Greater Righteousness: Love your enemy, too.

Greater righteousness...

 Lesson 6: Love your enemy, too.

In the light of verse 19, Jesus continues to explain to his disciples that his teaching does not do away with the law, rather his teaching supersedes the law. In effect Jesus is raising the standard of what it means to be a “righteous” individual. Then He illustrates this point with specific examples related to the Law. In fact, he places anger, lust, divorce, oaths, and retaliation on the same moral plane as murder, adultery, and perjury. Over the next few weeks we will go over these particulars that Jesus has given us.

Note: While Jesus raises the standard of righteous conduct in this passage, he does not reveal the mechanism by which we arrive at this level of righteousness. On its face, Jesus is placing the Kingdom of Heaven out of reach for everyone. Later passages in the New Testament reveal that the Christian’s righteousness is given to him or her by Jesus Christ and acted out in the Christian as he or she walks in the Holy Spirit. This does not mean that Christians are immune to sin, because believers can and do still sin; however, the spirit of the believer longs to not sin, that is, be righteous. A repentant heart can always find restoration to righteousness in Jesus Christ.

The Superiority of Love.

The practical application of living in love.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father 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 have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." [Mat 5:43-48 NKJV ]

Establishing the first premise: Hatred is bad.

By definition, hate is an “intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury.” (Merriam-Webster).

Hate is a destructive force. Let’s go all of the way back to Genesis once again, 4:3-12.

• With whom was Cain really angry?
• On whom did he display his anger/hatred?
• What was the result of his unbridled hatred?
• How do you suppose Cain might have justified his outburst?

Defining "love". 
The English language does not differenciate between different types of love as do some other languages. We say that we "love" God, our spouse, our children, friends, things, and activities. We use the same word for all of these. "Love" can even mean a score of zero in tennis! In contrast, the New Testament uses at least five different words that are translated into English as "love". These are:

• agape' - affectionate, benevolent, self-sacrificing, based in a concious decision (functions as a noun).
• agapao' - social or moral love (functions as a verb form of agape)* [used here in this passage].
• phileo - friendship, personal affection, based in an emotional connection.
• thelo - preferencial love.
• philoteknos - maternal love.

The Biblical definition of "love" [agape'].

 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends...[1Co 13:4-8a ESV] 

The Purpose of Intentional Love - Imitate the Father

1. God is love in his very essence. 1 John 4:8,16
2. Love exceeds the Law because it carries it's own sense of obligation.
3. First commandment, Love God. Mark 12:29-30
4. Second commandment, Love Neighbor. Mark 12:31
5. New Commandment, John 13:34

• Does "agape" love require that I have a personal affection for the one to whom I am to show love?
• Can I love someone I do not like?
• Why did Jesus choose to include a call to perfection in this passage? [see James 3:2]
• What is the mark of a true disciple? [see John 13:35]

*http://www.regent.edu/acad/global/publications/innerresources/vol1iss1/winston_agapao.pdf

Shine: A Study in Christian Witness

The Light of the World:

A Study in Christian Witness

Tony Thomas

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." [Matthew 5:14-16 ESV]

Jesus did not ask us to shine for him.

Like it or not, as believers in Jesus Christ we are on display in this world. If we are going to follow Jesus, we have no choice in the matter. Jesus did not ask us to “please shine for me”. He declared without qualification that we are the “light of the world” and that we will shine. By its nature the church cannot be hidden. Period.

There is only one source of light.¹

Just as Jesus declared “let there be light” in the first chapter of Genesis, he has declared that we are the “light of the world” in the spiritual sense. Just as his word is fulfilled in the natural declaration, it is also filled in the spiritual.

The light of the church is directly derived from the light of it head, Jesus Christ. How is it possible for Jesus to be the “light of the world” in one place and his church to be that light in another? Let’s explain it this way. I can refer to the source of illumination (bulb, candle, etc.) as a “light”, and simultaneously refer to the illumination itself as “light”. He is the source light, and we are sent out by him to carry that light to all the world.

It is important to remember that Jesus is the only source of hope for humanity.² Apart from the gospel, everything else is just more darkness. Philosophy, social experimentation, and even charity are just motions in the dark.

The individual light of the believer is like a lit candle.

The illustration of righteousness as light is one of Jesus' favorite illustrations. It appears in the gospels and other places in scripture.³ As individuals we bear witness to the world about the truth of the gospel. The world does not judge us on our intentions or inclination. We are judged by our behavior. Good behavior brings glory to God⁴, and bad behavior brings a reproach.

The corporate light of the Church is like a city on a hill.

The light of every city is simply a concentration of individual lights. If you get enough of the individual lights together they can be seen from hundreds of miles away. While it is possible to extinguish an individual light, it is not possible to extinguish the corporate light of the church.⁵

The relationship of light to those who dwell in darkness.

In the darkness of this world there are two types of people; those who enjoy the darkness, and those who live in it in desperation. There will always be those who are drawn to the light. Even in the natural setting, bugs, snakes and frogs are all drawn to an open flame. The same is true in the spiritual. Desperate people will be drawn to the gospel.⁶ Not everyone who lives in the darkness, however, is desperate to get out.⁷ For this reason, those who bear the light of the gospel are often unwelcome in this world. The gospel exposes the evils of sin and is therefore unwelcome in many place.

Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul expands on the concept of light verses darkness in Ephesians 5. Let's take a look.

General Admonition: Walk in Love

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,

and arise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Familial Admonition: Wives and Husbands

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Conclusion

There is no good reason to attempt to hide our relationship with Jesus Christ. If we love him we will be a light for him in this world. We cannot be, nor should we attempt to be secret Christians.⁸

To continue to the next lesson, click HERE.

Footnotes:

1 Genesis 1:3, John 1:1-5

2 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. [1Ti 2:5-6 ESV] Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [Jhn 14:6 ESV]

3 Prov. 4:18, John 12:36, Ephesians 5:8-14, Mark 4:21, Luke 8:16; 11:33, Exodus 25:37, Numbers 8:2.

4 Matthew 5:16

5... on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [Mat 16:18 ESV]

6 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. [Mat 9:10 ESV]

7 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. [Jhn 3:19 ESV]

8 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." [Mar 8:38 ESV]

Baby, you're my "Life"!

 

In Genesis 2-3 the Bible gives us the account of the creation of our first parents. Here are some things you may not know.

1. The Hebrew word that is transliterated as the proper name “Adam” is used through out the Old Testament as a non-proper designation for “man” or “mankind”. While the translators of our English language Bibles are compelled by necessity and tradition to translate this word into a proper name for the first man, the God-given purpose of his name was to designate his order in creation. That is, he is called “adam” designating him as the one created from the dust but in the image of God, brought to life by the breath of God, and therefore in a standing higher than the animals.

2. “Adam” is one vowel sound different from the Hebrew word for “ground” which is pronounced “adamah”. This usually refers to inhabited or cultivated land.

It is quite conceivable that as God would walk into the garden to talk to Adam, his call is something equivalent to “hey, dirt guy”. Remember Adam is a guy. This name is as good as any other. (Hey, most men will adopt names and nicknames for themselves and for other men that very, very few women would ever be willing to carry.)

3. There is another word that is translated “man”. This words is the Hebrew word “ish” which is used to contrast between male and female. This is first used in Gen. 2:23.

4. The word used for woman or female is similar to “ish”. It is the word “ish-shah”. This is the word that the Bible uses for the first woman all of the way through the creation narrative down to Gen. 3:20.

 

I want to show you what changes in Genesis 3:20.

You may be familiar with the story of the “fall of man”, but if you are not you will need to read the first three chapters of Genesis for this to make sense. Here it is in a nut shell.

• The man (adam) and his wife (ish-shah) are created by God and placed in a garden paradise.
• They are occupied, but not overworked.
• Every need is supplied.
• They are in fellowship with God.
• They have one little restriction. They cannot eat the fruit from one tree, the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”. If they do, they will die.
• Satan enters the picture and tempts the woman. She succumbs and eats the fruit.
• She give to her husband. He is not deceived, but he eats anyway [see 1 Timothy 2:14].
• God comes on the scene, and everything goes sideways.
• The curse falls on this world because of their sin. They will suffer. They will die.

Now imagine you are the woman.

She was “deceived”. In the midst of her disobedience to God, she genuinely thought she was doing the right thing. She gave him the “forbidden fruit.” She had not meant to harm Adam, but because he had eaten the fruit she handed to him…

Adam lost the best job in the world,
Adam lost the best home in the world (God soon evicts them from the garden),
He was now subject to sickness and disease,
Adam was sentenced to hard labor for the rest of his life, and
Adam would die.

Now as the woman stands there next to her husband, they are both the recipients of God's displeasure. She watches as her husband begins instantly to age. I am quite certain, she felt overwhelming guilt. She was guilty. They were both guilty.

Can you hear her weeping to Adam? “I’m so sorry. I’ve brought you misery and death. You would have been better off without me. I’ve messed your life up. Oh Adam, I am so, so sorry.”

Here is where verse 3:20 comes in:

“And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.”

Look at that! Isn’t this an odd time for “dirt guy” to rename his bride? Up until now she has been known as “ish-shah” or “female”, but now she will be known as “Eve” which means “Life”.

Can you see it? There they stand guilty before an offended God, their beautiful life is crashing down around them and he turns to her and says, “Oh honey, you’re my ‘Life’!”


Then something curious happens:

Notice that when the man accused the woman and the woman accused the snake, God came down hard on everyone involved. Now the man shows tenderness and forgiveness to his wife and watch what happens in verse 21:

“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”

Was God withholding mercy until Adam showed mercy? I don’t know. I cannot draw such a causative link based on this verse alone, but I can tell you that that principle is consistent with the New Testament teachings of Jesus. Look at Matthew 6:12. This is from what we commonly call the “Lord’s Prayer”. Jesus said we are to pray,

“And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors.”
esv

Then he goes on to explain,

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

This is probably the least favorite line of the Lord’s prayer. I’m afraid we often try to modify the Lord’s prayer and pray this way :

“God forgive me, and help me forgive everybody else.”

I’m sorry, but this isn’t a prayer consistent with Jesus pattern for us. The correct way to pray, according to Jesus, is to pray, “Father, forgive me as I forgive others…”

That kind of prayer really raises the bar on the importance of our forgiveness of others, doesn’t it? Here is the thing: if we live our lives harboring unforgiveness against other people, we have no expectation of forgiveness from our Heavenly Father.

We could certainly develop this train of thought a lot farther, but at some point you would stop reading. By now I think you probably get the point anyway. So, I'll leave you with this...

“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” -Mark 11:25 esv