43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 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. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?”

The concept that all religions teach the same thing concerning moral behavior, while failing miserably on the larger issues of truth, is largely accurate. Our passage today is shared with many faith-systems in the world. God has built into all humans a sense of a higher moral standard (see Romans 14-16), which religions of the world recognize. The larger issues of truth have to do with whether or not humans can meet that standard. Christianity gives a unique and unequivocal answer – NO! Not, at least, without the transforming work of grace in the lives of people. The Scripture is clear, “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). So why this teaching of Jesus?

As pointed out before, kingdom living pictures a coming day when Christ will reign on earth in the fulfillment of all Messianic prophecies of the OT. Revelation 22 refers to this as the millennial reign of Christ. Yet, we are motivated to that standard of behavior now. It is the life for which we were created (Eph 2:10) and to which Christ is calling us to return.

While the Law of God does say to love our neighbors as ourselves, it nowhere commands us to hate our enemies, as some in the day of Jesus taught. At times, the psalmist claimed a certain animosity toward evil people in his attempt to express loyalty to God (Psalm 139:21). Progressive revelation in Scripture, however, moves us to a better way of expressing loyalty, namely to love those whom God loves. This includes the whole world (John 3:16), even also those whom we consider to be “enemies.”

A sub-Christian level of morality is nothing to be proud of! To love your neighbor, brother and those who love you, takes no great depth of spirituality. Further, we should go beyond simply holding back hatred. We should love our enemies, pray for them and greet them in public. Big order to fill, but that is the true essence of the Law of God.

Lord, I confess my preferential treatment of those who treat me well over those who are against me. Help me not to respond to them as their offense against me deserves, just as You do not treat me as my sins deserve.