Read Matthew 5:38-48

Read Matthew 5:38-48

Eye for Eye

³⁸“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’^{1a 39}But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.^{b 40}And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ⁴²Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.^c

Love for Enemies

⁴³“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^1a and hate your enemy.’^{b 44}But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,^{c 45}that you may be children^d 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.^{e 46}If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?^f Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.^g[1]

Think

You were created to be perfect!  Just as your heavenly Father is perfect.  But perfection is not being perfectly clever, or perfectly keeping a set of laws; it is about loving perfectly.  Loving friends and enemies alike.  It is what we were created for – so its not impossible.

Pray

Lord, thank you for loving me perfectly.  Grow your perfect love in my heart too I pray.

Amen

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¹ Exodus 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21

^a Ex 21:24; Lev 24:20; Dt 19:21

^b Lk 6:29; Ro 12:17,19; 1Pe 3:9

^c Dt 15:8; Lk 6:30

¹ Lev. 19:18

^a Lev 19:18; Mt 19:19; 22:39; Mk 12:31; Lk 10:27; Ro 13:9; Gal 5:14; Jas 2:8

^b Dt 23:6; Ps 139:21,22

^c Lk 6:27,28; 23:34; Jn 15:20; Ac 7:60; Ro 8:35; 12:14; 1Co 4:12; 1Pe 2:23

^d ver 9; Lk 6:35; S Ro 8:14

^e Job 25:3

^f Lk 6:32

^g Lev 19:2; 1Pe 1:16

^[1] The Holy Bible: Today’s New International Version. (2005). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.