Matthew 5: The Sermon on the Mount (20)
Pray Psalm 19.12-14.
Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
Sing Psalm 19.12-14.
(St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
Who, LORD, can know his errors? O keep sin far from me!
Let evil rule not in my soul that I may blameless be.
O let my thoughts, let all my words, before Your glorious sight
be pleasing to You, gracious LORD, acceptable and right!
Read Matthew 5.1-48; meditate on verses 38-48.
How does God love even His enemies?
Prepare.
1. Who are children of the Father in heaven?
2. For what goal does Jesus call us to strive?
Meditate.
Righteousness is about being like God—like Jesus, Who is all righteousness. They who hunger and thirst after righteousness long to be perfect, as God their Father is perfect (v. 48).
Thus, they will not allow their hearts to make them vengeful, nor to bear a grudge (vv. 38, 39). Instead, they will exercise patience and generosity (vv. 40-42) toward those who mistreat or take advantage of them. We must be willing to be wronged, and we must not allow wrongs done to us to deter us from patience and generosity. Jesus Himself would demonstrate just how far the righteous must be willing to go in satisfying the perfect demands of God. Persevering in righteousness is more important than “getting even”, holding grudges, clinging to fading material possessions, or resisting inconveniences.
In case the teaching of verses 38-42 was not sufficiently clear, Jesus continues by saying we must love our enemies and bless those who do us ill (vv. 43-45). This, after all, is what God the Father does, and aren’t we glad about that! Mercy and grace are the chief byproducts of a heart disciplined for righteousness, and, as God the Father shows us, we must not withhold these from anyone.
If we love only because we expect something in return, we’re no better than the wicked (vv. 46, 47). The love that Jesus enables goes way beyond what people experience in this world. It demonstrates a new kind of existence, and new realm of authority and power, and a new agenda for glorifying God. Christians are not perfect, but we must never cease striving to improve toward perfection (v. 48), for thus we increase in the righteousness of God and of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
This is a difficult passage: not because we don’t understand it; but because we do.
Love your enemies.
Bless those who curse you.
Do good to those who hate you.
Pray for those who spitefully use you.
Pray for those who persecute you.
Be perfect (Matt. 5.44-48).
There is not a parent alive who reacts complacently to a child who says, “I’m bored.”
Our normal response is: “Bored? I can help you find something to do!”
I’m sure God must feel the same about us when:
We wonder about God’s will for us.
We wonder about what we should do to please Him.
We wonder if we should read His Word and pray.
We wonder if there’s anything for us to do in the Kingdom.
And God says, “Check this out. Here’s something for you to do that will take a lifetime to accomplish”.
A Christian will never be bored, in their walk with the LORD, if they set this passage before them.
But because God knows we are human, frail, dusty, and weak, He allowed Paul to add a small caveat to this enormous task. An impetus, as it were, to the work of loving others as Christ loves us:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head” (Rom. 12.20).
And Solomon who first penned these words, added another treat:
“And the LORD will reward you” (Prov. 25.21, 22).
When the going gets tough, to picture coals of fire upon an enemies’ head, is an added treat.
A bonus to humanity. God is merciful and just.
However:
“See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone,
but always pursue what is good
both for yourselves and for all.
Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do not despise prophecies.
Test all things;
hold fast what is good.
Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thess. 5.15-22).
“…that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5.45).
When we love like God’s love.
Reflect.
1. Is there anyone in your life you might consider an enemy? What should your attitude be toward that person?
2. What kinds of actions should flow from that attitude?
3. Why is loving our enemies an important aspect of our Kingdom agenda?
The Lord has shown that we cannot have the good work of perfect love if we love only those from whom in turn we know the return of mutual love will be paid in kind. For we know that love of this sort is common even to nonbelievers and sinners. Hence the Lord wishes us to overcome the common law of human love by the law of gospel love, so that we may show the affection of our love not only toward those who love us but even toward our enemies. Chromatius (fl. ca. 400), Tractate on Matthew 21.2.1
Pray Psalm 19.1-11.
Jesus is the light of every new day, shining like the sun to guide us along His path. Recommit yourself to reading, meditating in, and obeying the Law of God, and thank Him for this great gift of love, that shows you how to love Him and your neighbor (Matt. 22.34-40).
Sing Psalm 19.1-11.
(St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
The heav’ns declare God’s glory, the skies His work proclaim!
From day to day and night by night they shout His glorious Name!
No speech, no words, no voice is heard, yet all across the earth
the lines of His all-present Word make known His holy worth.
Behold, the sun arises, a bridegroom strong and bright,
rejoicing as he runs his course from morning unto night.
From east to west across the skies his circuit he completes,
and none can hide their sinful eyes or shelter from his heat.
The Law of God is perfect, His testimony sure;
the simple man God’s wisdom learns, the soul receives its cure.
God’s Word is right, and His command is pure, and truth imparts;
He makes our eyes to understand; with joy He fills our hearts.
The fear of God is cleansing, forever shall it last.
His judgments all are true and just, by righteousness held fast.
O seek them more than gold most fine, than honey find them sweet;
be warned by every word and line; be blessed with joy complete.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Other columns of interest: This week: The Read Moore podcast continues readings from our book, The Kingdom Turn. Our Crosfigell teaching letter presses ahead in a series on the state of the Church in Europe at the time of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column finishes our study of the Church as Jesus envisions it. Check out our other excellent writers. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
