Quick Devotional from Matthew 5:44 (Observation from the Greek)

This is from my daily Greek exercise of sight reading some time ago, courtesy of Vincent S Artale Jr.

Our text is from the Greek translation of Matthew 5:44.  Here is my translation:

“ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν· ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν καὶ προσεύχεσθε ὑπὲρ τῶν
But I say to you ‘Love your enemies and pray for those

διωκόντων ὑμᾶς, ”
who persecute you

Here are some observations:

1. In the context this is Jesus’ teaching on the Sermon of the Mount.
2. Jesus here issues two commands to His audience.
3. The first command is “Love your enemies”
   1. The verb for “love” is clearly a command since it is in imperative form.  Thus God wants us to love and its not a suggestion.
   2. The action of love is something we should actively pursue.  We need to put effort into it, not the active voice showing what we are to do.
   3. Who do we love?  This is astounding: “your enemies”
      1. An enemy refers to someone who is against you interest.
      2. Jesus in this verse use the possessive pronoun “Your” to show He’s not talking about abstract hypothetical enemies; no Jesus note that believes will face personal enemies.
      3. Note the plural: “enemies.” One enemy is already hard to love; but how many more than one?  Still we have to love.
4. The second command is “pray for those who persecute you”
   1. This parallel the earlier first command in this verse.
   2. The verb for “pray” is clearly a command since it is in imperative form.  Thus God wants us to pray and its not a suggestion.
   3. The action of praying is something done internal within us, hence the middle voice of the verb.
   4. Who do we pray for?  Again Jesus astounds His listeners: “those who persecute you”
      1. Here this is more tangible than an enemy since Jesus is pointing out those who have actually acted out thei hostility against you.
      2. Note the persecutors can be many, given in the Greek the plural for the participle: “persecutors.” Like the earlier command, one is already hard to pray for; but how many more than one?  Still we have to pray for those who hurt us.

Application:

• Do you see the importance of loving your enemies?
• Is there anyone you presently consider you enemy?  God ahead and be honest with God about it; pray for that person.
• Also consider practical ways you can show love to that person.
• This is by no means an easy thing to do.  So what grace from God might help you to obey here?
  • First off if it convicts you realize that’s a good thing if the Spirit’s conviction leads you to bear fruit in this area.  Let that move you: God is working in your life, even as you experience the growing pains of sanctification.
  • Secondly meditate on this verse and memorize it; let it saturate who you are so it becomes you nature to love and pray for challenging individuals and also you own enemies.
  • I like to study biographies of Christians and those who exercise courage; there’s something contagious with being aound someone who is courageous despite the risks.  So read to motivate you to obey in this area of loving boldly.
  • Finally look to Jesus.  In this exhortation Jesus wants the readers to know that this is what He’s saying since in the Greek there is an extra first person. singular pronoun (ἐγὼ) when the first person singular subject is already supplied in the verb “I say” (λέγω).  Translating it super literally it would be “I, I say to you…”  So if Jesus tells us to do something we should do it!  By the way we can’t help but to think of the parallels here right?  We are enemies with Jesus, yet He prays for us in John 17!  Even those who persecuted Jesus like Paul is saved!  What an amazing love!  Let that move you to obedience!

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