“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,” Luke 6:27
An enemy is “a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something; one that is antagonistic to another especially: one seeking to injure, overthrow, or confound an opponent.”
I have heard that in the Revolutionary War that when enemy soldiers were wounded in battle and captured, that the captors would tend to the enemy POW’s wounds and take care of them. They might have been enemies on the battlefield, and trying to kill each other, but when the battle was over, any survivors were given aid. That is showing your enemy love.
“If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.” Proverbs 25:21-22
When Jesus was taken in the Garden of Eden, Peter cut off the ear of one of those who came to take Jesus away. But what did Jesus tell Peter? He told him to put his sword away and Jesus healed the man’s ear. Jesus showed even an enemy love. These men were there to take him away to ultimately be crucified! Yet Jesus still showed his enemies love.
The Pharisees were constantly trying to entrap Jesus in His speech or find something to accuse Him for. But Jesus didn’t return evil for evil to His enemies.
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:44-45
Back in the Old Testament, Saul was angry with David and sought to kill him. He pursued him throughout the wilderness. One night as Saul slept, David and his men went into the cave that Saul was sleeping in and David cut off a part of Saul’s robe, to prove that he had been there and did not want to harm Saul. In the morning when Saul woke up, David presented himself to Saul and showed him the piece of cloth that he had cut off. When Saul saw he said,
“…Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded thee with evil. An thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thine had, thou killedst me not. For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.” 1 Samuel 24:17-19
The love that David had to Saul caused Saul to realize that what he was doing was wrong, and he knew that God would reward him for his love and mercy.
The greatest example of love is of course when the Father sent Jesus to the earth to die for our sins. The world is full of disobedient people who sin everyday, and refuse to show love to others. But Jesus died for them. God could just destroy the earth immediately, but He doesn’t. His love is so great and He waits. Everyday is another opportunity for someone else to change and become a new person living in love towards God and their neighbor.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
So when someone hates you, show them love. Remember, unless Jesus showed you love when you were still an unbeliever, you wouldn’t receive eternal life. Pray for your enemies, that they would see the love that you show them so that they will see the love that God has to the world. Show your enemies love and God will reward you.
In Christ,
Andrew
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