Loving as God’s People

 

Loving as God’s People

Matt 5:43-48

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

 

1 Peter 1:13-16

¹³ Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. ¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

 

Luke 6:35-36

³⁵ 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. ³⁶ Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

 

Eph. 5:1

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

 

Col 1:28

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

 

·       Not that men may, or can, or ought to be as perfect in love, as to the degree of it, as God is; that is impossible: the "as" here, is not a note of equality, but of likeness: such, who profess God to be their Father, ought to imitate him, particularly in their love to men. 

·       Jesus presented the sermon the other Israelites.

·       Given the sermon was in an open natural amphitheater there may well have been non-Israelites. How might they have felt about the message Jesus brought?

·       The cultures in the world at that time (much like our time) were not based on love and forgiveness.

·       Jesus’ message of love, forgiveness, putting others first, etc. was very revolutionary for the times.

·       The Romans, Persians, etc. were brutal.

·       The Greeks were egotistical and denigrated most other cultures.

·       Might, power and wealth (which could buy might and power) were seen as the primary movers in that time. It is the same in our time but often denied.

·       What Jesus did was very similar to a person in our day going into a high gang, high violence and high crime area and preaching peace, love and non-violence.

·       Another example might be going to highly placed politicians and preaching wealth and power are far down on the priority list but love, self sacrifice and putting other first are high on the list.

 

Ø  Why would the Israelites have a problem with the message of love Jesus brought?

Ø  Who is our neighbor?

Ø  Who are our enemies?

Ø  Are we in the US truly persecuted?

Ø   Is it difficult to pray for those who persecute us?

Ø  What divisions do we make, perhaps subliminally?

Ø  What divisions do we pass on to our children?

Ø  Should the differences between peoples cause divisions?