"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"
Acting Like Our Father (5:43-48)
INTRODUCTION
- When Jesus spoke about "Responding To Evil", He laid down two
principles:
- Do not resist an evil person - Mt 5:39a
- Respond to evil by doing good - Mt 5:39b-42
- This is certainly a challenging task Jesus put before His
disciples...
- It is tempting to respond to evil in kind
- Especially when the mistreatment comes from an enemy!
- But in the text for this lesson (Mt 5:43-48)...
- We find Jesus teaching concerning the treatment of our enemies
- We are told why we ought to act in the manner described in Mt 5:38-42
[Keeping in mind the context of the sermon on the mount, let's first
compare...]
- THE LAW OF MOSES AND THE TRADITIONAL INTERPRETATION
- THE LAW DID NOT SAY "HATE YOUR ENEMY"...
- It did teach to "love your neighbor as yourself" - Lev 19:18
- But it also taught kindness was to be shown to your enemy
- Exo 23:4-5; Pr 25:21-22
- THE TRADITIONAL INTERPRETATION HAD MISAPPLIED THE LAW...
- Though it did enjoin the command to "love your neighbor"...
- It inferred from this command one had the right to "hate your
enemy" - Mt 5:43
- "This phrase is not in Leviticus 19:18, but is a rabbinical
inference which Jesus repudiates bluntly. The Talmud says
nothing of love to enemies." (Word Pictures In The New
Testament, Vol. I, Robertson)
- "The rabbis corrupted Lev. 19:18, which sums up the Law of
Israel, by adding `and hate your enemy.' By thus tampering
with Scripture, they intended to define their neighbors to
include only Jews and to exclude Samaritans and Gentiles."
(Believers' Study Bible)
[Having noted the difference between what the Law actually taught and
the wrong interpretation given by the scribes and Pharisees, let's now
consider what Jesus taught on...]
- HOW TO TREAT OUR ENEMIES
- JESUS REQUIRES THAT WE...
- "Love" our enemies
- Not hate them
- Rather, show "active good will" towards them
- "Bless" those who curse us
- They may speak evil of us
- But in response we are to speak kindly of them
- "Do good" to those who hate us
- They may either ignore us or do evil things to us
- Yet we are to treat them kindly in either case
- "Pray" for those who spitefully use us and persecute us
- Notice, we are to pray FOR them, not just about them
- I.e., pray for their well-being, salvation, etc.
- THIS IS AN EXPANSION OF THE PRINCIPLES IN VERSES 39-42...
- Don't seek vengeance!
- Don't resist an evil person!
- Instead, react by manifesting aggressive love!
[Why should we respond to our enemies in this way? Jesus goes on to
provide...]
- REASONS TO REACT IN THIS WAY
- "THAT YOU MAY BE SONS OF YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN"...
- That is, to demonstrate ourselves to be truly His children!
- Mt 5:45a
- What is our Father like?
- He gives material blessings to both the evil and the good,
both the righteous and the unrighteous - Mt 5:45b
- He is kind to the unthankful and evil - Lk 6:35-36
- He offered His Son while we were yet sinners and enemies!
- Ro 5:8,10
- He loved us before we loved Him - 1Jn 4:10
- As taught elsewhere, we are to imitate our Heavenly Father
- 1Jn 4:11; Ep 4:31-5:2
- TO BE DIFFERENT THAN "TAX-COLLECTORS"...
- In Jesus' day, they were despised by the Jews, because they
made themselves rich by collecting taxes from their fellow-men
for the Roman government
- And yet, these tax-collectors would...
- Love those who loved them
- Greet cordially those who greeted them
- We are no different if our love is limited to our "brethren"
or "friends"! - Mt 5:46-47
- TO BE "PERFECT" AS OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN IS PERFECT...
- The word "perfect" means "brought to completion, full-grown,
lacking nothing"
- In this context, it has reference to the matter of showing
love and mercy; note the parallel passage:
- "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is
merciful." - Lk 6:36
- "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in
heaven is perfect." - Mt 5:48
- When we display love and mercy to our enemies...
- We are "complete," "full-grown" in demonstrating love
- Just like our Father when He shows kindness to evil and
unthankful men!
CONCLUSION
- If we really want to be...
- "sons of your Father in heaven"
- "perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect"
- It is imperative that we be influenced...
- More by the teachings and example of the Son of God
- Than by the attitudes and example of the "tax-collectors"!
Are you "Acting Like Our Father" who is in heaven? Or do you emulate
the most carnal people around us? May the "sayings" (cf. Mt 7:28) of
our Lord provoke us to consider the proper way to respond to our
enemies and to any who might abuse us!