How to get rid of enemies Matthew 5:43-48

Many of us grew up during the cold war - It had nothing to do with the weather - It had everything to do with strained relationships - After the collapse of the USSR, things changed for the better… - Travel and contact was now more possible - I discovered these people are not enemies

i. Exposing the common mindset - “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’” (Matthew 5:43, NKJV)

A. We naturally develop negative dispositions toward some - We have to be told to love our neighbor - We can easily surmise an opposite to this command

b. We have good reason to designate some as enemies - The Bible indicates there are enemies of God - Satan and the world system are enemies of God and believers - Even believers formerly were enemies of God - The last enemy to be subdued is death

II. Presenting the refined command - “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, 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.” (Matthew 5:44–45, NKJV)

A. How to understand neighbors and enemies - There are other texts with the same emphasis and concern - Someone asked Jesus who was his neighbor - We should ask who is my enemy

B. How to understand the application of love - There is a general disposition in view - There are explanatory parameters indicated - There is an anticipated result of manifest relationship

C. How to understand common grace - God showers a certain level of grace on all people - This indication of common grace has two sides

III. Offering the practical rationale - “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?” (Matthew 5:46–47, NKJV)

A. There is a minimum expectation for treating friends - It is common practice to treat kindly those who love us - This is the normal and minimum expectation

B. There is an extended expectation for treating non-friends - We need to love and greet those outside our circle of friends - We are encouraged to do so by anticipated reward

IV. Giving the overall summary - “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48, NKJV)

A. How to understand God’s perfect standard - This summary indicates God’s ultimate expectation - The emphasis is on conformity to the highest standard

B. How to apply God’s perfect standard - We should seek to imitate our heavenly Father - We should recognize God’s intention for us - We should recognize our practical limitations

Hebrews 12:1-3 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” (NKJV)