Read Matthew 5:38-48
38 “You
have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But
now I tell you: do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If anyone slaps
you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too. 40And if
someone takes you to court to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as
well. 41And if one of the occupation troops forces you to carry his
pack one kilometre, carry it two kilometres. 42When someone asks you
for something, give it to him; when someone wants to borrow something, lend it
to him.
43 “You
have heard that it was said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies.’ 44But
now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so
that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun
to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and
to those who do evil. 46Why should God reward you if you love only
the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that! 47And if
you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary?
Even the pagans do that! 48You must be perfect—just as your Father in
heaven is perfect!
Think
In
verse 13 and 14 Jesus tells his audience that they are salt and light, in verse
20 he tells them to be more righteous than the scribes and the Pharisees and
here in verse 48 he seems to sum things up: ‘Be perfect.’
This
perfection is not keeping all the rules, or doing everything exactly right – it
is perfection of the heart; or ‘perfect love.’
When God pours his love into our hearts; we naturally learn to do the
right thing.
Pray
Lord, pour your love for me
into my heart, so that I can pour it out to others – even my enemies.
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