Matthew 5:43-48
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 sons 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 brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Jesus teaches us to love our enemies...And this is a hard thing to do...Love is redemptive...Jesus has a Redemptive Love for all of us...Jesus sacrificed Himself through His Redemptive Love for us...Jesus died to save all mankind...He died on the cross out of His LOVE for us and His enemies...Think about dying for One's enemies...
Dr. Martin Luther King said this on Loving Your Enemies...“Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, "Love your enemies." It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power...And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals...Just keep being friendly to that person...Just keep loving them, and they can’t stand it too long...Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning...They react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they’ll hate you a little more at that transition period, but just keep loving them...And by the power of your love they will break down under the load...That’s love, you see...It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says love...There’s something about love that builds up and is creative...There is something about hate that tears down and is destructive...So love your enemies.”...