1. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

2. A reminder - Please: Turn off your cell phone or set to vibrate only
Turn off sound to all electronic devices
Use the nursery or cry room if your child is fussy
Get up during the preaching only if absolutely necessary (please sit in back if you must leave early)

3. Loving Others Matthew 5:43-48
Jesus has not directly condemned the scribes, but each example has exposed their self-righteous teachings
Jesus’ last example expands on the theme of resisting revenge given in the fifth example
Matthew 5:43-48

4. Loving Others Matthew 5:43-48
No one can live according to what Jesus teaches here on his own - you must regenerated by the Spirit
The self righteous will be offended by what Jesus teaches
The humble will be convicted by what Jesus teaches and seek His forgiveness and desire to change

5. The Teaching of the Scribes Matthew 5:43
The rabbis twisted the Scriptures until they could teach what they wanted instead of what God said
2 Timothy 4:3 - people who want their ears tickled cannot endure sound doctrine
Leviticus 19:17-18

6. The Teaching of the Scribes Matthew 5:43
The scribes left off the phrase “as yourself” so that they could define the love required as they pleased
All people love themselves - the self-love advocated for self esteem is ungodly and unhealthy
The rabbis defined a neighbor as only other Jews

7. The Teaching of the Scribes Matthew 5:43
The scribes left out the restrictions on hatred, vengeance and grudges and instead taught hatred of enemies
They believed they were supposed to hate Gentiles due to the Conquest of Canaan & the imprecatory Psalms

8. The Errors of the Scribes
The Old Testament taught love of strangers and kindness to enemies - Deut. 22:1-4; Exod. 23:4-5; Job 31
David did not want to do wrong to enemies (Psalm 7:4-5) and instead sought to do right (Psalm 35:12-14)
Proverbs teaches proper treatment of enemies: Proverbs 17:5; 24:28-29; 25:21

9. The Errors of the Scribes
God is loving, but He is also just and will punish evil - Jesus is the bridge between God’s love and justice
The Canaanite nations were destroyed because of their utter evil
The imprecatory Psalms reflect the righteous indignation of God being dishonored

10. The Teaching of Jesus Matthew 5:44-48
The context is Matthew 5:38-42, this is about personal enemies - not civil law or national conflicts
This is agaph / agape love - which centers on being rational and volitional irrespective of emotions

11. The Teaching of Jesus Matthew 5:44-48
This a godly love that is internally generated, not normal human love which is a response (1 John 4:19)
This is a sacrificial love that is humanly impossible - it must be generated by the Holy Spirit within

12. The Teaching of Jesus Matthew 5:44-48
This love sees enemies as slaves and pawns of Satan and therefore has pity and compassion to pray for them
The response to persecution, not persecution itself is the true test of godliness

13. The Teaching of Jesus Matthew 5:44-48
A person who loves even his enemies is considered a son of God because he reflects God’s characteristics
God is impartially good to all - often withholding judgment until the end
Verses even the worst sinners can be kind and love those who love them

14. The Teaching of Jesus Matthew 5:44-48
The parable of the Good Samaritan: Luke 10:29-37
Verse 48 - keeping Jesus’ command is humanly impossible without regeneration and help of the Holy Spirit
Only a person whose self interests have given way to God's interests can live the way Jesus describes here

15. Conclusions
Galatians 2:20 –
Have you been crucified with Christ?

16. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

17. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ