“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? (Matthew 5:43–47, NIV 1984).
My Musings – This is just one of many “you have heard it said…but I tell you...” exhortations in Jesus’ sermon on the mount. No wonder “the people were amazed at his teaching, [for] he taught them as one who had authority.” (Mark 1:22, NIV 1984). Otherwise, who would care what this obscure itinerant preacher had to “tell you?” But He was more than an itinerant preacher spewing out clever soundbites. He was God’s son “[doing] nothing on [His] own but [speaking] just what the Father [had] taught [Him].” (John 8:28, NIV 1984).” It doesn’t get more authoritative that that.
My Advice – “To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.” (Jeremiah 6:10, NIV 1984). We must not let the words of the Lord be offensive to us.
The Brew Is A Musing 