Words Of Jesus Devotionals-13

"You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. "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. (Matthew 5:38-48) (NKJV)

Enemies!.....how difficult it is to love them....especially when one knows that they are doing harm to us and our families. Yet Jesus here is teaching his disciples the greater things of the kingdom. He demonstrated that very clearly in his dealings with his enemies, but how far can we? It's all a matter of faith and obedience after all.

......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.......
Of course there's a limit to all that we can take and tolerate and it varies from believer to believer. But Jesus expects us to grow and mature in our spiritual lives.

......He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.....The great agape love of the Father is brought out well by this statement of Jesus. Not that he favors the wicked and unjust....far from it.

..........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?......... There's a tendency for believers to be like what Jesus states here. Love believers who are like minded or of the same denomination or who follow the same doctrines.

Change is what Jesus desired in his disciples and followers and they did change, though very slowly. We too are expected to.
Jesus ended this part of his teaching by saying,
"Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."
Now that's asking for too much, isn't it? Yet, there's a point to learn there as well. In simple terms, Jesus says, "If you are planning to run the race, aim for the best prize."