Matthew 5:38-48
Helping Our Enemies
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Love for Enemies
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, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
The indwelt Holy Spirit leads, guides, and nudges one back to crossroads of patience, mercy, forgiveness, Truth, and to a love with all neighbors...Jesus teaches us to help those in need, those needing mercy, and even if they are people we do not like and even consider them enemies...If we ever want the world to be n Perfect Harmony, all of us will need to love each and every neighbor in the entire world...No one says this is easy...
Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips...So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, these sayings...Have I not written these ideas and ways of life for you, these sayings of counsel and knowledge, teaching you to be honest and to speak the Truth, so that you bring back truthful reports to those you serve?...So do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the LORD will take up their case and will exact life for life...Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared...But let us try to further with these beliefs...Your Master Teacher tells us that we have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth...But our Teacher tells us, do not resist an evil person...If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also...And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well...If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles...Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you...You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’...But Teacher tells us, to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that we may be children of your Father in heaven...He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous...If we love only those who love us, what reward will we get?...Are not even the tax collectors doing that?...And if we greet only our own people, what are you doing more than others?...Do not even pagans do that?...Let us imitate our Teacher...
It is said do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers...For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness and falsehoods?... And what communion has Light with darkness?...And what accord has Jesus with Belial?...Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?...The unbeliever will want us to follow and learn his ways...But let us always follow the Ways of Truth, the Light and the Life...Let us follow the Path to Heaven and to our Father...There is One who helps us on this Path to the Father, and there is Only One who can take us down this Path...Jesus tells us to pray for the unbeliever and enemy...So do more for your neighbor, all neighbors...Be Perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is Perfect...