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 sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 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, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
When Jesus said this, Judea was a vassal state of Rome. Roman troops patrolled the towns and countryside, keeping the peace. A governor appointed by Rome was in charge. And the tax load paid to the Romans was heavy. Rome was the enemy.
And that would have made Jesus’ words to the crowd listening to the Sermon on the Mount challenging. The neighbors they were to love could be understood as fellow Jews, and even though that might be hard, they could have accepted that it was proper (Lev. 19:18).
But to love the hated Romans was going too far. How could they reasonably be expected to love them and pray for them? To pray for them to be thrown out of Judea would be more like it. But Jesus’ charge to them was not to be like everyone else. They were to be like their heavenly Father, who provided sun and rain to the good and the evil alike.
I live in the United States. An external power does not occupy us. But we are deeply divided along many lines, especially our political affiliation—red or blue. And if your favorite political party is not the same as mine, you are an enemy of all that is right and good.
Love Those on the Other Side
But what does Jesus have to say about this? He tells me to love the one who is on the other side. Rather than hate them as an enemy, I am to love and pray for them.
That does not mean I have to agree with them. But it does mean that as we discuss/debate the issues that divide us, we should do so in love. And rather than speak evil of them, I should pray for them. And that includes those who are in leadership. We are not to be like the world around us. Seek to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.
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