. Something went wrong when trying to add that email address. What Does the Bible Say About Love? Think on what is, perhaps, the most famous verse in the Bible: John 3:16. Some critics challenge, however, that this creates a problem with Jesus own teaching, which seems (they claim) to indicate that the Old Testament taught hate of enemies and that Jesus replaced this with the stricter ethic of love for even ones enemies. The Wisdom books warn hearers not to rejoice when enemies face disaster (e.g., Prov 24:17; Job 31:29; cf. 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 . If we look upon those who oppose, hurt, or persecute us as irredeemable, unchangeable Creatures of the Black Lagoon that are undeserving of our love and our forgiveness, then we must quickly run to the cross! Are not even the tax collectors doing that? Maybe theres someone who you resent or even feel hatred toward?, Almost everyone has those kinds of individuals around them at some point in their lives. You can love your enemies too. When you need guidance, turn to God. This also means we dont necessarily have to stay in contact with people who have wronged us. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer. what does love your enemies look like in the old testament? J And because you listen to these rules and keep and do them, the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the steadfast love that he swore to your fathers. Receive the Daily Devotional, Share prayers with others, and more on the Pray.com app. The very core of the heart of God is summed up in three words: "love your enemies" ( Romans 5:10 ). Interestingly, Jesus considered this the second-highest commandment in the law. God is an unchanging God of love (cf. Several years ago I wrote a book called Hit by Friendly Fire: What to do when other believers hurt you. Be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to me on the top of the mountain. Jesus teachings on loving enemies were woven from the richly varied threads of Scripture, which He heard, learned, debated and taught from a very young age. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old. While no Bible verse explicitly says "hate your enemy," the Pharisees may have somewhat misapplied some of the Old Testament passages about hatred for God's enemies (Psalm 139:19-22; 140:9-11). All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God. 5:43; 19:19; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; [Rom. What does it mean that the rain falls on the just and the unjust? However, those living without Christ are not unreachable. The command says to love your neighbor, but it never says anything about hating your enemies. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. That's Proverbs 25:21-22. Join today!. Luke 6:27-36 NIV - Love for Enemies - "But to you who - Bible Gateway 1123573), Ali Blacklee Whittall Seeing the Women of the OT, Ruth Perrin and Ed Earnshaw Student Ministry, Jasper Knecht Reading the Scriptures with the Early Church, Christine Westhoff Reframing the Prophetic, Tim Mackie Biblical Studies and Christology, The Bible as Narrative Tobias Siegenthaler, The value of friendship in the Christian life Andy Hudson, Tobias Siegenthaler The Bible as Narrative, Bridging the funding gap for deaf students Janey Lawry-White, The Bible and Culture by Ben Witherington. Read beyond verse 16 to consume the fullness of the meaning: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Q May I live this day according to your Word, for your glory, and by your strength. Enemies in the Old Testament. Why will you continue to rebel? He knows the Bible pretty well. New King James Version (NKJV). You may have similar interests or similar experiences while growing up. God loves his enemies. S Who Taught "Hate Your Enemy'', and Why? The second part, "hate your enemy," doesn't appear anywhere in the Old Testament. The Queen of Sheba, Solomon, & Archaeology, Solomon's Temple and its Archaeological Analogies, Solomon's "Impossible" (?) David was a type of this kind of searching love when he returned to Jerusalem. The Twisting and Truth About Jesus' Olivet Discourse Parables, Surprising Biblical Truths About Grace and Works, The Hyper-Grace Twisting of Paul's Teaching About Salvation. When you acknowledge that there are differences between you, you can open the door to commonalities., Talk about small things, like hobbies, or films you enjoy even food you like to eat., If you come across a topic that you disagree on, try your best to listen without judgment. For more insight, daily prayers, Bible stories, and more, download the pray.com app on the iOS App Store and Google Play. And said, By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. You shall not walk in their statutes. There was nothing wrong with the Old Testament teaching of recognizing the enemies of God. Were out of time. Now, we know that there was some debate on this whole concept in Jesuss time because a guy came up one time and asked, Who is my neighbor? Whats he referring to? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. What does it mean to pray for your enemies? In other words, Gods character is loving and merciful. Is he my darling child? There is no reason for you to remain on a painful cross of unlovingness, or in the shame-shrouded tomb of lifelessness. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your . Thank you for your interest in supporting CARM. Why does God command so much killing in the Old Testament? Does God Israel and Syria were locked in conflict (imagine!). Listen to ourDaily Bible Verse Podcast Now! What Does the Bible Say About Love In The Old Testament? To love as Christ loved us is to receive and share the reward of such love: new life. That makes it fundamental to our very existence., But, as we all know, there's a huge difference between loving your enemies and loving your friends. Matthew 5:44, the forty-fourth verse in the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament, also found in Luke 6:27-36, is part of the Sermon on the Mount.This is the second verse of the final antithesis, that on the commandment to "Love thy neighbour as thyself".In the chapter, Jesus refutes the teaching of some that one should "hate [one's] enemies". Love your enemies. Proverbs 25:21-22 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the LORD will reward you. Examples of Loving your Enemies in the Bible: True Love So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. All rights reserved. There is only greater pain. There is no transformation in such scenarios. Berean Bible Church: Love Your Enemies - Matthew 5:43-48 And in a world where donkeys and oxen were means of personal livelihood, it is no small thing that the law commands Gods people to love their enemy by rescuing and returning their animals: When you come upon your enemys ox or donkey going astray, you shall bring it back. This separates us from those who have evil and hatred in their hearts. Remember that Jesus prefaces this whole section of His sermon by saying: For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven, (Matthew 5:20). And that is not only how to love your enemies, but also why we must love them. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, It is something that is easy to say and nearly impossible to do: love your enemies. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! Proverbsand we have to remember that these were popular sayingseven states that those who rejoice over anothers misfortune will not go unpunished (17:15). What does the Bible say about witchcraft? No one shall come up with you, and let no one be seen throughout all the mountain. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Pray for those who persecute you. That would be strange that God would correct himself and so who is he correcting? The alien is the same as the citizen. Publisher: OpenBible.info. And Elisha wasnt playing by the rules. Thats not a quotation. We might hate the wicked ways of those around us as they represent an affront to Gods holiness. Jesus goes on . It can have affectionate, benevolent, strong liking, romantic, or sexual implications. 1 app for daily prayer and faith-based media content. Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel. In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Salem Media Group. To help you pray for them, here are six police officers' prayers. We want to provide easy-to-read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. To love your enemy means to try and understand them and behave toward them as you would like them to do to you. Say nice things to them, have an open discussion about whats happened or your feelings give them a hug, do something nice for them, smile, make a joke. I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Matthew 5:44 - Wikipedia If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? In exasperation, the king of Syria laid siege to the city of Dothan, where Elisha lived, hoping to root out the source of his military frustrations. It exemplifies the deep love that God has for us. Leviticus 19:9-18 ESV. Hes referring to this commandment, Love your neighbor. Great question. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and . Whether its a loss of a job, a loved one, self-esteem, or their own health, there are plenty of reasons people do what they do., The next step is to accept where they are in their life. God adopted His enemies to be His sons and daughters. Humans have feelings of hate, motivated by an idea that another person has harmed us in some way. It's stressful when someone you love is undergoing surgery. God said to Moses, I am who I am. And he said, Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you.. This remains a challenge for our generation, as well. Theyre not quite as easy to see but actually theyre not that difficult to see either. Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. He keeps saying something and he says, And hate your enemy. In my Bible, And hate your enemy is not in all caps. In this article, we'd like to share six prayers for guidance. ' And in my Bible, those one, two, three, four, five words You shall love your neighbor are all capitalized indicating thats a quote from the Old Testament, from the law. And he did so along the grain of its core ethical teachings. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you've done. 43You have heard that it was said, (B)You shall love your neighbor (C)and hate your enemy. 44[a]But I say to you, (D)love your enemies, bless those who curse you, (E)do good to those who hate you, and pray (F)for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for (G)He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. To the choirmaster. Actually, those persecuting you are those of your enemies most likely to be convicted by the Holy Spirit and turn to Christ. The reasons will be suggested below. Luke 6:38. K What Does the Bible Say About Loving Your Enemies? That sounds like something out of the New Testament, no? Remember hes God. Whos my neighbor? You may even be surprised at what you find out. Love Your Neighborand Your Enemies We should be surprised when they are not. He knows the Bible pretty well. We read in Proverbs 25:21: If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat; and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples. Examples of Loving your Enemies in the Bible; "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.". Pray.com is the easiest way to incorporate prayer into your daily life and grow your faith journey. What Does Colossians 2:6-7 Teach Us about Our Faith Walk? I think anyone whos ever read the Old Testament knows that and so Jesus is correcting this idea thats so prevalent in his day that not only is it okay to hate certain people that you label as enemies, its commanded by God but it wasnt. You cant find that anywhere in the Law of Moses? The Lord Jesus says that when we love our enemies, we prove that we are His children. We have to pick up here on our next little lesson. But thats all I could find in the Old Testament. Let no flocks or herds graze opposite that mountain. So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first. When we follow the rich, life-giving teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, we become spirits set free, free from yesterdays pain, free from the ugliness of sin that stains and infects our relationships, free from the life-crippling burden of unforgiveness. Something went wrong while submitting the form. "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Yes, and remarkably, toward Syria. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. Matthew 5:35: Psalm 48:2 . 5:14]; James 2:8, Leviticus 19:18 in all English translations, Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60; 1 Cor. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if . Thanks so much! What did Jesus mean when He instructed us to turn the other cheek. You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord. Jesus is raising the bar now that hes come to the earth and hes got a set of followers. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Oops! And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. So, when Jesus challenges what the people have heard, love your neighbor and hate your enemy, He is not twisting the Old Testament to attack it. Discover what it means to be an active listener and learn five actionable steps to become one. OpenBible.info We are in no permanent position of hatred and enmity with others. Learn about the best Christian goals and how to accomplish them with pray.com. Oba 1:12). Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God. When Jesus said we are to love our enemies, He was creating a new standard for relationships. Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists, Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists, Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Solomons Temple and its Archaeological Analogies. 27 "But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. What Does the Bible Say About Forgiving Your Enemies? - OpenBible.info And Jesus knew this when he gave his sermon on the mount in the book of Matthew., On a mountainside, Jesus gave a long sermon on a number of topics ranging from adultery to murder. [1] In addition to ethical Docetism, attempts to see Jesus as a lone and subversive revolutionary often lead to the anachronistic claim that he taught something completely unprecedented here. And God separated the light from the darkness. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. In this passage, Jesus is seated before a crowd and teaching the Word of God that is being fulfilled in His own person. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. 1 Samuel 25-26: Love Your Enemies - The Church of Jesus Christ of Jesus demonstrated love for his enemies by forgiving those who mistreated him. [44] But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45 . How could a loving God tell the Israelites to kill their enemies, even Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Oh, my goodness is God long-suffering under the Old Covenant towards people who dont deserve them. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven,, love your neighbor and hate your enemy,, If you have any issues, please call the office at 385-246-1048 or email us at. That is a valid question because under the Old Covenant, God told Israelites in some cases to wipe out people and to be separate from certain people, not to associate with certain people because of their incredibly sinful cultures and lies. Pray that God will help you to love them and forgive them as you remember how God loved and forgave you. 24:12; Rom. T Visit the Bible online to search for words if you dont know the specific passage yourre looking for. Hes correcting the false beliefs, the false ideas, false interpretations, things taught by scribes and Pharisees. Love for one's enemy even extended to his animal. Whos my neighbor? But Jesus doesnt stop there. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. Pray.com provides people from all walks of life inspiration through Daily Prayers, Bible in a Year Programs, and Bedtime Bible Stories. Sermon on the Mount: Love Your Enemies - Matthew 5:43-48 The Old Testament commands to kill entire enemy peoples were specific and limited to particular events. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. In both passages, Jesus provides the theological necessity for loving our enemies, as well as the blessed consequence of obedience. Now more than ever, we need to implement these teachings into our lives. Yet as Jesus implied, it's similar to the first. Luke 6:35-36 states, 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 is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.