How does 2 Kings 6:21 connect with Jesus' teachings on loving enemies? Scripture Focus 2 Kings 6:21 — “When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, ‘My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?’” Setting the Scene • Aramean raiders have been supernaturally led—blind and helpless—into Samaria. • The king of Israel, astonished at his good fortune, seeks permission to execute them. • Elisha’s reply (v. 22) will flip the expected script and reveal God’s heart. The King’s Instinct vs. God’s Heart • Natural instinct: Strike first, secure safety, end the threat. • Elisha’s counsel: “Do not kill them… Set food and water before them so they may eat and drink and go to their master.” (v. 22) • Result: “The Aramean bands did not come again into the land of Israel.” (v. 23) Echoes of Jesus’ Teaching • Luke 6:27–28 — “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” • Matthew 5:44 — “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” • Romans 12:20 (quoting Proverbs 25:21) — “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.” • Luke 6:35 — “Love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.” How 2 Kings 6 Anticipates the Sermon on the Mount • Mercy over vengeance: Elisha restrains lethal force just as Jesus calls disciples to turn the other cheek. • Tangible kindness: Feeding former enemies prefigures Jesus’ command to meet an adversary’s needs. • Transformative outcome: Mercy leads to peace—raids cease—mirroring the peace Jesus says marks “sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). • Revelation of God’s character: Old-Testament narrative invites God’s people to display the very grace Christ later makes explicit. Practical Takeaways • Check the impulse to retaliate; ask, “How can I reflect God’s mercy here?” • Replace aggression with generosity—sometimes a shared meal disarms more than a sword. • Trust that obedience to love-your-enemy commands can bring surprising peace and testify to God’s power. |
    |