Based on Luke 6:27-37 (New King James Version)
“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
This is the hardest thing for many to accept—even for those of us who have walked with the Lord for a long time: loving our enemies. What makes it so difficult is our sinful nature, which remains powerfully active within us despite having surrendered our lives to the Lord. This sin, still exerting such strong influence within us, will always drive us to act against God’s will. Sin will always lead us to rebel against divine principles. To overcome this through the Lord, we must understand certain things.
To begin with, one of the primary weapons the devil uses—in league with the sin that still dwells in us—is self-pity. This is the main weakness exploited to prevent us from loving our enemies. Many people justify themselves by saying, "You don't know what they did to me!" or "There are many things one can forgive, but this is unforgivable!" We see this weapon of self-pity—even in its most subtle form—in the Word; it is something that would have destroyed God’s entire plan had the Lord, in His human nature, heeded the enemy speaking through Peter. Here is what we read: “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’” Matthew 16:21-23. Blessed be the Lord, who did not allow Himself to be swayed by self-pity and saw everything through to the end! Can you imagine if the Lord had given in? Many would likely argue: "He was the Lord, so it had to be that way." And yes, it is true—the Lord was and is God—but neither God the Father nor the Lord Jesus Christ were under any obligation to mankind to do such things. They are God, and as such, nothing binds the Creator to His creation other than His own will and desire. Ultimately, however, self-pity is one of the enemy's deadliest weapons because it is subtle, seemingly reasonable, and—of course—appeals to our fleshly nature.
The second tactic the devil uses to persuade us not to love our enemies is a sense of justice—the idea that it would not be right to forgive the wrongs done to us. Many today still cling to the mindset of "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." Yet, this is not what the Lord taught. Here is what He said and established: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.” Matthew 5:38-42. There is one thing we must always bear in mind: we will never be more just than God, and no one can be better than God. And if He establishes this as a command, what then can we say?
A third thing the devil uses to persuade us not to love our enemies is pride. There is always the fear of looking foolish, or—if we forgive—of being walked all over at every opportunity. Pride is often what fuels hatred, anger, and resentment, because, quite simply, no one likes being pushed around, trampled upon, or made to feel stupid. This is a very natural reaction, as pride often functions as a form of self-defense—almost a survival tool. Yet, there is nothing in God’s Word that justifies pride, regardless of the good intentions or utility attributed to it. Here is what the Word says: “To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. A haughty look, a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked are sin.” Proverbs 21:3-4.
Finally, there are many other things the devil uses to prevent us from feeling or showing any kind of love toward our enemies. But if we desire to do God's will and even receive honor from the Lord—as it is written: “…for those who honor Me I will honor…”, then we should obey Him. The Lord said this so we can consider the practical side of loving our enemies: “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, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:44-45. The truth is that all of us, before accepting the Lord, were by nature enemies of God—lost in our sins and facing a single destiny: hell. But blessed be our God and Father—who, in His grace, did not focus on justice when He saw our condition; for instead of treating us as we deserved, He showed mercy and grace, and provided a way for us to receive unmerited forgiveness through the cross. As it is written: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. And if God did not treat us as the enemies of His that we truly were, shouldn't we consider the same kindness He showed us? Therefore, before you even think ill of your enemy, seek revenge, or let resentment take root within you, consider what God has done for you. It is very difficult to come to love our enemies, and it can only be done through a genuine conversion before God and by continuing to submit to His instruction. So, do you treat your enemy as the neighbor they also are in God's eyes? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!