Love Your Enemy

You may have a struggle with this because it is contrary to our way of thinking, when you consider loving your enemy.  In Romans 12:14 it says, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”

Be honest, have you ever rejoiced over your enemy’s misfortune?  I think about this issue at times.  In the days of ‘an eye for an eye’ and ‘a tooth for a tooth,’ you could hate your enemy.  To me it seems like that would be so much easier than loving your enemy that hates you and spitefully uses you.

Jesus taught this in Matthew 5:43-48, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 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, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

This also had to be very hard for the Jews, when Jesus taught this, because they were in bondage to the Romans, which many considered their enemies.  They were asked to do what they may have considered impossible, and without the love of the Lord within a person, I think it is impossible.  It is easy to love the people that love you but loving someone who hates you is very hard and some people find it impossible.  

Just look at our prisons and jails, they are full of people that are holding grudges, bitterness and un-forgiveness.  Many people are sick with all kinds of diseases because of un-forgiveness and hatred towards someone else.  Only the people that are close to the Lord, who see their own failures and sins and realize the mercy that was poured out upon them as Jesus hung on the cross because of their iniquities and sins and shed His blood and appreciate what He did for them, will be able to forgive and love their enemy.

As I was typing this, this verse came to mind, it is Luke 7:47, “Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

In case you are not familiar with this story it is found in Luke 7:36-50, “Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, ‘This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.’

And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’

So he said, ‘Teacher, say it.’

‘There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?’

Simon answered and said, ‘I suppose the one whom he forgave more.’

And He said to him, ‘You have rightly judged.’ Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.’

Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’

And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’

Then He said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.’”

Love is an action word and this lady proved it by her actions toward Jesus, then Jesus in turn, proved His love for her by His actions toward her also.  The Pharisee showed his lack of love through his pride and arrogance, looking down his nose in disgust as Jesus responded with love, forgiveness, mercy and grace.

Jesus said this in Matthew 6:14-15 when he was teaching about prayer, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”   

This is very important, love your enemies and forgive them so that you will be forgiven.  Something to think about!  May the Lord bless you abundantly and may you have a super day!!