Church of the Nazarene – Harrisonburg
Tough Sayings of Jesus
“Love your enemies”
Today, on our way to passion week, we begin a 4-part teaching series called “The tough sayings of Jesus.”
Throughout this series we want to navigate our way through some of Jesus’ most challenging declarations- yes, the uncomfortable ones too. Jesus wasn’t trying to create likes and follows on his social media account when he said controversial or uncomfortable things. He was communicating truth, guidance and direction for his followers.
Our goal is not to somehow transform these texts into something easier to swallow. They were challenging 2000 years ago when Jesus said them, and they will always be that way, long after this series.
Today we begin with “Love your Enemies”.
Matthew 5:43-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 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. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Before we consider how we relate to our enemies, perhaps we must first consider how God relates to us.
-We began as God’s enemies. Because of sin, we were all his enemies. And what if the story ended there?
-Through Jesus, we were reconciled and forgiven. This is how God treated his enemies.
-When Jesus tells you to love your enemies, what he is actually saying is: “Love like God”.”
God befriended you while you were still His enemy. In that case, He loved His enemy: You.”-John Piper
Romans 5:10
For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
We tend to love according to what feels reasonable to us
We love those who love us.
We love those who deserve our love.
Jesus said, anyone can do that.
What these words of Jesus don’t mean:
-We don’t allow someone to abuse us or someone we love. Loving your enemy doesn’t mean you allow yourself to be a victim of abuse. You don’t allow yourself to be a doormat.
-It doesn’t mean to just blindly agree with everyone, accepting sin or never standing up for injustice. Remember that just before Passover Jesus cleared the temple of corruption and hypocrisy.
Jonah 4:1-4
But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
Jonah believed the people of Nineveh did not deserve the grace of God.
Simply put: Jonah does not want to love his enemies.
The question the Lord asks Jonah, in response, is so poignant:
“Is it right for you to be angry?”
Bottom Line:
Love like God loved you.
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