Love Your Enemies

"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 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 Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. . . "

~Luke 6:27-36~

People do not often consider the fact that they have enemies. In this pluralistic, tolerance-preaching society, where the motto is, "Let's just all get along," individuals are always appealing to be liked by all different groups of people: homosexuals, heterosexuals, conservatives, liberals, moderates, socialists, capitalists, zealots, atheists, etc. Having enemies must be taboo. One of the lessons we've learned this past year has been to show love and mercy to our enemies. When you stand for Truth, which never compromises, enemies will appear from every corner. "Uncompromising men are easy to admire." You will have zealots in the opposite corner who will fight you tooth and nail on every issue under the sun, but they will respect you because you do not compromise.

What Christ teaches in this passage is the divine prescription for handling our enemies. Instead of giving in to the temptation to allow hate, anger, bitterness and strife fester in my heart, I can concentrate those efforts on prayer for the person and looking for opportunities to bless them when they are in need. Doing such things are not hypocritical when it is being obedient to God and I don't feel like doing good to my enemies. It also helps develop in my heart the willingness to forgive, should, if ever, my enemies repent and ask for forgiveness. Holding grudges is not biblical either and no unforgiving person will enter the gates of Heaven - we would be similarly unjust as the "Unforgiving Servant" in Matthew 18:21-35. Believers have the opportunity, having been freed from sin, to take the higher road. We must look to Christ's example, who is willing to forgive unrighteous sinners, but by no means allows unrepentant sinners to enter Heaven. The Word is sufficient for all our troubles.