January 28, 2024 | Dave McGinley
Passage: Matthew 5:43-48
MESSAGE NOTES: “Loving Your Enemy” Matthew 5:43-48 ESV
"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." Matthew 5:43-44
With your enemies: remember whose you are.
"… so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:45a
"For he (God) 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? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?”- Matthew 5:45b-47
As a part of God’s family, we love differently because God loves us differently.
"And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ And they cast lots to divide his garments." Luke 23:34
"For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life." Romans 5:10
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him." 1 John 4:7-9
Miroslav Volf: We are “more than enough people”:
Christ who became poor that we can become rich, we will be rich. No matter how little we have, we will be “more than enough people”. (Free of Charge)
The Kingdom is not in trouble; I am not in trouble.
With our enemies: Live with the end in mind.
"You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. “ Matthew 5:48
“Perfect” in the GREEK “telios”…..full of age or mature
Series Information
Jesus had much to teach about wisdom and what it means to live in this world. In this world, we look around and see negative actions that can creep into our lives. Actions like anger, lying, cursing, arrogance, and worry. Jesus shares His wisdom about these in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. At the conclusion of this section of teaching, He said, “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does this will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24) We want to be like the wise man. Over the next five weeks, we will reflect on Jesus’ teachings from the Sermon on the Mount and, we will take on some practical habits that can help us live in His wisdom today. We do not do these things to earn God’s love but instead because, as Jesus says of His own teaching, “those who hear My words and do them is like a wise person.” I pray that this season will be one where we reflect and learn from Jesus’ wisdom as we live our lives built on the rock of Jesus. ~ Pastor Dave
