God tells us to love our enemies!!!
Some folks believe in an eye for an eye!!! Tit for tat!!! They even say REVENGE is best served cold!!!
What does all that mean??? It means that if you hurt them, they are going to hurt you back!!!
But that’s NOT what Jesus taught His disciples!!!
Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV)
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
Jesus taught us to love our enemies!!! HIS disciples recorded HIS teachings in the Gospels!!!
Matthew 5:43-48 (NKJV)
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
45 that you may be sons of your Father 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.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
45 that you may be sons of your Father 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.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
It is so easy to love those that are kind and who treat you right!!!
But what about those that make sure you know that they despise you!!! And what about those that mistreat you horribly??? They are the ones that are so hard to love!!! And then Jesus tells us to pray for them!!! Is HE for real???
Luke 6:27-28 (CEV)
27 This is what I say to all who will listen to me:
Love your enemies, and be good to everyone who hates you.
28 Ask God to bless anyone who curses you, and pray for everyone who is cruel to you.
Do you know that the person who mistreats you needs more prayer than probably anyone else? I wonder who is really praying for that person?? Do you think that anyone is asking God to help that person? Is anyone praying for that mean boss??? Or that hateful person at work??
Jesus would!!! Jesus prayed for those that had Him crucified!!!
Luke 23:32-34 (NKJV)
32 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.
33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
And they divided His garments and cast lots.
Stephen followed Jesus example. When the leaders became angry with Stephen and had him stoned, he asked God to forgive them!!!
Acts 7:59-60 (NKJV)
59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
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