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The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5 - 7

Chapter 5

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 tax collectors do that?

What does this mean?

Context and Interpretation

1. Context in the Sermon on the Mount:
   • The Sermon on the Mount presents Jesus' teachings on righteous living, emphasizing inner transformation and a higher standard of morality and ethics.
2. Immediate Context:
   • These verses follow Jesus’ teachings on retaliation and non-resistance to evil. They form part of a broader discourse where Jesus contrasts traditional Jewish teachings with His deeper, more radical commandments.

Explanation of the Passage

1. "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'":
   • The command to "love your neighbor" is found in Leviticus 19:18. However, the phrase "hate your enemy" is not a direct biblical command but reflects a common interpretation and practice of the time.
2. "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you":
   • Jesus introduces a revolutionary concept: instead of hating enemies, His followers are to love them. This love is not merely a feeling but is demonstrated through actions, such as praying for those who persecute you. This teaching emphasizes active goodwill and compassion towards those who may be hostile or harmful.
3. "That you may be children of your Father in heaven":
   • Loving enemies and praying for persecutors is a way to reflect the character of God, who shows love and mercy to all people. By doing so, believers demonstrate their identity as children of God.
4. "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.":
   • This statement highlights God's impartiality and generosity. God's blessings, such as sunlight and rain, are given to all people, regardless of their moral standing. Believers are called to emulate this divine impartiality by showing love to everyone, including their enemies.
5. "If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?":
   • Jesus points out that loving those who love you is common and expected behavior, even among tax collectors (considered sinners and traitors by the Jews). There is no special virtue in loving those who love you back; it’s a basic human behavior.
6. "And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?":
   • Greeting only your own people, or those within your immediate social circle, is also commonplace. Jesus challenges His followers to go beyond the ordinary standards of social interaction and to show kindness and love to those outside their immediate circle, including their enemies.

Biblical Principles

1. Radical Love and Forgiveness:
   • Jesus calls for a radical love that extends even to enemies and persecutors. This love is active and includes praying for those who do harm.
2. Imitating God’s Character:
   • Believers are to reflect God's impartial love and generosity. By loving their enemies, they demonstrate that they are true children of their heavenly Father.
3. Transcending Common Morality:
   • Jesus challenges His followers to rise above common societal norms of reciprocity and to exhibit extraordinary kindness and love. This sets them apart as followers of Christ.
4. Universal Benevolence:
   • Jesus promotes a universal benevolence that does not discriminate based on how others treat us. This mirrors God's own benevolence toward all humanity.

Application

• Personal Relationships: This teaching encourages believers to show love and kindness to everyone, including those who may be difficult or hostile. This involves praying for their well-being and seeking to do good to them.
• Conflict Resolution: In situations of conflict or persecution, this principle advises responding with love and prayer rather than retaliation or hatred.
• Community and Social Interactions: Believers are called to go beyond social norms and show kindness and respect to people outside their immediate social group, including those who are marginalized or considered enemies.