' And in my Bible, those one, two, three, four, five words You shall love your neighbor are all capitalized indicating thats a quote from the Old Testament, from the law. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. It's not in all caps because it's not a quote. Too bad Jason can't trouble himself to have a ", "Hi Dave, I read your article with great interest. To love your enemy means to try and understand them and behave toward them as you would like them to do to you. And I will betroth you to me forever. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. V In addition to the obvious point that the OT nowhere states that one ought to hate their enemy, and the fact that Jesus describes His teachings as law-fulfilling (Matt 5:17), there are serious problems with this view. In both passages, Jesus provides the theological necessity for loving our enemies, as well as the blessed consequence of obedience. Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread. What Does the Bible Say About Forgiving Your Enemies? - OpenBible.info What does it mean to pray for your enemies? How can you learn to be optimistic? To follow Jesus, you must love your enemies. Benjamin Breckenridge Warfield (1851-1921) of old Princeton reminded us that the greatest truth of John 3:16 is that God pursues those who rebelled against Him that He might bless them. You shall not walk in their statutes. However, those living without Christ are not unreachable. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. It can have affectionate, benevolent, strong liking, romantic, or sexual implications. It is important to acknowledge ways that Jesus teachings stand in tension with some aspects of the Old Testament. Luke 6:38. Maybe theres someone who you resent or even feel hatred toward?, Almost everyone has those kinds of individuals around them at some point in their lives. Love Your Enemies | Theology of Work And said, By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. We read in Proverbs 25:21: If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat; and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink. Love for Enemies. Actually, those persecuting you are those of your enemies most likely to be convicted by the Holy Spirit and turn to Christ. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. To the choirmaster. Were going to skip over the fifth one and look at the sixth one. While you handily dismantle his claim ". We are in no permanent position of hatred and enmity with others. Peacock's 'Mrs. Is the god of this world Satan or Jesus in 2 Cor. It does not dishonor others, it isn't self-seeking, it isn't easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.". Whos my neighbor? Read the Old Testament. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

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