43. "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.
OT law said, “Love your neighbor and it was ok to hate your enemy”. The world says, “Love those who are your friend and have nothing do with the one that is your enemy”. That isn't godly love; it is a human natural love.
Jesus said to love your enemies, and some versions have the added words, “Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you.” The NIV adds “pray for those who persecute you.”
is commanding us not only to love our enemy, but to bless, do good, and pray for them. That is asking almost more than what our emotions can take. Returning good for good toward others is commendable, returning good for evil is Christ-like. Love is an action of good toward others, not necessarily a feeling. Doing good to those who do evil does bring change if not in others, then at least in yourself. It changes people from being enemies into being friends.
When I was at MSU I was told in psychology class that normally a person has a personality conflict with 10-20% of other people. There are certain personalities that clash.
the sorority house where I worked while in college, there was one gal that rubbed me the wrong way. Normally, I avoided her, would grin and bear it and seek to have little to do with her. This gal was getting under my skin and I noticed I would start worrying about running into her before I even came to work. When I read this Biblical passage I thought of her. I prayed, "Lord, I cannot love this person, she drives me up a wall. I can't stand her, but I will try to obey you because I know that my attitude toward her is not pleasing to You. I will promise to pray for her." I started to do that, as often as I thought of her I prayed for her, not because I wanted to, but because it was in the Bible. I felt it was an act of obedience to the Lord.
I remember praying for her and going to the house and seeing her and nothing changed. "Lord, you're not changing her. What's wrong? It doesn't work." But I continued to pray for her and then for my attitude.
After a few months, I was sitting down having coffee with some of the other busboys and some of the girls in the sorority house. We were talking and laughing about something, and like a lightning bolt from the sky the sudden awareness came to me - the girl was at the table I didn't feel that animosity any anymore. I wasn't even aware of the change. When I finally left after graduation, out of 60 sorority sisters, she was among the five I would have called a good friend. I thanked God for answering a prayer and changing my heart even when I didn't realize what was happening. It does make a difference!
Prayer: Lord, as I ponder this truth to love your enemies, I continue to pray, “Lord, help me to see others through Your eyes.”
