Love your enemies.

Matthew 5:43-46, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is 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 do you have?”

The law says to love your neighbor as yourself, not to hate the enemy; the religious leaders had added their own evil twist to it. It’s easy to love those who are doing what we want them to do. Many people try to control others by withholding their love as a form of manipulation. God’s love doesn’t work like that, for “while were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” We are not to return evil for evil, but to overcome evil with good as Paul says. This ability is not part of our nature, we have to have the Lord’s help. Only divine power can do this. Are we able to pray for those who persecute us as did Christ from the cross? “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Give us your inspiration to love others with your love that sends the grace of sun and rain to all the world.

ESV Lectionary