You Have Heard
Matthew 5:43-45 “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 sons of your Father in heaven.”
WHEN Jesus said, “You
have heard that it was said” he refers to our view of God’s truths. There
was no such law as “hate your enemies”. This was a self-centered teaching from
the Pharisees. They took God’s law in Leviticus 19:18 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but
love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” and taught that it also
meant “hate your enemies”. God never said that. Moses never wrote that. It is man’s
self-seeking view of God’s law.
When Jesus spoke, “I
tell you.” the people in his congregation were hearing the Word of God directly
from God. He is the sovereign God preaching his truths over all of his
creation. No teacher, preacher dare say, “I tell you.” because all that is
preached must proceed from God-breathed scripture.
Jesus’ true
authority negated the Pharisees’ distortion of God’s true words. He has taught
us in truth that we may be saved from living in ignorance and sin.
Too often we
disdain preaching because it tells us the truth. But you must know that true
preaching points our minds to God’s true ways.
Be thankful God’s
way is to “Love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you.” After all, we are all born in sin an enemy to
God. But in his love he has offered to you the truth “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”
LIFE Link: Know God’s true words and live.
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