TEACHING NOTES Introduction Today, we’re going to cover one the most difficult commands of Jesus to live out and apply. Jesus is going to teach us not to be hostile to those who are evil and to the love our enemies. While this is very difficult to live out, we must take the commands of Jesus seriously. Learning to love like Jesus changes everything. Matthew 5:38 ESV 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth = This comes from Ex. 21:23-24 “23 But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,” This command was about fair justice and avoiding punishments that did not fit the crime. God was not commanding that punishment must occur, but that the punishment must not exceed the crime committed. By the time of Jesus, the Jews were interpreting this command to mean that equal punishment must occur for all offenses. God was only ensuring that punishment fits the crime. People turned it into “punishment must always be required.” ​ Matthew 5:39 ESV 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Do not resist the one who is evil = The Greek word translated “resist” here is anthistemi, which means to be hostile toward, oppose, or stand against. Our English word “resist” can be misleading if we define it as any kind of pushback/defense against someone who is doing evil against you. The word Matthew used here is more like a hostile reaction to inflict pain, not mere resistance. A better translation would be “Do not respond with hostility to the one who is evil.” Turn the other cheek = We do not have to return punishment or repay evil for evil. Getting someone back for what they have done is unacceptable behavior for disciples of Jesus. If someone hits you, you must not hit them back. Note: This does not mean that you cannot defend yourself against someone who is attacking you. It simply means that followers of Jesus do not return evil for evil. You can stop someone who is attacking you, but you should not inflict additional harm. Matthew 5:40–42 ESV 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. Let him have your cloak as well = Disciples of Jesus do not love their possessions so much that they are unwilling to lose them. The early Christians took Jesus seriously and did not love their possessions. The best examples of this is found in the book of Acts (which is Luke’s account of the early church). Acts 2:44-45 “44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common [Grk. koinos - shared all things]. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” Acts 4:32-35 “32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common [Grk. koinos]. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.” In the early church, no one was in need, because they did not love the things of this world and everyone took care of one another. Go with him two miles = It was common in first-century Israel for a Roman soldier to force a Jew to carry his gear for him. This is one of many reasons why Jews hated the Romans. Jesus is promoting an attitude of generosity. In other words, shock the enemy by being generous. The Jews would have heard, “carry the Roman’s gear farther than he asks.” Give to the one who begs from you = The ESV uses “begs” but the Greek word (aiteo) simply means to ask. In the ancient world, beggars were usually physically disabled, widows, or had been abandoned by their family. They were also homeless. In our culture, some beggars often have cars, smart phones, and houses. The needy in our culture aren’t always the same kind of people that Jesus is talking about. With the numerous government resources available in America, it is usually a lack of responsibility or a lack of knowledge that keeps people in need. Note: In the Old Testament, God promised Israel that if they were faithful to Him, they would be prosperous and the temple would provide food to those who were in need. Therefore, the fact that there was extreme poverty in first-century Israel, and that they were ruled by Rome, shows that they had not been faithful to God and the temple had become corrupt. Do not refuse the one who would borrow from you = We must keep in mind that in Jesus’ day you would only borrow money if you were poor or in an emergency situation. No one was borrowing money for frivolous wants. Even if a Jew needed to borrow money, charging interest to a fellow Jew was condemned. Matthew 5:43 ESV 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ You shall love your neighbor = This comes from Lev. 19:18 “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” Hate your enemy = This part is not found anywhere in the Old Testament. Apparently, the Jewish rabbis were teaching people to hate their enemies. In fact, the Zealots were a Jewish group that hated the Romans and murdered them. Israel’s teachers were adding commandments to God’s Word. The rabbis were teaching the people to hate Romans and other enemies. Today, it is often taught by come pastors that Christians should hate their enemies. However, this is not taught in Scripture. ​ Matthew 5:44–45 ESV 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 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. Love your enemies = The Greek word translated “love” here is agape, which is the highest form of love. Specifically, it is sacrificial love that seeks to create value and worth. Pray for those who persecute you = Instead of fighting our persecutors, we give the battle over to God. We do not pray for their harm or defeat, but for God to draw them to Himself and forgive them. We pray for their sake, not our own. So that you may be sons of your Father in heaven = This connects back to Matt. 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Peacemakers love and pray for their enemies. This is a sure sign that someone belongs to God. The children of the Father act like their Father who loves His enemies. He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good = God is good to all people, even those who are evil. The good and the evil receive sun and rain—both are life-giving. This shows that God is consistent or complete in how He treats humanity. God gives at least a base amount of general blessings to all people. Sunlight and rain are given to all people on the earth regardless of their faith in God. God does not withhold the basic laws of nature from anyone. He is complete in His love. ​ Matthew 5:46–47 ESV 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? If you love those who love you, what reward do you have? = Everyone, even those who are evil, loves those who love them. If we only love those who love us, we are no different from the unbelieving world. There is no reward for being partial. If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing = If we only love and greet those who are like us, we are no different from pagans. ​ Matthew 5:48 ESV 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Be perfect = Grk. teleios - meeting the highest standard, genuine, mature, complete. Since the context here is about how God treats everyone with blessing and grace, a better translation of teleios here is “Be complete, as your heavenly Father is complete” or “display the highest standard.” Jesus is teaching that loving your enemies displays the highest form of love and reflects God’s love to others. If we only love those who love us, we are incomplete. God’s love is complete in that He loves even His enemies. We must follow God’s example. Loving our enemies sets us apart in the world and reflects God’s character to a world that desperately needs Him. Who are our public enemies today? The Government: Politicians are seeking to pass laws that undermine Biblical values and will punish people who uphold God’s Word. Vote your values. Media Corporations: The media is seeking to demonize anyone who disagrees with their agenda and desires to train children to support their agenda. Solution: Separate from these corporations if possible. The Medical Industry: The medical industry has become so greedy, deceptive, and unscientific that it can no longer be fully rusted. The CDC, FDA, NIH, and WHO are corrupt organizations who are slaves to their funding. Solution: Do your own research and do not blindly trust this industry. It is NOT our job to bring down deceptive institutions. It IS our job to teach truth to people who are being deceived by them. Truth, not hostility, is the solution. Who are your personal enemies? Most of us have some kind of enemy. Maybe it’s a person that doesn’t like you. Maybe it’s a person you are choosing not to like. Maybe it’s a broken relationship that needs to be healed. Whatever the case, Jesus commands us to forgive and love our enemies. What is the solution? ​ Proverbs 16:7 ESV 7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. We must focus on living to please God in order to have any hope of finding peace. ​ Proverbs 10:12 ESV 12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. 1 Peter 4:8 ESV 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. For Jesus, love is always the solution. Conclusion All of us have enemies of some kind. Today, we respond to this teaching by praying for our enemies and asking God to help us forgive and love our enemies as much as He loves them.