My Attitude Toward My Enemies

Matthew 5:38-39, 43-48

You have heard that it was said, "Eye for eye and tooth for tooth" (Exodus 21,24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21). But I tell you, do not resist an evil person....

We do not fight against flesh and blood, but against the authorities and rulers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (see Ephesians 6:12). So we are not to consider our fight as with the people who are opposing us, but against the evil spiritual forces that are the power behind them, and enslaving them.

You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor" (Leviticus 19:8) and hate your enemy. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Instead of fighting against the people who are fighting against you, pray for them (not against them) that they may be released from the bondage of evil that has enslaved them.

That you may be sons [and daughters] of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain [to nourish] the righteous and the unrighteous.

"Like father, like son" has been a truism throughout the ages. God blesses everyone every day in causing His sun to give life to this Earth and everyone living on it, and He sends the rain to nourish all the crops and animals to give us all the subsistence to be nourished and live well, regardless of if we even acknowledge His existence or put our full trust in Him. So if He really is our Father, then we will want to have His attitude toward people: He is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), seeing how wrong they have been and turn around. I will pray against their evil schemes, but I will pray for the people who have no understanding of the Truth.

For if you love them which love you,what reward would you have? And if you greet only your friends, what are you doing more than others? Don't even the Publicans do that? You are to be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Perfect here refers to maturity rather than sinless perfection. We are to go the extra mile to help even when we're not expected to.

I will strive to think and act more and more like Jesus would. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!