Love Everyone - Even Your Enemies!

Pastor Rocklyn Clarke - Sunday March 14, 2010

© 2010 Life Church Ministries, Inc.

http://www.LifeChurchMinistries.org/

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Notes
V Introduction
* Bible Reading 3/7 - 3/13: Num 8 - 20; Mark 13:14 - Luke 1:25; Psalm 50 - 56; Proverbs 10:29 - 11:8
> Review
V New Material
> Preparation
V Love Everyone - Even Your Enemies!
> Preparation - Matthew 5:38-42
> Standing Issues
> Introduction - Importance of Corporate Worship
V Announcement
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V Introduction
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* Read the Passage - Matthew 5:38-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
“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 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. 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 brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
* Exegetical Idea
Don't retaliate! Bless those who mistreat you and love your enemies.
* Homiletical Idea: Love Everyone - Even Your Enemies!
V What does this mean?
V Context
* Spoken to disciples in their personal interactions
* Not spoken to police officers, soldiers, etc.
V Jesus often uses pointed visual imagery:
* Mat 5:13 - "You are the salt of the earth . . ."
* Mat 5:14 - "You are the light of the world . . ."
* Mat 5:29 - " . . . gouge it (your right eye) out . . ."
* Mat 5:30 - " . . . cut it (your right arm) off . . ."
* Mat 6:3 - " . . . do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing."
V Old Testament References
* Instructing Judges - Exodus 21:18-25; Leviticus 24:17-22; Deuteronomy 19:15-21
V Is "eye for eye" a recommendation or a limit?
* Interpretation depends on your initial assumptions
* Consider Dinah and the Shechemites - Gen 34; Gen 49:1-7
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* Revenge forbidden - Leviticus 19:9-18; Proverbs 20:22; Proverbs 24:28-29
* "Hate your enemy" is an extra-biblical 1st century saying.
V Right Cheek - insulting assault
* backhand slap worth twice as much in damages in court
V Tunic (undergarment) ---> Cloak (outer garment)
* Pledged garment - Ex 22:25-27
* Preserving borrower's dignity - Deut 24:10-13
* Forces you . . . - pressing into military service (ex. Mat 27:32)
* Give, lend - ref. Deut 15:7-10
* Loving your own is nothing special.
* Be complete like God
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V Do I believe it?
* Jesus and the slap - John 18:19-24
V Jesus defends
* the temple - John 2:12-17; Mat 21:12-13
* the apostles during his arrest - John 18:1-9
V Jesus avoids death
* His enemies are held back - Lk 4:23-30; John 7:28-30
* He hides - John 8:48-58
* Jesus embraces death
V What difference does it make?
V What Happens If I Do This?
* Am I at the mercy of evildoers?
* What if people see me as weak?
V This passage separates the men from boys, women from girls.
* Do you have a real relationship with God or just a "rule book"?
* Those with a real relationship are secure even in mistreatment.
* Those with only a "rule book" will have a hard time with this passage.
V Revenge diminishes you personally.
* The woman who honked at me when the light turned green.
V Revenge harms more than just its direct victims.
* Vendetta
* Hatfields and McCoys
* Sicily
* Middle East
* Rwanda, Congo
* Revenge jeopardizes your mission!
* Be sons of your Father in heaven.
V Our character is at stake!
* Salt and light - Mat 5:13-16
* God has called us to represent his love to the world.
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* Homiletical Idea
Love Everyone - Even Your Enemies!
V Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do)
* Stop retaliating.
* Pray for people who mistreat you.
* Show your enemies love in ways they can recognize.
V Stop retaliating.
* Handle it God's way - forgo retaliation and trust him. - 1Pet 4:12-19
* Derive your sense of honor from God and not from others.
* You're no longer entitled to revenge.
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V Pray for people who mistreat you.
V Recognize and love:
* your enemies
* the merely annoying
* your spouse and family members
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V Show your enemies love in ways they can recognize.
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V Conclusion
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V Altar Call / Welcome Cards / Communion
* Welcome Cards - refer to script
* Benediction - Numbers 6:24-26
“‘“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’
* Men's Prayer
V Life Group Material
V Life Group Word Material
These are sample discussion questions / topics. Your life group leaders may choose to adjust these questions, substitute new ones, or spend the Word section of the meeting in a different way altogether.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
V Matthew 5:38-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

“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 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. 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 brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
V Discussion Questions / Topics:
* Have you been tempted to retaliate against someone recently? If so, how did you handle it? Are you being tempted now? Discuss.
* Have you ever "turned the other cheek"? How did it make you feel?
* Are there people in your life that you find difficult to love? Discuss.
* Is God saying anything to you about the way you respond to your spouse, children, parents, or other family members? Discuss.
V Leviticus 19:16-18; Proverbs 20:22; Proverbs 24:28-29

Leviticus 19:16-18
“‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people.
“‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD.
“‘Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.
“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Proverbs 20:22
Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.

Proverbs 24:28-29
Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, or use your lips to deceive. Do not say, “I’ll do to him as he has done to me; I’ll pay that man back for what he did.”
V Discussion Questions / Topics:
* Were you aware that the Old Testament spoke against revenge and retaliation in this way? Discuss.
* Have you ever hated anyone? Do you hate anyone now? Discuss.
* Do you currently have a grudge against anyone? Discuss.
V Life Group Witnessing Activities
* Key Passage - Matthew 5:13-16
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
V Activities
* Pick a partner with whom you can work on being salt and light in the world around you for the next month. Tell your life group whom it is.
* Pray regularly with your partner for God to show the two of you some places and ways that you can use your gifts and resources to do good.
* Get together with your partner to act on what God shows you.
V Scriptures For 03/14/2010 Life Church Sermon
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
Matthew 5:38-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

“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 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. 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 brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Exodus 21:18-25
“If men quarrel and one hits the other with a stone or with his fist and he does not die but is confined to bed, the one who struck the blow will not be held responsible if the other gets up and walks around outside with his staff; however, he must pay the injured man for the loss of his time and see that he is completely healed.
“If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished, but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two, since the slave is his property.
“If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.
Leviticus 24:17-22
“‘If anyone takes the life of a human being, he must be put to death. Anyone who takes the life of someone’s animal must make restitution — life for life. If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he has injured the other, so he is to be injured. Whoever kills an animal must make restitution, but whoever kills a man must be put to death. You are to have the same law for the alien and the native-born. I am the LORD your God.’”
Deuteronomy 19:15-21
One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse a man of a crime, the two men involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time. The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against his brother, then do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from among you. The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Leviticus 19:9-18
“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.
“‘Do not steal.
“‘Do not lie.
“‘Do not deceive one another.
“‘Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
“‘Do not defraud your neighbor or rob him.
“‘Do not hold back the wages of a hired man overnight.
“‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD.
“‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
“‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people.
“‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD.
“‘Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.
“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Proverbs 20:22
Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.
Proverbs 24:28-29
Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, or use your lips to deceive. Do not say, “I’ll do to him as he has done to me; I’ll pay that man back for what he did.”
John 18:19-24
Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”
When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.
“If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.
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