LHIM Weekly Bible Teaching

Jesus’ teaching to love our enemies is as controversial and ignored today as it was in the first century when he originally gave it. Even so, enemy love is a key distinction that sets Christianity apart from the other world religions and non-religions. Seeing this teaching foreshadowed in the Old Testament and then repeated by Paul and Peter, we can be confident that it is, in fact, how God wants us to live.

Matthew 5:43 Jesus recalled what people commonly said about loving their neighbors but hating their enemies (likely pulling on Leviticus 19:16-18).

Exodus 23:4-5; 1 Samuel 24; 26; Proverbs 24:17-18; 25:21-22; 2 Kings 6:8-23 The Old Testament has a law, a couple of proverbs, and several powerful examples showing love to one’s enemies.

Matthew 5:44 Jesus’ command is as radical today as it was in his day. He told his disciples to love their enemies and pray for their persecutors.

Matthew 5:45 This behavior is rooted in God’s example of giving rain to the righteous and unrighteous.

Ezekiel 18:23, 32; 2 Peter 3:9 God’s heart is for the wicked to turn from their evil. He would rather someone repent than face judgement.

If that’s God’s heart, shouldn’t it be ours as well?

Matthew 5:46-48 According to Jesus, his followers get no credit for expressing love to those who love them. That is an imperfect, partial, common love. He calls us to a perfect, complete, and uncommon love —loving those who aren’t nice to us.

Romans 12:14-21; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Corinthians 4:12-13; 1 Peter 2:21-24 Both the apostles Paul and Peter repeated this teaching of Jesus in their own words. As Christ-followers, we are left with no doubt about this teaching. It is the way.

We are called to love our neighbors, whether they are enemies or family. Our love, like Jesus’, is motivated by God’s love for us, not by how others treat us. Those who seem least deserving of love need it the most. Being right is not always loving; being loving is always right.

Luke 10:25-37 The most important question ever asked is followed by a foolish question.

Galatians 5:13-16, 22 To walk by the flesh is self-centered, without concern for God or others. As we walk by the spirit, we love others.

1 Corinthians 12:27-31 God wants us to earnestly desire the spiritual enablements in order to serve others, but love is the more excellent way.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 These three verses emphatically communicate the importance of doing all with love for God and others.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient – Exodus 34:6; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 3:9-10; Ephesians 4:1- 3; 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15; James 5:7-9

Love is kind – Nehemiah 9:17; Romans 2:4; Titus 3:3-5; Ephesians 2:7;

Luke 6:35-36; Ephesians 4:31-32

Not jealous, not bragging, not arrogant, not acting unbecomingly (rude or improperly), not seeking its own, not provoked, not considering a wrong (does not keep a record of wrongs or hold onto past mistakes or grievances) Proverbs 24:17; Acts 13:42-48 Does not rejoice in unrighteousness; rejoices with the truth.

1 Peter 4:8; Proverbs 10:12; 17:9 Bears all things – means to cover closely to keep water out. Love covers with silence.

Believes all things; hopes all things; endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:8-13 Love never fails (Psalm 136).

John 13:34-35; 15:12; 1 John 3:23; Ephesians 5:2 The higher standard of love is “as he loved us”.

Matthew 5:44-48

To love your neighbor as yourself, you must first love yourself. Although sometimes it may be hard, you should love yourself because you’re made in God’s image, you are an awesome human, and you are loved by God. Instead of falling into arrogance or self-loathing, focus on others without neglecting self-care, and you’ll strike the right balance.

Mark 12:29-31 Rabbi Jesus said the greatest commandments are to love God and then to love your neighbors as yourself. Next week we’ll look at loving your neighbor, but today let’s consider loving yourself.

Why should you love yourself?

1. Created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27)

There are two ditches on either side of the narrow path of self-love.

1. Arrogance: thinking you’re better than others

The great secret to self-love is focusing on others. In other words, loving others is a major way to love yourself. Perhaps that’s why Jesus said to love your neighbor as you love yourself.

Ephesians 5:29 Although self-care may have been obvious to ancient people, it’s easy to work ourselves into the ground in modern times.

The more accurately we know God, the more fully we can love Him.  Ignorance, wrong knowledge, and mischaracterization undermine our love relationship with Yahweh. Keeping Jesus’ commandments is paramount to loving God which  includes love each other.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5   Wholehearted devotion, obedience, mindfulness, passion and concern for how others perceive God are involved in loving God.  

Matthew 22:37-38   Total devotion is our foremost duty 

Heart – Innermost being from whence the issues of life stem 

Soul – Life, self, person, desire, passion, emotions 

Might or strength – All the energy, effort, and capabilities we possess, using our actions, resources, and physical being to love Yahweh 

Foremost is used to emphasize that something holds the top spot in terms of significance or priority.  

Ignorance, wrong knowledge, and mischaracterization of Yahweh are crippling to our love relationship with God.  

Numbers 14:10-20   Moses understood Yahweh’s characteristics and wanted others to think well of Him.  

Does our love for God motivate us to stand up for His glorious name? 

1 Samuel 17:43-47   David wanted Yahweh exalted above all. 

John 14:21-24   Keeping Jesus’ commandments is paramount to loving  

1 John 5:1-3;  

2 John 1:1-9 

1 John 4:20-21   One who loves God loves others.

Light has always been an interest for humankind. We desire light so that we can see. But one day, we won’t need to search for light as God’s light will fill the whole world.

The Bereans were noble-minded because they searched the Scriptures daily to test the message Paul was preaching. Today, separated by so much time, our only sure bet to understand and practice authentic Christianity is to continually evaluate our beliefs and traditions in light of Scripture. Those who adopt this approach to Christian truth-seeking are Restorationists.

Acts 17:10-12 When Paul visited Berea, he was amazed at how they responded to his message about Jesus. Rather than rejecting or accepting it outright, they searched the Scriptures daily to see if it was true.

Psalm 1:1-3; Jeremiah 15:16 Reading the Bible daily is really good for you, especially your lifestyle.

2 Timothy 3:13-15; 1 John 4:1-3; Revelation 2:2 The Scriptures also help us to discern truth from error. Since we are separated from Christ by twenty centuries, thousands of miles, linguistic and cultural differences, it behooves us to maintain a healthy level of skepticism toward Christian teachers today.

Matthew 7:21-23 Lastly, it’s of paramount importance to avoid getting rejected by Jesus on the last day. Nothing could be worse than blithely thinking you are saved and finding out that you lived out your faith so badly that he says, “I never knew you”!

Notable examples of Restorationists include Martin Luther, Thomas

Restorationism is a movement within Christianity that seeks to restore authentic Christianity and live it out today. King Josiah serves as a premium example of someone who discovered his beliefs and practices diverged significantly from scripture. He initiated reforms to restore true worship. Should we be content with our received traditions and comfortable beliefs or courageously unleash the Bible on them?

Deuteronomy 5:6-10 In the Ten Commandments, God told his people not to worship other gods or carved images. He told them that he desires exclusivity in their relationship.

2 Kings 21:3-7 Over time, God’s people turned to idolatry. Manasseh devoted himself to worshipping these other gods and installing facilities for their worship in Yahweh’s temple.

2 Kings 22:3-10 Manasseh’s grandson, Josiah, began to clean out and repair the temple of God. In the process of restoring Yahweh’s house, the high priest found the book of the law, which probably refers to the book of Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 13:1-18 God explicitly and repeatedly forbade his people from worshipping other gods. In fact, he instituted the death penalty for those who attempted to persuade others to join them in worshipping idols.

2 Kings 22:11-20 After learning how far from the correct belief and practice the people had veered, Josiah tore his clothes and inquired what to do from Huldah, a prophetess of Yahweh. She told him that destruction was coming, but not in his lifetime.

2 Kings 23:4-15 Not content to rest on his laurels, Josiah initiated wide sweeping reforms throughout the land, including destroying the high places and cleaning out foreign worship elements from Yahweh’s house.

2 Kings 23:25 The author of the book of Kings remembered Josiah for his efforts as one of the best kings of all time.