Emotional : Dealing with Feeling // Love & Enemies

1. NEIGHBORS AND ENEMIES 

Matthew 5:43-45a NIV 

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. 

Luke 10:25-29 NIV 

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 

Matthew 5:43-45 NIV 

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children 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. Romans 5:8 NIV 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

Matthew 5:46-47 NIV 

46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 

1. Neighbors and Enemies 

2. A 3rd Way 

Luke 6:27-29a NIV 

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. 

Luke 6:32-35 NIV 

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 

Matthew 5:46-48 NIV 

46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. 

1. Neighbors and Enemies 

2. A 3rd Way 

3. Put on Perfect 

Matthew 5:48 NIV 

48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. 

Colossians 3:12-14 NIV 

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Pray. Practice. No Repaying. 

Romans 12:9-14; 17a; 19-21 NIV 

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

1. Neighbors and Enemies 

2. A 3rd Way 

3. Put on Perfect 

Questions 

1) Who is our neighbor? Who is our enemy? How does Jesus instruct us to act toward them? How is this different than our own fleshly desires? 

2) What does it mean to turn the other cheek? How is this different from fight or flight and why does it matter? 

3) What are three steps you can take to help you with being more loving toward people you disagree with? Why might praying consistently for them (with similar prayers that you pray for yourself) help?