Matthew 5:43‭-‬48 Pray For Your Enemies

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?  Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. [Matthew 5:43‭-‬48 NASB]

The previous passage was about "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." [Matthew 5:38 NASB] Jesus taught that we should let ourselves be wronged.

Today's passage is similar, but takes it a step further. Don't just let yourself be wronged, but repay wrong with good.

Christians should stand out from the world. Mahatma Gandhi is revered in the world because of his example of passive protest. Jesus would have us be much better than Gandhi. Instead of passive protest, Jesus advocates active love.

I, along with most true Christians, see abortion as an abominable sin. It is the willful murder of the innocent, and one day those in the abortion industry will answer to God for their part in it. What should the Christian's response be to the abortionists?

I've seen news footage and viral videos online showing protesters waving signs and shouting at the abortionists and the women who go in. I understand the anger, but anger doesn't equal godliness. The protests are not even passive, but active. Gandhi did better with his cause. The world looks more righteous than the church when we do these things. But we are to be better than the world.

The argument is that abortion is evil and must be protested. Yes, it is evil, but God has not appointed us to be the judge. The time will come when He will judge all things.

When the world sees Christians carrying sign, shouting at them, and protesting them, they don't see righteous people fighting for a good cause. All they see is an opponent who holds different political views than they do. They consider it as no different than Democrats vs Republicans.

As Jesus said, "Do not even the Gentiles do the same?" By this He means you are acting no different from the ungodly world.

What does Jesus say our response to evil should be? It is not active resistance. It is not passive resistance. It is active love. Jesus said, "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you," [Luke 6:27 NASB]

Paul taught us, "Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.”  [Romans 12:17-20 NASB]

Pray for your enemies, and don't think that prayer is doing nothing. "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." [James 5:16 NASB] Consider practical ways to do good to those who hate you. Obviously, I don't imply that you should help fund abortions, but a kind word and a plate of cookies will show the love of God more than a shout in the face.

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." [Romans 12:21]