Posted: 13 Jan 2020 09:15 PM PST
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
– Matthew 5:44 (NIV)
Today’s commentary
by Dave Whitehead, Author of Making Sense of the Bible
This teaching of Jesus is hard to apply, but praying for our enemies is directly connected to our grasp of the gospel. We may respond, “But you don’t know what that person did to me!” but Jesus could have said the same thing. He was whipped, beaten, and then crucified in humiliation before the world. We were enemies of God, but instead of condemning us, Jesus willingly endured great pain for our sakes. To hold bitterness against others implies that we have lost sight of God’s great forgiveness toward us. Heartfelt prayer for our enemies reveals that we see our own great need for a Savior.
by Dave Whitehead, Author of Making Sense of the Bible
This teaching of Jesus is hard to apply, but praying for our enemies is directly connected to our grasp of the gospel. We may respond, “But you don’t know what that person did to me!” but Jesus could have said the same thing. He was whipped, beaten, and then crucified in humiliation before the world. We were enemies of God, but instead of condemning us, Jesus willingly endured great pain for our sakes. To hold bitterness against others implies that we have lost sight of God’s great forgiveness toward us. Heartfelt prayer for our enemies reveals that we see our own great need for a Savior.
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