Why will you continue to rebel? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. But the Old Testament will be searched in vain for any precept which required the Israelites to entertain any hatred toward their enemies. In this article, we'd like to share six prayers for guidance. Luke 6:35-36 states, But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Youll see that today is no different and that helps then put the other two within context. Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists, Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists, Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Solomons Temple and its Archaeological Analogies. Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. This is a worthwhile act of empathy that anyone can do in any situation.. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.. There is only greater pain. Publisher: OpenBible.info. Just have loving feelings toward them and, if possible, express that through words, by doing something nice, or even with a smile. [1] In addition to ethical Docetism, attempts to see Jesus as a lone and subversive revolutionary often lead to the anachronistic claim that he taught something completely unprecedented here. Join today!. God never commanded anyone to hate their enemies. We read in Proverbs 25:21: If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat; and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink. What does it mean to pray for your enemies? Blog, A Were going to skip over the fifth one and look at the sixth one. A simple way to look at it is everybodys got something. "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Hes expecting more out of them than God expected out of anyone before them. But did Israel really live this out this ethos? To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. We can learn how to apply Jesus' command in our own lives by following the fullness of the teaching. They and other unscrupulous figures who use their delegated authority from Rome to fleece their own people represent an existential threat to Israels identity. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He is the recipient of the Legion of Merit. Receive the Daily Devotional, Share prayers with others, and more on the Pray.com app. And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone. Proud member Instead, it seems that Jesus draws upon an ethos of enemy love that is already present in the Old Testament. Too bad Jason can't trouble himself to have a ", "Hi Dave, I read your article with great interest. Oops! The lessons for their life might not be the same as yours, and thats okay., There's something we have in common with everybody if we look closely enough. Oh, okay. You cant find that anywhere in the Law of Moses? Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. S And God saw that the light was good. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. The practical implication of this teaching is clear: There is great reward in loving our enemies and forgiving them for their sins against us. How long has God been loving his enemies? It's not in all caps because it's not a quote. While no Bible verse explicitly says "hate your enemy," the Pharisees may have somewhat misapplied some of the Old Testament passages about hatred for God's enemies (Psalm 139:19-22; 140:9-11). The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.. Second, if there is plenty of evidence that the Bible is God's Word, and there is, then for finite man to deny the Bible because he doesn't like something or does not understand the reasons for some of what it . God loves your enemies. Enemies in the Old Testament. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand. Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord. God wants to bless your enemies and will bless your enemies. 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, . Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. ", As stated previously, forgiveness doesnt mean you have to invite the person to dine at your table. Im quoting to you the teaching of the scribes and Pharisees who are teaching you by their sermons and clearly by their actions that God wants you to hate your enemies. Loving your neighbor vs. loving your enemy. . Yet, there are those who cry foul here, saying that Jesus statement is predicated on a misquotation of the Old Testament and a false assumption that the Old Testament taught people to hate their enemies. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer. 32:35; 1 Sam. The Old Testament commands to kill entire enemy peoples were specific and limited to particular events. D Matthew 7:12. May I live this day according to your Word, for your glory, and by your strength. bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Throughout the Scriptures, we are commanded to treat even those who hate us with dignity and compassion as men and women created in the image of God. What Every Christian Should Know about the Protestant Reformation. Thou shalt "hate thine enemy" was a rabbinical invention pure and simple. However, we need to stop hating one another because hating one another is the easy way out. Hes referring to this commandment, Love your neighbor. Great question. And Jesus knew this when he said, Forgive them, Father.. For as often as I speak against him, I do remember him still. "You Have HeardBut I Say"Jesus' Six Counterpoints: Moral Upgrade or Moral Reclamation. Theyre not quite as easy to see but actually theyre not that difficult to see either. Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! God said to Moses, I am who I am. And he said, Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you.. In this passage, Jesus is seated before a crowd and teaching the Word of God that is being fulfilled in His own person. Benjamin Breckenridge Warfield (1851-1921) of old Princeton reminded us that the greatest truth of John 3:16 is that God pursues those who rebelled against Him that He might bless them. Not just for our own sake, but for the sake of our communities, countries, and all of our fellow human beings on Gods green earth. Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. It simply means moving on from the past. Interestingly, Jesus considered this the second-highest commandment in the law. New King James Version (NKJV). by Luke Wayne | Oct 3, 2017 | Questions, Other. I think its a valid question. G We skipped over the third one, looked at the fourth one last time. That they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the Lord your God. Ill focus on one in this first post, and offer it in the form of a positive thesis. Learn about religious freedom in the workplace, and read Bible verses about work. Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C,, Hit by friendly fire: what to do when fellow believers hurt you, 3 Real Ways Christians Can Love Their Enemies. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? The Queen of Sheba, Solomon, & Archaeology, Solomon's Temple and its Archaeological Analogies, Solomon's "Impossible" (?) Always remember that life in the community of man is not divided into the 'Hatfields and McCoys.' O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Are you kidding me? Think on what is, perhaps, the most famous verse in the Bible: John 3:16. Save 15% for life! And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the Lord your God. 23:6; Ps. How easily a unified people become Balkanized (broken into competing groups, divided) when pride and self-interests supersede love and a common heritage in God. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if . "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. If we look upon those who oppose, hurt, or persecute us as irredeemable, unchangeable Creatures of the Black Lagoon that are undeserving of our love and our forgiveness, then we must quickly run to the cross! Yes, and remarkably, toward Syria. And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. Read the Old Testament. 19:18; Dt. We are in no permanent position of hatred and enmity with others. Solution: God never commanded His people at any time to hate their enemies (see comments on Mal. I am the Lord your God. Like the man in Luke 10, religious people have compartmentalized who gets God's love through us. God causes the sun to rise on evil people as well as the good and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous. We will seek to understand the presenting issues and context that brought about that statement from our Lord Jesus and discover the meaning for our lives. What did Jesus mean when He instructed us to turn the other cheek. If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. These are just a few ways to go about it. When you love your enemies, you grow and develop spiritually. And Elisha wasnt playing by the rules. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. When all else fails, you can always look to God for guidance., There are many teachings from Jesus in Bible verses that touch on loving all of Gods children. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him. Hatred of others is a useful tool used by ungodly authorities to create a unity based on rage, roots of bitterness, and the past sins of others. Jesus is demonstrating what God really commands over against the teachings and practices of his day. It may come as a surprise that some specific teachings on showing love toward enemies appear only in the Old Testament. This site and all its content 2023 WTC (Reg. It may come as a surprise that some specific teachings on showing love toward enemies appear only in the Old Testament. 43You have heard that it was said, (B)You shall love your neighbor (C)and hate your enemy. 44[a]But I say to you, (D)love your enemies, bless those who curse you, (E)do good to those who hate you, and pray (F)for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for (G)He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Praying is loving, as our Heavenly Father loves. The statement "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy" in Matt 5:43 turns out to be a good summary of the sectarian interpretation of Lev 19:17-18. 1 app for daily prayer and faith-based media content. Interestingly, Mormonism alters Jesus words here and accidentally creates the very problem for which Jesus is falsely accused! And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. [46] For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Are you sure youre right about that? Let no flocks or herds graze opposite that mountain. So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first. Often our most profound need as humans is the love of God and to be appreciated by others. It's stressful when someone you love is undergoing surgery. 1 John 4:16; Mal. While you handily dismantle his claim ". Cite this page: Editor: Stephen Smith. Verse Concepts. Now that weve gone over what it means to love your enemies lets look at some examples.. What Does Colossians 2:6-7 Teach Us about Our Faith Walk? When Jesus says, Youve heard it said, then he says, You shall love your neighbor, hate your enemy, hes smart enough to know that the second part of that is not in the Old Testament anywhere. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven, (Matthew 5:17-19). Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? Labs It may have been assumed by some Hebrews that to love the neighbor (a fellow member of one's community . There are different examples in the bible of people showing love even to their enemies. But along came the prophet Elisha (2 Kgs 6). . You dont have to love them like you love your parents or children or best friend. It is important to acknowledge ways that Jesus teachings stand in tension with some aspects of the Old Testament. All right, so you've got tradition in Jesus time. If thine enemy be hungry, give . What happened in the past cannot be changed. ' And in my Bible, those one, two, three, four, five words You shall love your neighbor are all capitalized indicating thats a quote from the Old Testament, from the law. This is the proof right here. . Maybe theres someone who you resent or even feel hatred toward?, Almost everyone has those kinds of individuals around them at some point in their lives. And in a world where donkeys and oxen were means of personal livelihood, it is no small thing that the law commands Gods people to love their enemy by rescuing and returning their animals: When you come upon your enemys ox or donkey going astray, you shall bring it back. That's what this guide is all about. Love Your Enemies (). He believed it was nearly as vital as loving God with your whole heart. Dont misquote me on that. Can we find this teaching of Jesus in the Old Testament? Thanks for joining me. And one could support it from the Old Testament ( Lev. God has a different plan for everyone, and sometimes that means your path in life doesnt match with someone elses. That youre only obligated to love the people who love you, but you have no obligation to ever show mercy and grace to undeserving people? To follow Jesus, you must love your enemies. Knowledge of the Old Testament should lead us to reject what we might call a docetic ethics, a belief that Jesus ethical teachings just dropped from heaven. The result was that they no longer raised Israel: So where do we find love of enemy in the Old Testament? He has authored numerous books, including a 500-page equipping manual titled The Disciple Making-Minister, which has been translated into more than 30 languages. J That's a sentiment that is easy to get behind. Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. In reality, the Old Testament and the New both teach that we are to love even our enemies. In exasperation, the king of Syria laid siege to the city of Dothan, where Elisha lived, hoping to root out the source of his military frustrations. God bless you. Is there an underlying reason for their attitude and actions? Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Humans have feelings of hate, motivated by an idea that another person has harmed us in some way. (Luke 23:33, 34) His teachings about loving our enemies harmonize with what is stated in the Hebrew Scriptures, commonly called the Old Testament.Exodus 23:4, 5; Proverbs 24:17; 25:21. With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. Here are some more goodies from the Old Testament: Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Proverbs 24:17. This separates us from those who have evil and hatred in their hearts. Actually, those persecuting you are those of your enemies most likely to be convicted by the Holy Spirit and turn to Christ. And because you listen to these rules and keep and do them, the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the steadfast love that he swore to your fathers. Jesus said the greatest commands were to love God and to love our neighbor as ourself ( Matt. Everybody knows Jesus said that in the Sermon on the Mount. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, It is something that is easy to say and nearly impossible to do: love your enemies. Part of it was what was said but not all of it. Elsewhere in the Old Testament, we read words such as: If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, (Proverbs 25:21). We hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in your life today. As David Holwerda wrote of Luke 6:17-26: Thus both the beatitudes and the woes [of the Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon on the Plains] are intended to shape the lives of disciples who live in this world as citizens of Gods kingdom., In both Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:27, Jesus calls for believers to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations. Jesus refers to the Old Testament Scriptures often in Matthews Gospel, and He never uses any phrase like you have heard, to quote them. I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. To love your enemy means to try and understand them and behave toward them as you would like them to do to you. The thesis of the book is simply is this: as Jesus forgave those who crucified Him, the cross of Christ was transformed from an instrument of shame to a sign of salvation. The Wisdom books warn hearers not to rejoice when enemies face disaster (e.g., Prov 24:17; Job 31:29; cf. To continue hating, resenting, or holding a grudge against another person is to remain on the cross. The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. If you have any issues, please call the office at 385-246-1048 or email us at [emailprotected], by Matt Slick | Apr 1, 2023 | Questions, The Occult. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Love Your Enemies: Old Testament Teaching Too? To the choirmaster. for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for. 3:6 ), and He cannot hate any person, nor can He command anyone else to do so. book of Leviticus taught the Jews to "love your neighbour as you love yourself". In both passages, Jesus provides the theological necessity for loving our enemies, as well as the blessed consequence of obedience. 1:3 ). I did a proximity search in my online Bible of hate+ enemy / enemies and could find only one passage even suggesting hatred of enemies: St. Paul cites and further interprets this teaching: Furthermore, not only is this ethical teaching found in the Old Testament and Judaism, but also in virtually all of the major world religions: C. S. Lewis noted that these affinities with other religions, along with various pagan precursors to Christianity far from being a, Definition of "Radical Catholic Reactionary": Dialogue, "This is, obviously, a very detailed paper on parallels for Solomon's Temple. "Love Your Enemies." This is one of the few statements Jesus made that is readily accepted by believers and skeptics alike. All rights reserved. So what about those enemies in the Old Testament? Love letters are expressions of love in the form of writing, whether with a paper and pen, an email, or even a text message to a . Each time the Syrian King tried to attack Israel, Elisha used his prophetic radar to anticipate his attacks. So, let's talk about what it means to love one's enemies, as well as some examples of how to do so. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. The fault is with the Book of Mormon and its author. The other contextual factor that exists in Jesus statement in the sermon on the mount is pride, position, and power. And because he loved your fathers and chose their offspring after them and brought you out of Egypt with his own presence, by his great power. Q Yeshua said, "You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy" (Mathew 5:43). What happens next is crucial, for Elisha (as if in the persona of Jesus)[2] responded as follows: You shall not strike them down. This looked like the makings of an execution. Why will you still be struck down? It's not Jesus, it's the Jewish law of Moses, it's the Pentateuch of the Old Testament. We want to provide easy-to-read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. That's Proverbs 25:21-22. It was quite a day for trolls yesterday. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says that the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so they will not see the CARM is a nonprofit, non-denominational, multi-staffed Christian Apologetics Ministry that supports evangelism, radio outreach, and provides full-time support for several foreign missionaries. Has anyone in your life constantly annoyed you or upset you in some way? Is that really what the Mosaic Law taught? During His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus utters the powerful words: 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). A crowd awaited. Surely youd want the person to do the same when you voice your opinion., Can you truly forgive an enemy for what theyve done in your heart?, Jesus makes it clear many times in the Bible that we must model our forgiveness of others on God's forgiveness of our sins., In Matthew 6:14-15, the Bible says, "If you forgive others the wrongs they've done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. By providing my email I agree to allow Pray.com to use my email for marketing purposes, and I agree to the. But some folks were saying that thats something that the world never heard before and that a new ethic, a new standard of morality. 3 Lessons on Real Ways to Love Your Enemies. I think anyone whos ever read the Old Testament knows that and so Jesus is correcting this idea thats so prevalent in his day that not only is it okay to hate certain people that you label as enemies, its commanded by God but it wasnt. Today we come to Matthew chapter five in verse number 43. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. First, just as a beginning, it should be noted that the Israelites were not always commanded to annihilate all their enemies, only certain ones. But thats all I could find in the Old Testament. I'm a "progressive" ", "Dear Bob, Read Chapter 6 of Orgien's On Prayer, a work that Mr. Engwer himself ", "Excellent as always. Everybody thinks about it very long because, well, obviously not everybody is not my neighbor that Im supposed to love because how can I be loving to kill somebody under the orders of God? To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. This undesirable state creates a culture of suspicion, intrigue, concealment, treachery, and sabotage casting a shadow on unity, and turning a nation into a divided people. Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe. Its human nature., When you provide someone with that basic need, you can often help thaw their cold heart., We can always pray for our enemies because praying is an act of mercy. Love your enemies. Some critics challenge, however, that this creates a problem with Jesus ' own teaching, which seems . He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Box 1353 |Nampa, ID 83653 USA1-800-803-8093, 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,, For example, Matthew 12:3, Matthew 12:5, Matthew 19:4, Matthew 21:16, Matthew 21:42 Matthew 22:31, For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven,, Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. "1 Samuel 25-26: Love Your Enemies," Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide (2002), 98 "1 Samuel 25-26," Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide, 98 1 Samuel 25-26. In practice, many people felt that they should love fellow Jews and it did not matter if . Amen. Today's climate makes it easy to harbor feelings of resentment toward others or toward a specific group of people. God is an unchanging God of love (cf. And hes not demanding something new. But instead, hes demanding more than most people were willing to do at the time. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Well, no. Love your neighbor and your neighbor is this very, very narrow group of . What are the real ways that believers can love their enemies?, "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." You don't have to love them like you love your parents or children or best friend.
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