“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on the cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
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There is so much that can be unpacked in this passage. But I just want to State one thing…love your enemies. I feel like in our society today, it’s so easy to dislike and judge another person or group of people that it has almost become instinct to do so. We judge and criticize people with different political stances, race, gender, religious beliefs, and even generations. The more we judge and put down another, the more we run away from the truth of Jesus. We are to love one another…and not just those who are like us. No, Jesus specifically speaks to that point. What credit is there in that? No, Jesus says specifically to love those different than you…even those you consider an enemy. Do you have that kind of love yet? Jesus doesn’t really give us an option here. If we are going to follow Christ…we must love as He loved.
A Journey With Jesus 