JESUS’ AMAZING LOVE FOR HIS ENEMIES
MATTHEW 5:38-48
Luke 22:50-51, “And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. 51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.”
Introduction:
Satan has been very sly in the way he has deceived man. He has taken advantage of the deceitful heart of man for the Scripture says in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
The deceitfulness of man’s heart has led him to believe that God wants to kill him rather than save him. Look at what the Bible says in that regard.
I. THE LORD DOES NOT HAVE PLEASURE AT THE DEATH OF THE LOST
A. God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, Ezekiel 33:11, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
B. The Lord admonishes man to turn to the Lord, Ezekiel 18:32, “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.”
C. The Lord has taught His people not to rejoice in the destruction of those that hate them, Job 31:29-30, “If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: 30 Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.”
1. David prayed, “Lord, plead my cause,” Psalm 35:1-7, “Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.”
2. He asked the Lord to confuse them and make them ashamed, Psalm 35:4, “Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.”
D. The Lord is DISPLEASED with the Believer who rejoices when the enemy falls, Proverbs 24:17-18, “Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the LORD see it , and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.”
E. The Lord gives commandment regarding grudges, Leviticus 19:18, “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”
II. THE LORD DOES GOOD TO HIS ENEMIES
A. Christ DIED FOR His enemies, Romans 5:6, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”
1. When we were without strength to correct the problem, Ezekiel 16:5, “None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.”
2. At the right time according to God’s plan He sent His Son to die for sinners, Hebrews 9:26, “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
B. God IDENTIFIES His enemies? Romans 5:10, “For if, WHEN WE WERE ENEMIES, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
1. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
2. We were reconciled to God by the death of Jesus Christ His Son having slain the enmity thereby, Ephesians 2:16, “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:”
Having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life,
III. THE LORD’S GUIDELINES FOR THE BELIEVER REGARDING HIS ENEMIES
A. Treat others as you would like to be treated, Romans 12:17, “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
B. Live peaceable with all men, Romans 12:18-19, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
C. Overcome evil with good, Romans 12:20-21, “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
1. The example set forth by the Lord Jesus, 1 Peter 2:23, “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:”
2. Our good works must shine brighter, Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
3. Like the beacon set on a hill top, Matthew 6:14, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”
4. Is it a light thing to you to be the Light of Jesus Christ to those who walk in darkness, Isaiah 49:6, “And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.”
CONCLUSION
The Lord loved us when we were unlovely. The Lord Jesus Christ died for us when we were yet sinners. He has saved everyone who has trusted Him as Savior. Doesn’t seem a small thing to do if we love the lost as He does?