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. (Mat 5:44)
Jesus is speaking in this passage. This Scripture goes completely contrary to our carnal nature as well as to “man’s wisdom.” This passage demonstrates the nature of Jesus—and He is our shining example.
We’re directed to love our enemies; bless people who curse us; do good to those who hate us; and pray for those who abuse and persecute us. These things are impossible to do without the grace of God, and without the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
Since Jesus and His Father are united in nature, purpose, and love, those who have known Jesus have also known the Father! Here are Bible passages that demonstrate and support this concept:
- “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen” (John 14:7)
- Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? (John 14:9)
- God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high . . . (Heb 1:1-3)
So in reading the Scripture at the top of this article (Mat 5:44), we understand that Jesus is teaching us how to respond to and deal with our enemies—those who spitefully use us. When we obey His instructions, we are following Jesus’ example to us. We’re also proving that we are His disciples and followers.
As Jesus’ followers, these are the instructions that we must follow (our “to do” list):
- And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. (Mat 10:1)
- And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Mat 28:18-20)
- Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Lk 9:1-2)
So we know how to treat our enemies, and we also know what directives Jesus gave to us. These show us our true calling! May our God bless you abundantly as you live each day in obedience to His call upon your life.
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