Matthew 5: S.O.A.P. #5 of 1,189

Matthew 5 on Wednesday, December 09, 2015

SCRIPTURE

Here is the link for Matthew 5:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt+5&version=HCSB

Matthew 5-7 is the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught.

Matthew 5:1-2 The setting where Jesus taught and preached. It was near Capernaum on the side of a hill along the north shore of the Sea of Galilee.

Matthew 5:3-10 The Beatitudes.

Matthew 5:11-12 The persecuted.

Matthew 5:13-16 The Salt and the Light Teaching.

Matthew 5:17-20 Jesus teaches about the Law.

Matthew 5:21 and on: Jesus preaches about anger, lust, divorce, vows, revenge, and loving our enemies.

The truth of the matter is every verse of Matthew 5 is a key verse. This is a chapter that should be read in its entirety over and over. Nonetheless, I narrowed it down to these:

Matthew 5:3-10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
-- New American Standard Bible (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Matthew 5:14-16 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
-- New American Standard Bible (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Matthew 5:37 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
37 But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.
-- New American Standard Bible (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Matthew 5:44 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
-- New American Standard Bible (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Matthew 5:48 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
48 Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
-- New American Standard Bible (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Given the times in which we live, I am choosing to focus on Matthew 5:44.

Matthew 5:44 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Cross-References of Matthew 5:44 are:

Romans 12:14 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
-- New American Standard Bible (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Romans 12:20-21 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
-- New American Standard Bible (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
-- New American Standard Bible (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

1 Peter 3:9 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
-- New American Standard Bible (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

OBSERVATION

Matthew 5:44 New King James Version (NKJV)

44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
-- New King James Version (NKJV). Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The beliefs of terrorists is that the Koran teaches that all infidels must convert or be killed. An infidel is anyone who does not believe what they do, and that includes other Muslims. They believe their god will come again, but only after all infidels are dead.

If I look at all of the verses in this Bible reading of Matthew 5, and all of the verses I have listed here in this journal and blog post, I read that:

I am to LOVE my enemies.

I am to bless my enemies.

And I am to pray for them.

This takes the beliefs of terrorists and flips it on its head. It refutes their thinking.
Who would want to believe in a god that wants most of the people on earth to die? And a god who depends on people to bring about his judgment since he cannot execute it himself?

Enough about them.

I have failed. I have not lived these verses, commands of my loving God. I have not loved, blessed, and prayed for my enemies (terrorists and some politicians) like I should.

Also, other enemies are ideas of this world.

Also, other enemies are the idols of this world.

I haven't lived Matthew 5:44.

APPLICATION

See the above.

PRAYER

Lord, help me to love, bless, and pray for my enemies (terrorists, some politicians, worldly ideas, worldly idols, and the temptations and idols in my life).

Help me, Father, to love my enemies like these verses say:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 New Living Translation (NLT)
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
-- New Living Translation (NLT). Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Lord, help me to pray all the time, night and day, day and night, for all of my enemies and to learn to love them so I can pray for them as You say I should.

What would happen in this War on Terror if I sincerely prayed, with love and blessing, for all the terrorists and terrorist groups and nations?

What would happen if we all did?