October 11, 2023

Matthew 5: 44 “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (NIV)

“When he tells us to love our enemies, he gives along with the command, the love itself.”*

It’s not so hard to say, “Love your enemies,” if you don’t have any enemies. How hard can it be to pray for those who persecute you if you’ve never been persecuted? But Jesus’ audience knew a thing or two about both. They had enemies who had committed atrocities against them. For the entirety of their existence as a nation, they had been persecuted just for being who they were. You can bet Jesus didn’t hear a chorus of amens or receive a standing ovation for his now-famous sermon. As Phillip Yancey wrote: “The Sermon on the Mount did not soothe them; it infuriated them.”*

We may not be stirred to indignation by being told to love our enemies but I’ll bet Jesus introduced some other radical ideas that day that make us uncomfortable. Don’t have any enemies? What about that person who falsely accuses you? Does your righteousness exceed that of the Pharisees? Have you ever been angry with your brother or called someone a fool? Are you a worrier? Judgmental? Keep reading (Matthew 5-7) and you’re sure to see something that will make you squirm. Just because his message begins with phrases like, “Blessed are you . . .” doesn’t mean they are feel-good concepts.

Being blessed is not the same as feeling good – or happy, or getting what you want, or not having any problems. Blessed means God is for you, even if your enemies aren’t. Blessed means God will reward you even when your life is a misery. “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.” (Matthew 5: 12)

Do the Beatitudes sound to me like good news or like a scolding?*