My Favorite Verses - Vol V (Feb 17 to Jun 17)

Matthew 5:39-45 … To LOVE the enemy
(03/21/2017)
“Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn
the other also … Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so
that you may then be children of your Father in Heaven; for He makes his Light
to shine on the evil and the good, and sends rain upon both the righteous and the
unrighteous.” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:39-45)
*Note first of all that we are called in this passage to avoid resisting
“evildoers," not evil deeds or evil itself. And this is an extremely important
distinction – one that happens to explain the apparent contradiction some have
noticed between Jesus‟ injunction against judgment in Matthew 7:1-2 and his
apparent encouragement in support of judgment in John 7:24 … As it turns out,
the former – much like the passage above – deals with judging people, which
makes sense, as it is impossible to sincerely Love others while we are condemning
them as individuals in any way.
This Truth is actually echoed in the first half of John 7:24 as well, where Jesus
clearly says “Do not judge by appearances” … That having been said, we are
called to examine situations and “judge with right judgment.” In other words, we
are to examine situations and determine if any vestige of evil is being perpetrated,
and once we have discerned that there are victims being in any way inflicted or
abused, we are indeed to stride forth and place ourselves directly between them
and those who would bring them harm. And know that this is in no way the same
as “resisting the evildoer”; this is resisting the evil being done. In harmony with
Jesus admonitions here, we are to do so courageously & firmly, and yet also
compassionately – condemning the evil acts even while openly professing an open
& humble forgiveness for the confused Souls who are perpetrating them.
*Note as well that it is not appropriate to provoke another in order to create
the possibility to turn the other cheek. As well-intended as that might seem (for
those bystanders who could thereby witness real Forgiveness in motion), it is an act that
actually causes great harm to the one so provoked … As such, we are to avoid
provoking others to attack. Instead, we are simply to allow wrongdoings to arrive
(rest assured, they will), and then to be ready to offer the other cheek to those
"wrongdoing" them.
43