Mat 5:43-48; To Be or Not to Be Like God. There Is No Question

Class Outline:

Thursday July 11, 2024

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Love your neighbor as yourself, LEV 19:18. 

 

Hate your enemy was added into the oral law. 

 

Jesus, at the finish, points out the absurdity of the oral law. 

 

Love your neighbor is akin to the golden rule in MAT 7:12. 

 

The Jews were to treat foreigners in their midst in the same way as their brothers, LEV 19:33-34. 

 

God told them to be holy because He was. The people of God must be like Him, LEV 19:1 (akin to “be perfect / merciful as your Father is …). 

 

He separated Israel from Egypt, carried them through the death and chaos, protected them, was with them, and at their coronation as a nation at Sinai, He demanded they be like Him. It is His nation. His kingdom.

 

God loves His enemies. 

 

He rises “His” sun on the evil and good. It is His and only He can raise it. He brings rain (blessing) on the righteous and unrighteous (AMO 4:7). 

 

Only God can bless (JAM 1:17). 

 

Love and pray (imperatives) for your enemies and persecutors (both plural). MAT 5:43-48 

 

“Persecutors” dioko used in 5:10, 11, 12. Plural = over a lifetime there will be multiple. 

 

We were all enemies of God (ROM 5:10). 

 

No retaliation, vengeance, preservation of self. (people do not see the mercy of God because they refuse to let go of self). 

 

Be merciful as your Father is merciful (LUK 6:27-36). 

 

Yahweh is merciful and makes His own what He is, but not without their faith. 

 

Those who will not believe do not see God’s mercy. 

 

Mercy is the commandments given while allowing time, and over that time, adding warnings, discipline (painful), and the prophecy of judgment. 

 

People cannot be with God if they are not like Him. This is why God is patient. 

 

Who is my neighbor? LUK 10:25 f. (Jesus’ answer is “Your enemy” and then, “You are.”)

 

Samaritans are enemies of the Jews

 

Mary and Martha: service of her neighbor but in the wrong way, LUK 10:38. (Luke puts in sequence to make this point, not chronological). 

 

It’s not about just doing stuff, being busy with service. It is having the spirit of the law, the love that God has for His law, in yourself.

 

The kingdom of heaven is at hand: this is God’s world / kingdom. 

 

He is making you like Him. 

 

It can’t be done without your faith and obedience (faith). 

 

Love, pray for, and give mercy to your enemies. Be sons of your Father (Parable of Vineyard owner; MAT 20:15-16).