Loving Enemies: Reflecting God's Radical Generosity
Daily Scripture
Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 6:32-36
Matthew 5
43 “You have heard that it was said, You must love your neighbor [Leviticus 19:18] and hate your enemy. 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who harass you 45 so that you will be acting as children of your Father who is in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both the evil and the good and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete.
Luke 6
32 “If you love those who love you, why should you be commended? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, why should you be commended? Even sinners do that. 34 If you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, why should you be commended? Even sinners lend to sinners expecting to be paid back in full. 35 Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return. If you do, you will have a great reward. You will be acting the way children of the Most High act, for he is kind to ungrateful and wicked people. 36 Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Jesus called for a radical love that transcends the boundaries of our own communities and relationships, a love that radically reaches beyond our usual limitations to seek to emulate the boundless love the God of the universe shows. “The kingdom that Jesus preached and lived was all about a glorious, uproarious, absurd generosity…. at the center of it is the thing that motivates and gives colour to the whole: you are to be like this because that’s what God is like.” *
- Jesus said loving enemies makes us more like our God, who “makes the sun rise on both the evil and the good and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.” “Jesus didn’t ask us to love our enemies… as we love our nearest and dearest. The very word is different…. Why, then, does Jesus demand that a [person] should have… this invincible goodwill? The reason is very simple… such a love makes a [person] like God.” ** Who feels like an “enemy” to you? How could you show them “invincible goodwill” this week?
- Jesus didn’t just talk about God’s inclusive generosity. He lived and died with God’s generosity. As Roman soldiers nailed him to a cross, “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing’” (Luke 23:34). “Prayers for judgment against persecutors were common in the OT (see 2 Chronicles 24:22; Psalm 137:7–9; Jeremiah 15:15; 17:18; 18:23; 20:12); Jesus exemplifies his own teaching here (Luke 6:28).” *** How can you pray generously for a person who hurts you?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, it’s not difficult to pray for the people I love. Teach me how to better live out your generous model of praying for even those who indifferently brought you pain. Amen.
GPS Insights
Jennifer Creagar
Jennifer Creagar, who serves as the Community Assistance Coordination Director in Resurrection's Congregational Care Ministry, wrote today's Insights. She is married and loves spending time with her family, and she enjoys writing and photography.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Wright, N.T., Luke for Everyone (New Testament for Everyone Book 4) (pp. 73-74). Westminster John Knox Press. Kindle Edition.
** William Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 1. Westminster John Knox Press, pp. 175-176.
*** Craig Keener comment on Luke 23:34 in NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible (Kindle Locations 234799-234802). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
