Love Your Enemies
Love Your Enemies You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children 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 even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. This reading comes from the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said this after he gave the commandment to, " Love thy neighbor as thyself". There were some, though, that thought this did not apply to your enemies. Jesus rejected that view. This is an important teaching because it sets us c...