Why You Must Love Your Enemy

Daily Devotional – Wednesday, November 17, 2021

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.

Matthew 5:44 (NKJV)

From the moment the Israelites left Egypt, they became the object of hatred. In turn, the Israelites detested the neighboring nations. Later, this animosity was extended to the Samaritans and Romans. The Romans also created another class of despised local individuals – tax collectors.

All around the ordinary Jew were people who ‘deserved’ to be hated.

Now, listen to Jesus addressing the Jews of his day with all their animosity and prejudice. “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” (Matthew 5:43). Many in the crowd might have nodded and clapped excitedly at the words of Jesus.

What they did not anticipate was the next statement. “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.” (Matthew 5:44).

I am sure if you dropped a pin anywhere in that crowd, everyone would have heard the noise. How could an Israelite love, do good and pray for a Roman or tax collector, for example? Was Jesus serious? What kind of teaching was this?

Same Message; Different Audience

This message is as relevant in the Twentieth Century as it was in the first. In Christ’s kingdom, the tables are overturned. We have no choice but to embrace those the society considers unlovable.

Our enemies, those who hate us, those who spitefully use and persecute us, live around us. There are our family members, co-workers, bosses, ‘friends’, clients, politicians, people in authority and strangers.

Why should we love and not hate these individuals? Jesus says, “…that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:45). We are to reflect the character of God through the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

If we really claim to be the children of God, we will behave contrary to popular notions and practices of the world. We will love and forgive those who, humanly speaking, deserve nothing but hatred and revenge from us.

Heavenly Father, by my own power, I cannot love those who hate and use me. Fill my with Your Holy Spirit that I may reflect Your character in my life.