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 thoseδιωκόντων ὑμᾶς, ”
who persecute you
Here are some observations:
- In the context this is Jesus’ teaching on the Sermon of the Mount.
- Jesus here issues two commands to His audience.
- The first command is “Love your enemies”
- 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.
- 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.
- Who do we love? This is astounding: “your enemies”
- An enemy refers to someone who is against you interest.
- 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.
- Note the plural: “enemies.” One enemy is already hard to love; but how many more than one? Still we have to love.
- The second command is “pray for those who persecute you”
- This parallel the earlier first command in this verse.
- 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.
- The action of praying is something done internal within us, hence the middle voice of the verb.
- Who do we pray for? Again Jesus astounds His listeners: “those who persecute you”
- Here this is more tangible than an enemy since Jesus is pointing out those who have actually acted out thei hostility against you.
- 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!
Thanks for the great insight this morning. I really appreciate your studies in Greek.
Blessings.
For this culture, this underscores the importance of love as an act (that is, doing supportive acts) rather than the Hallmark Channel notion of love as a gooey feeling that one falls into.
Lol good comment. Yes love isn’t mere sappy sentiments, it’s more than that in its substance. I love 1 Corinthians 13, it changed my life first time reading it as a teen before I became a Christian. How was your week Mark?
Despite all of Biden’s efforts, my week has been good.
“Love us not what you feel, it’s what you do.”
An important post…Thanks!
Great work! I love these posts SO much! Perhaps because I have been going through the Beatitudes and on Monday I will write on persecution, I see a connection here to what Jesus gave as His last beatitude. When we are truly living as Jesus wants, we will have enemies who persecute us. Genuine Christian love compels us to pray. Hatred never motivates us to pray on behalf of someone else, on,y for ourselves, for justice etc. Loving doesn’t mean condoning bad behavior but the more we pray and seek God the more we will be able to love and respond as He commands. Thank you for this amazing and timely post! Love and blessings to you, Nancy and kiddos! What are the youth learning this weekend?!
Thank you for your comment, I do appreciate your study on the Beatitudes; well also the OT from your last post too! Youth will learn the topic I will be teaching on dealing with difficult individuals. It’s basically how to deal with bullies. Has this been one of the snowiest Winter for you all?
That is great teaching! Will pray specifically about that topic! It’s been the snowiest winter in years! How is your weather?
[…] Quick Devotional from Matthew 5:44 (Observation from the Greek) […]
Excellent Devotional 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thanks for your reblog and comment, hope it was a blessing! Need to make more of these devotionals! How have you been brother Vincent?
The devotionals are always a blessing for of us who read them. Physically I’m doing very well, have been dealing with major depression and anxiety disorder for the past year. Turns out I’ve had these issues almost all my life. As the Lord would have it, my therapist, specialist is saved. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thank you for edifying, Jim! Indeed, ”we need to put effort into it” as it is a ”command” of GOD. This requires the grace of GOD. And I like what you said, ”look to JESUS.” With GOD, nothing is impossible! Blessings to you and your family!
Thanks for this quick devotional/word study exhortation. It is really difficult to love our enemies in our flesh and really takes God’s grace.
It takes so much grace to live this out! I am not going to pretend it’s easy! How we need to look to Jesus for grace. How was your drive to work with these record snow?
RE: Drive In?
Thanks! Wasn’t bad because it didn’t snow overnight but it was only about 10F.
How’s your prep day starting out?
I have not yet reconciled this passage with many parts of Psalms, but I don’t assert they are contradictions. “Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.”
Psalms 139:21-22 NKJV
https://www.bible.com/bible/114/psa.139.21-22.nkjv
I don’t think its easy to walk the balance but I am thinking more and more there’s a role of strong feelings we should have of sins people commit in which we don’t like the sins and also the person committing it but still we also have to love them since they are made in the image of God. Of course the question is which one of the two (hate of sins in sinners, love of sinner) dominates which I think should be love but also maybe we should question our love for God if there’s not an ounce of repulsion of sinners when they sin; what do you think? Like you I don’t feel this is a contradiction, and I do wonder about it while also don’t feel strongly to have to reconcile them in such a way we dismiss either passages as I think both are true. Also how’s weather your neck of the wood?
I’m thinking about what you wrote, but it was -21 Fahrenheit last night here. Not as cold today (-14) but there is a considerable breeze. Brrrrr! How’s your weather?
This is convicting!
obedience is better then SACRIFICE saith the LORD!
Amen!
Sobering command to meditate upon
Thank you for this special insight.
There are many rich lessons to harvest from the teachings of Jesus. Love is an action, and we can all use it as Christ does.
Only beholding my Jesus can I do this!