A Love-Hate Relationship
Matthew 5:43–48
Can we love those we hate?
Photo by Monika Simeonova on Unsplash
Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” - Matthew 5:43–48
Jesus says we should love our enemies, those we hate. But what if they hate us?
All through history, we have fought against people we believed hated us and wanted to destroy us, or our way of life.
Like children, we say, "They started it."
I heard recently that the best we can hope for is a stalemate. That will be how we achieve world peace; when everyone fears everyone else, no one fights.
I guess that makes sense, but it has nothing to do with love, does it?
Love is a one-way street. I can love you with no guarantee you will love me back. We don't like that outcome. We want reciprocity.
If I am going to love you, you have to love me.
Now, we are at the heart of the matter. That is God's position with us.
If God is going to love us unconditionally, we should love God back.
We don't, though. We fail.
We act like our enemies who want to win.
Jesus was teaching us that God loves us without conditions. Whether we are good or evil doesn't change His love.
Can we be like God?
He's still waiting for us to show Him.
More to come...