Topical Bible: Love to Man: should be Exhibited, Toward: Enemies

◄ Love to Man: should be Exhibited, Toward: Enemies ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The concept of love toward one's enemies is a profound and challenging tenet of Christian teaching, deeply rooted in the Scriptures. This principle calls believers to transcend natural inclinations and reflect the divine love that God extends to all humanity.

Biblical Foundation

The command to love one's enemies is most explicitly articulated in the teachings of Jesus Christ. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructs His followers: "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). This directive is a radical departure from the common human response to enmity and hostility, which often involves retaliation or harboring resentment.

Imitating God's Love

The call to love enemies is rooted in the character of God Himself. Jesus continues in Matthew 5:45, "that you may be sons 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." Here, the impartiality of God's providence serves as a model for believers, demonstrating that divine love is not contingent upon human merit.

A Mark of True Discipleship

Loving one's enemies is a distinguishing mark of true discipleship. In Luke 6:35, Jesus reiterates this command: "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked." This passage emphasizes that such love is not only a reflection of God's nature but also a pathway to spiritual reward and maturity.

Practical Expressions

The New Testament provides practical guidance on how to exhibit love toward enemies. Romans 12:20-21 advises, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." This teaching encourages proactive kindness and generosity, transforming potential conflict into opportunities for grace.

The Example of Christ

The ultimate example of loving one's enemies is found in Jesus Christ Himself. While on the cross, He prayed for those who crucified Him, saying, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34). This act of forgiveness and compassion, even in the face of extreme suffering, serves as the highest standard for believers to emulate.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit

Loving enemies is not a natural human inclination but is made possible through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 lists love as the first fruit of the Spirit, indicating that such love is a supernatural outworking of God's presence in the believer's life. Through reliance on the Spirit, Christians are enabled to extend love beyond human limitations.

Conclusion

The call to love one's enemies is a central and transformative aspect of Christian ethics. It challenges believers to rise above natural inclinations and reflect the boundless love of God, who loves without partiality and extends grace to all. Through the example of Christ and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, Christians are equipped to fulfill this high calling, demonstrating the reality of God's kingdom in a broken world.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 23:4,5
If you meet your enemy's ox or his ass going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 6:22
And he answered, You shall not smite them: would you smite those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 5:44
But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which spitefully use you, and persecute you;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 12:14,20
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Peter 3:9
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that you are thereunto called, that you should inherit a blessing.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

"Love that Passeth Knowledge. "
... my boy does not wake up, and I should never see ... the British flag, and wrapped it
around the man, and the ... the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love. ...
/.../moody/the way to god and how to find it/chapter i love that passeth.htm

Attributes of Love.
... necessary to make confession of all their secret sins to man. ... all to whom benevolence
demands that they should confess ... Self-denial is another attribute of love. ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xv attributes of love.htm

Matt. xii. 25, 26
... even scatters abroad, how should he have exhibited such unanimity ... If we would judge
ourselves, we should not be ... worthy, by the grace and love toward man of our ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xli matt xii 25.htm

Robert Hall -- Marks of Love to God
... First, it should be accompanied with deep humiliation. ... in token of an alliance
established between God and man. ... will make you a partaker of His love, the Son ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/robert hall marks of.htm

Matt. v. 38, 39, 40
... Nay, if it be amiss that thine equal should despise thee, how much more that ... unto
which may we all attain, by the grace and love towards man of our ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xviii matt v 38.htm

Fourth Sunday after Easter Second Sermon.
... James says, "That we should be a kind of first ... subject to every ordinance [or creature]
of man"; that is ... without sin and imperfection, all aglow with love divine ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/fourth sunday after easter second.htm

Christian Devotedness, Etc.
... a mother forget her sucking child, that she should not have ... of literally giving up
all"if a man wishes to be ... the easy and blessed yoke of Christ's love he may ...
/.../groves/christian devotedness/christian devotedness etc.htm

Before Annas and the Court of Caiaphas
... His love for His Father, and His pledge, made from ... he was surprised and angry that
Jesus should humiliate Himself ... oath, "I do not know the Man." Still another ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 75 before annas and.htm

The Christ of the Gospels. By Rev. Professor Schaff.
... I repent; thou shalt forgive him." "Love your enemies ... by trials, vexations, and
hinderances, which should serve the ... of his humiliation he was "a man of sorrows ...
/.../the christ of the gospels.htm

Rom. xi. 7
... supplied; and of much wisdom that He should constitute the ... may we all attain by the
grace and love toward man, etc ... of thought here may be thus exhibited: God in ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xix rom xi 7.htm