Loving Your Enemy: Interacting with people is hard, even with those you are closest to. Nearly everyone would agree that you should be loving and kind towards others, but this is often applied only to those who are like us or fall within our group. But what about those who are different than us, those with a different nationality, belief system, or political dogma? Jesus teaches that we should love not only those who are annoying, inconvenient, or who hurt our pride but those who are actively opposed to us as well... those we classify as our enemies. Recorded on August 14, 2022, on Matthew 5:38-48, by Pastor David Parks.

This message is part of our sermon series "The Unexpected Way," from the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7 in the Bible. The way of Jesus is totally unique; it's different from every other way of life, philosophy, or religion. Why? Because the teaching of Jesus — emphasizing holiness, humility, justice, faith, and sacrificial love — leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic. This ancient ethic, if actually practiced, has the power to bring abundant love and joy and peace to anyone, anywhere today. This is the way.

Sermon Transcript

All year, we’re focusing on Learning the way of Jesus, which means that all year, we’ll basically be answering the question, “If the gospel is true, how then should we live?” To start, we’ve been working through a very famous teaching of Jesus known as the Sermon on the Mount in a sermon series called, The Unexpected Way. And we’ve said that the teaching of Jesus leads to a whole new gospel-centered ethic which is not at all what we’d expect. The way of Jesus is a different way from the other philosophies or religions of the world. But, if it’s actually put into practice, the way of Jesus leads to a life of love/joy/peace. For the past few weeks, Jesus has been teaching us what it really means to be a good person, for us to really live the life that God intended for human beings to live. And let me just take a quick survey today, do we think this has been easy teaching or hard teaching? Very hard teaching. Today, we have one more example from Jesus of the type of righteousness that he requires of his disciples, and it’s maybe the hardest one yet. Are you ready for this? Are you sure? If you have a Bible/app, please open it to Matthew 5:38. We’ll read through this and unpack it together.

Matthew 5:38-48 (NIV), “38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’  39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 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? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Again, just like the last three weeks, Jesus shows us that the OT Law has underlying principles that go way beyond what the Law allows or prohibits. But these underlying principles, rooted in God’s character, are how God intends for human beings to actually live. In this case, how we are to respond, not just to people who like us or are like us,