Friday, July 23, 2010

Can You Love Your Enemy?


Jesus said to his disciples, "You have heard that it was said, 'you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you maybe son 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 the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans doing that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Mathew 5:43-48

It is contrary to our human nature to love our enemy. We hardly can. Jesus stood above other people of his time by preaching those verses when the practice was "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth". During his ministry Jesus preached gospel whose central message was the love of our fellowmen. Many people have different views of Jesus. Some regard Him as just an another charismatic religious leader and nothing divine. Others especially the Christians consider Him as the promised messiah of the Old Testament. Whatever he was, he is undoubtedly one of the most influential figures of all time in history. Christianity is the largest religion of the world with about 2.1 billion adherents. Loving your neighbor, and even loving your enemy as Jesus preached irregardless of your religious belief would probably make you a better person and our world a better and safer place to live.

Related articles:

Jesus Saved a Sinful Woman from Death
Psalm 22 Says That Jesus Is the Promised Messiah
Alexander the Great in Daniel's Prophecy