You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:43-48
The initial part, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy,” reflects a traditional view of the time. The notion of hating one’s enemy was a prevalent interpretation in some Jewish circles, a reaction to the Roman oppression and occupation. Yeshua, however, extends the commandment to love to a universal love that includes even adversaries. Just as God “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous,” so are we to be kind to those who do not deserve it. This approach was revolutionary in a context where divisions between Jews and Gentiles and hostilities with occupying Roman forces were prominent.
Love, according to Rabbi Yeshua, is not a feeling but a decision to show kindness. In this profound passage, Yeshua teaches a transformative concept that challenges the very essence of human nature: to love not just our friends, those who are kind to us, but also our enemies. This teaching goes beyond mere tolerance or passive acceptance; it calls for active kindness and prayer for those who oppose us. This radical idea overturns traditional notions of justice and revenge, emphasizing instead the power of love to heal and transform.
Showing kindness to those who offend us is a divine virtue, much like the unconditional kindness God shows us, even when undeserved. While it’s easy to be kind to those who are kind to us, true Christian love involves extending that kindness to our enemies as well. Without this, we are no different from pagans or unbelievers.
The hallmark of a true Christian, therefore, lies in how they love others, including their enemies. This sets them apart from the rest of the world.
Yeshua’s message is clear: the old ways of “an eye for an eye” are no longer adequate. In a world steeped in cycles of retribution and violence, he introduces a revolutionary path of peace and reconciliation. He acknowledges the deep-rooted instinct to retaliate but offers a higher, more spiritually aligned response. It’s not just about abstaining from revenge; it’s about actively extending kindness even to those who may seem the most undeserving.
This principle is not just a moral guideline but a metaphysical truth. Our thoughts and emotions have tangible effects on our lives. Hatred, resentment, and anger, even when not expressed in actions, can harm us spiritually and physically. These negative emotions disrupt our inner harmony, blocking our spiritual growth and affecting our physical health. In contrast, love, compassion, and forgiveness open us to divine grace and bring peace and healing, and, therefore, should be extended to our enemies.
Rabbi Yeshua’s teaching of “love your enemies” is a masterful strategy for overcoming life’s challenges. This should not be interpreted—out of context—as permitting villains to harm you. It means that by focusing on divine love and truth, we can dissolve negativity and restore harmony. If love is active rather than passive, and if we are called to love our enemies, it means Yeshua commands us to be kind, forgiving, generous, and empathetic towards those whom we may greatly despise and tremendously dislike. Now, imagine people actually treating one another this way!
If it’s too hard to imagine, imagine you find yourself in a heated argument with a neighbor who says something hurtful; reacting with anger could escalate the situation and damage your relationship. Instead, choose not to retaliate and extend kindness. This practice of extending grace and love should start with the way you treat yourself and can be applied to personal relationships and professional interactions alike. By handling conflicts with compassion, you nurture healthier, more resilient connections.
Ultimately, Yeshua’s message culminates in the call to spiritual perfection, mirroring God’s divine love. This idea may seem daunting, but it underscores the inherent potential within each of us to transcend our emotional limitations and achieve a state of spiritual excellence. It is a reminder of our divine origin and destiny. Loving your enemies is an invitation to embark on a journey of continuous growth and transformation.
In essence, Yeshua’s teachings offer a pathway to true freedom and fulfillment. By embracing love, forgiveness, and a dynamic relationship with God, we can overcome the constraints of negativity and evolve into our highest spiritual potential. This journey, though challenging, leads to a life of harmony, peace, and profound spiritual fulfillment.
Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect?
In Matthew 5:48, Yeshua states, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” This directive has sparked extensive theological debate, particularly concerning the interpretation of the word “perfect.” The Greek term “teleios” is typically translated as “perfect,” yet it conveys nuances of reaching a goal, completion, or maturity rather than flawlessness.
Contrary to the original text, which is in Greek, Yeshua would have likely spoken in Hebrew or Aramaic, possibly using a term aligned with “SHALOM,” signifying wholeness, peace, and completeness. This linguistic consideration offers a profound insight into the essence of Yeshua’s message in the Sermon on the Mount.
When placed within the text’s broader context of loving enemies and being children of the Father in Heaven, Yeshua’s call for perfection is a call to mature love, mirroring God’s unconditional love. It suggests a transformative journey toward embodying divine love in all human interactions, even with enemies, transcending the conventional interpretation of moral flawlessness. In other words, to be “perfect,” according to Yeshua, is to love and make peace even with your enemies. Loving your enemy is the very essence of the Gospel and what God has done for us (Romans 5:10).
This reinterpretation of “perfection” as mature, holistic love that loves even one’s enemies reshapes our understanding of spiritual growth. It emphasizes the importance of nurturing a love that is inclusive and reflective of God’s nature rather than striving for an unattainable moral purity. This means that you can rigidly keep all the rules and laws, yet without love, it is worth very little (1 Corinthians 13:3).
In essence, Yeshua’s teaching in Matthew 5:48 invites profound self-reflection, encouraging us to assess whether we truly live out the Gospel by loving others, including our enemies. It reframes our understanding of perfection, not as a final state of moral flawlessness but as an ongoing journey of deepening in love. This journey reflects God’s divine nature in our daily actions as we become ambassadors of the Kingdom of God. This is why Rabbi Yeshua taught that by loving perfectly, we fulfill God’s commandments perfectly. (Matthew 22:37-40) Therefore, humanity’s greatest challenge is to love.
This article is part of the book, “The Kingdom of Yeshua: Christ’s Timeless Wisdom to Revive Your Spiritual Life.”
