1. Love Your Enemies Matthew 5:38-42
Grace Community Church
5/29/2005

2. You Have Heard…
Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

3. Moses Taught … Towards Neighbors… Leviticus 19:18
18“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Towards Enemies… Exodus 23:4-5
4“If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to take it back to him. 5If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help him with it.

4. Jesus Taught – Matthew 5:44-45
44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons 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.

5. Psalm 73:1-5 1 Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are free from the burdens common to man;
they are not plagued by human ills…

6. Psalm 73:16-19 16 When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!

7. Jesus Taught – Matthew 5:46-47
46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

8. How do we do it? Must be walking in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-25
Meditate on God’s love for you. 1 John 4:10 and Romans 5:8-10
Confess your reluctance to love as sin. 1 John 1:9
Begin loving them by praying for them. Matthew 5:44