MEMORY VERSE: ‘But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you’ Matthew 5:44.
LESSON SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:43-48.
STUDY HELP: Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, pages 73-75.
LESSON AIM: To study why and how we should love our enemies.
‘The Saviour said to His disciples: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you.” We are to love our enemies with the same love that Christ manifested toward His enemies by giving His life to save them. Many may say, “This is a hard commandment; for I want to keep just as far as I can from my enemies.” But acting in accordance with your own inclination would not be carrying out the principles that our Saviour has given. “Do good,” He says, “to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” This scripture illustrates one phase of Christian perfection. While we were yet enemies of God, Christ gave His life for us. We are to follow His example.’ Medical Ministry, page 253.
1. What common idea did Jesus question? Matthew 5:43.
NOTE: ‘The Saviour’s lesson, “Resist not him that is evil,” was a hard saying for the revengeful Jews, and they murmured against it among themselves. But Jesus now made a still stronger declaration: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.” Such was the spirit of the law which the rabbis had misinterpreted as a cold and rigid code of exactions.’ Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, page 73.
2. What alternative did Jesus propose to this common idea? Matthew 5:44.
NOTE: ‘A Methodist communicant once said to me, “It is as much as I can do, not to hate my enemies, it is more than I can do to love them.” But when the flesh is crucified, how easy then to love our enemies! How easy is the yoke of Christ! How light is His burden! They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh, with its affections and lusts. Hatred, anger, wrath, malice, with all other fruits of the flesh expire, when once the love of God is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost, and love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness and meekness take their place. So if any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature; his old hatred has passed away, he can now bless them that curse him, without hypocrisy or guile, and lay aside all malice, envy, evil-speaking and guile.’ Uriah Smith: Review & Herald, December 16, 1858.