All of us want to be liked. Although there are a few antisocial grumps
around, the vast
majority of people try to get along with others and want others to think well of them. On our jobs
and around our neighborhoods we try to be likeable and friendly. We aim to
treat people in such a way that they have positive feelings toward us.
Sometimes it works. At other times it doesn't. Unfortunately, people sometimes decide
that they do not like us. This can hurt. It can be very disappointing. It’s one
thing to love the person who is kind to you. It is another thing altogether to love an enemy, someone who has your
disgrace or destruction as their goal.
What
do you do when someone decides to become your enemy? The tendency is to strike
back. Jesus said that there is a better
way. Instead of retaliating against your enemy, you should love him by
doing good to him! We must love our enemies, do them
good and pray for them. Hatred only breeds more hatred.
‘LOVE
HIM! You must be kidding!’ you may be saying now. ‘How can we be
expected to love those who treat us harshly and unfairly?’ ‘Surely, no one can
do that. Who would want to?’ Sadly, many religions teach their followers that
they will be blessed for acting in an aggressive way toward their enemies.
People are willing to blow themselves up if, at the same time, they can kill
some of the people they see as ‘enemies!’ Tragically, they believe that doing
this will gain them an instant passport into paradise. What an evil teaching!
Is it possible to love your enemy ?
The idea sounds
weird.
What did Jesus teach about loving our
enemies?
Here
is what Jesus taught His followers, ‘I tell you who hear me: Love your
enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those
who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one
cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him
from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what
belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do
to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even
'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to
you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to
those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even
'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your
enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without
expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be
sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be
merciful, just as your Father is merciful’ (Luke
The followers of Jesus are rewarded for suffering when
they refuse to act in an aggressive way toward others. We must not take
revenge. We must love others as God loves us. This is God’s standard of love. God did not have to love us. He loves us because He chooses to
love. He loved us while we were alienated from Him as His enemies. The sinful
mind is hostile toward God. Jesus Christ died for us while we were His
enemies. He died for us while we were helpless sinners (Romans 5:6-11).
Christ died for the sinner, the enemy. That is the full measure of God’s
infinite love. Have you come to know that love by experience? God
loves you so much that He sent Jesus to die for you on the cross.
How did Jesus react towards His
enemies?
All of us can love those who love us
back. Jesus showed a far deeper love. He showed love to those who despised,
hurt and offended Him. He has a heart of love toward the loveless.
When Roman soldiers arrested Jesus,
Peter, one of Jesus’ companions, declared war! He wanted to prove his devotion
to Jesus that way. He quickly reached for his sword, drew it and struck the
servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. ‘No more of this,’ Jesus
said to him. ‘Put your sword back in its place… Do you think I cannot
call my Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions
of angels? But how then would the
Scripture be fulfilled that say it must happen in this
way?’ (NIV, Matthew 26:52). Then He touched the poor slave’s ear and
healed him. Jesus showed love when others showed malice. He showed His loving
character by rebuking Peter and by repairing the damage that Peter had done.
Of course, the crowd had no right to
arrest Jesus. He had broken no laws. He had committed no crimes. They were
treating Him like a common thief. Yet no complaint or harsh word came from His
mouth! They took Him to the place of crucifixion. People saw the naked body of our Lord Jesus Christ laid down on a cross. As the nails were hammered into His
wrists and feet, instead of swearing and blaspheming, Jesus prayed tenderly for
His executioners! ‘Father forgive them for they
do not know what they are doing.’ (NIV, Luke 23:34) This was His
attitude, right up to His death.
Hatred was everywhere, but Jesus
chose to love.
How can I love my enemies?
Let me tell you about a man called Saul.
Saul hated Christians. He saw them as enemies. Once he was on his way to
Loving your enemy is not just a matter
of thinking nice thoughts. By your own efforts you will never succeed. You need
Jesus to do a heart-change within you. You need Jesus to give you the kind of
love that God showed when He sent Jesus to save and forgive a world full of
despicable people; God-hating, vulgar, foul-mouthed, unfaithful, lying,
cheating, stealing, selfish people. The list goes on, describing us at our
worst. Yet God loved us. We can only love like that if Jesus Christ is working
in our lives. When we trust Christ, God, by His Spirit, comes to dwell in our
hearts.
Jesus lived the perfect life that we
should have lived, and He died the death that we deserve to die. He died to
bear the punishment for our wrongdoing. His death satisfied the justice and
love of God. By trusting in what Jesus has done for us, we can know that our
sins are forgiven. Our relationship with our Creator will be restored. God will
give us a knew heart and help us to live increasingly
as we ought to live.