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 and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. – Matthew 5:43-45
Jesus, in the sermon on the mount speaks many truths in which his followers should listen and obey. Many of the teachings founds in Matthew’s gospel were common among the Jewish audience to whom he was writing. They would have understood all the “you have heard it said…” saying. They were part of the regular teaching they heard in the synagogue. Jesus, however, liked to push the envelope, to get the people to open up their minds and hearts a little further. To dive deeper in their understanding of God’s mercy and grace offered to them through faith.
This above passage is one such teaching. Loving our neighbor seems to be at the very heart of God’s command to us, for we know that the greatest command is to love God and love neighbor as we wish to be loved. However, the apparent saying, was to love neighbor but hate an enemy. I don’t know where at some point this idea of hatred for an enemy arises. I know we can point to many psalms and passages of the old testament which state something to the effect of God hates this or that enemy with a perfect hatred. Yet, Jesus teaches us that God, the Father in heaven is father to all. He makes the sun rise and set on all, regardless of evil or good status; righteous or unrighteous status.
The deeper truth is that as God is God of all, we are to hold closer those with whom we disagree. Hold them in prayer, care about their situation, perhaps have a little empathy. Enemies today, are not often those who are ‘at war’ with one another, though that is an experience in this life. Instead, Jesus teachings on how to pray for or love our enemies makes me think of those who we have relationship, but that relationship is broken. How could we pray or mend that relationship? How can we find peace with those whom we disagree?
As easy as it is to be angry towards all whom we might disagree, perhaps the better place to be is in prayer for them, and hope that they would pray for us, so that we might move forward together, seeking understanding and peace.
Grace & Peace to you,
Sam