Love your enemies, Be Perfect
This sermon on the mount is the ultimate sermon we should hear all the time until we put them into practice. The center of the sermon is God’s love, it is totally different from men’s concept of love. so now listen to what Jesus said about love.
(Matthew 5:43-48 NIV) “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.
To be perfect means imitating God, there is no other way to have the perfect love from God. Paul preached this subject, but we all missed. Paul emphasized imitate God multiple times, that means “walk as Jesus did“. This is the only way to be perfect, to have perfect love, to love your enemies. While John warned whoever disobey the word is a liar.
(I Corinthians 11:1) Be imitators of me, exactly as I also am of Christ.
(Ephesians 5:1) Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children;
(Philippians 3:17) Brethren, be imitators together of me, and bear in mind those who walk in this way, as you have us for an example.
(I Thessalonians 1:6) And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having accepted the Word in much persecution with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
(I Thessalonians 2:14) For, brethren, you became imitators of the churches of God in Judea which are in Christ Jesus; because you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they also suffered from the Jews;
(I John 2:3-6 NIV) We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. the man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God a is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
But how to do this? The answer is in Jesus’ word, the daily bread. It has to be taught by God, not men. People think it’s impossible to fulfill, that’s why almost no one wants to even discuss this. And this word of God has been largely disregarded or quietly rejected in the organized religion. But the Bible told us the Thessalonians did it. They became imitators of the Lord. They seek the Lord for instructions on doing God’s will. Thus they walk as Jesus did and was on the way towards perfect as the Father is perfect.
(1 Thessalonians 1:5-6 NIV) because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
They imitate the Lord because they accepted the authority of the word and thus obeyed. (1 Thessalonians 2:13) And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. This passage indirectly told us a simple truth, whoever believes Jesus’ word coming from God will imitate him. Those who don’t believe will not walk as Jesus did.
Prayer plays a big role here, (1 Thessalonians 3:10-13) Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
Paul’s prayer “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else,” and “May he strengthen your hearts” will certainly make big difference, then they “will be blameless and holy“ in the end. When they imitated the Lord, they also took the same spiritual food as Jesus did, that was the daily bread. Otherwise, they wouldn’t know what is God’s will. Here we missed another thing, Paul’s prayer may not be simple or short one, as he wrote “Night and day we pray most earnestly“, This is the kind of things we should inquire of the Lord always, so that we can learn how to pray. As usual, we underestimated the word of God again, otherwise many could have been made blameless and holy.
Jesus’ daily bread
(John 4:34) “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. As He also said in (John 5:19) …… “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. And again in (John 8:28) So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. (John 14:31) but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me.
Jesus does everything according to the Father’s will. He saw and learned it through prayer, to get the daily bread. That bread served as a real time instructions on what to do and how to say, all according to God’s plan. In this sermon, Jesus commanded all believers must ask for this spiritual food, “Give us today our daily bread“. God has plans for each of His child, for it is written: Psalm 40;5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to You; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. I have to confess I often don’t even think about whether I was doing His will or not, and I am sure I missed lots of them.
God’s people are misled badly that many don’t know the daily bread is the spiritual food for them to do God’s will. It does not come to us automatically, each has to seek it through prayer. Jesus said “My sheep hear My voice“, but the enemy deceived many into following men and listening to their voices. So many false teachers and wolf in sheep’s clothing are trying very hard to prevent the sheep from hearing the Lord’s voice. If people don’t practice and seek, they will miss the will of God.
Deeper meaning of our Lord’s Prayer
The Lord’s prayer seems very simple only 5 verses, but after meditating many days I can see the deeper meaning of these 5 verses. Below are the new understanding I received from above. I learn this truth again, without the Holy Spirit, all men are blind.
- Verse 9, hallowed be your name, this is the fundamental or goal of all prayers, that is to revere God’s name and worship God. Not with lips, but only by the next verse —- doing God’s will. It is written, (John 4:24) God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. Any professing Christian who does not walk as Jesus did is a liar, for it is written, The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. …… Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. Jesus does God’s will only.
- Verse 10, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. This is the key dividing line as Jesus said, (Matthew 12:50) For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. God’s will can’t be done according to men’s interpretation or planing, it has to based on God’s instruction, such as what to do, how to say and where to go. Jesus said in John 8:28 …… and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. This is only possible through the next verse —- the daily bread.
- Verse 11, Give us today our daily bread. This is Jesus’ spiritual food he rely on everyday, so that he can do God’s will. (John 4:34) “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. He prayed everyday for the daily bread, and he received command and instruction on what to do exactly. (John 14:31) but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. Obviously Jesus can hear and see the Father. But a man can’t receive any instruction, if he does not hear the Lord’s voice. And the secret is in the next verse —- confessing sin and asking forgiveness. However, people often do things for God without asking, but Jesus said “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. Can a man remain in him but not hearing his voice?
- Verse 12, forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. I have sinned, I have ignored this verse for too long. I pretend I don’t remember, so I don’t ask for forgiveness. I have no excuse, and I hope others can avoid repeating the same mistake. It is written, (1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we don’t even ask forgiveness from God, will He forgive our sins automatically? Can we be purified automatically? Now I guess everybody can see, if someone doesn’t want to confess his sins, then he may not be purified, and thus likely keep on living in sin. This is the main reason why people can’t hear the Lord’s voice. So many sheep are blinded by their sins, they have difficulty in reading the Bible and getting true knowledge from the scriptures. The answer and their hope is again in the next verse.
- Verse 13, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. We all missed this verse, it summarized the type of prayer needed to fight the spiritual war. Ephesians chapter 6 explained it’s significance, see verse 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:14-17) Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Because spiritual war is invisible, many are unaware the enemies’ attacks and thus defeated, deceived or being taking captive to do the enemy’s will. One clear indication of being attacked is decreasing of desire and joy of reading scriptures, and or with more addictive consumption of men-made materials which usually have limited truth. On the other hand, nearly half of the Epistles are dedicated to the warning of deception in great details. But these messages are hidden for those who fail to pick their own cross. For example, (Ephesians 5:15-19) Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, There are so many prayer examples in psalms teaching us how to fight this spiritual war, while those who walk in the flesh do not understand nor wish to pray like that.
Seek first his kingdom
(Matthew 6:33) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. In the Lord’s pray, we are commanded to ask for daily bread, which is the most important spiritual food. While the physical food and earthly things we need “will be given to you as well“. This means seeking instruction on how to do God’s will first, then other things will be added without asking, for God knows what we need before we ask. Most people got it backwards, so their prayers are not answered the way they expected.
Beware, end time lukewarm churches’ leaders are blind, they have no idea how to seek God’s kingdom. The remnant chosen by God are rarely selected by goats or the blind. Keep in mind “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” calls for prayer and meditation, usually not from commentary or men’s opinion and publication. False teachers are not necessary bad people with evil intention, they may sincerely desire to help others, but because they can’t hear the Lord’s voice, so they take the short cut, turning to books and publication from man.
Jesus set us a good example of how to seek God, (Matthew 26:39-40 NKJV) He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? Jesus asked the Father and waited for one hour, then repeating again two more times. Should we follow the Lord’s example? Absolutely! When I write these articles I usually have to wait more than one hour for just one paragraph, it’s difficult to focus and I am always struggling in self-control.
Those who fail to take God’s word seriously will have to learn it the hard way. Those who follow men’s opinions are likely to be deceived and led astray. Bible study leaders can bring more confusion and false doctrine than true knowledge, if they do not seek understanding by prayer. Many have choose to rely on men’s works which are a mixture of little truth and many errors.
Too many sheep are deceived already, they fail to see prayer is the way to seek understanding of God’s plan and scriptures, like what our Savior did. Instead, many are following false brothers, only seeking for good quality of life on earth, mostly healing and safety. Many requests are not answered in men’s way, for it’s not God’s will and plan to heal them at that time. That cause people to doubt Jesus’ promise, (Matthew 7:7-8) “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Because they didn’t ask the good thing according to God’s will, then their prayer become one way monologue, or merely going through the motion, with no interaction.
Ask and it will be given
Since we already know the promise and instruction, let’s learn and practice the Lord’s prayer by praying and meditating the prayer example of confessing and asking forgiveness and psalms 51;
(Daniel 9:4-19 NIV) I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands,
we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.
We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
“Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame — the men of Judah and people of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you.
O Lord, we and our kings, our princes and our fathers are covered with shame because we have sinned against you.
The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him;
we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.
All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. “Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you.
You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem.
Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth.
The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.
“Now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong.
O Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our fathers have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.
“Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary.
Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.
O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”
(Psalms 51 NKJV) HAVE mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight– That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart– These, O God, You will not despise.
Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.
Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.