Read Matthew 5:38-48
Eye
for Eye
38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye
for eye, and tooth for tooth.’1a 39But 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 40And 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 neighbor1a and hate your enemy.’b
44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute
you,c
45that you may be childrend 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 46If 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
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.
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