature as kingdom people, seeking to demonstrate a right relationship in our conduct.

What does “love your enemies” mean to you practically? Who would you consider your enemies? Who are those whom you find hard to love? How would you love them as an outflow of God’s love for you?