A Good Friday meditation…

• Matthew 5:43-45 (NKJV)
• ⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ 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, ⁴⁵ 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.

If there was ever a biblical passage that demonstrated the message of Good Friday it is Matthew 5:43-45.  The Law demanded that we love our neighbor (see Leviticus 19:18 below); but Jesus raises the standard and declares that one of the major ways you can tell the difference between His followers and those who are not is that His followers love their enemies.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me when I was your enemy.  Furthermore, thank you for never giving up on me.  Your loyalty and faithfulness is not deserves but very much appreciated – you are a true Friend.  I pray for the strength of character to follow your example.  Help me to always take the high road in my dealings with all people – especially my enemies.  

 

Leviticus 19:18 (NKJV) You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

• This verse demonstrates the Law – love the your neighbor; Matthew 5:43-45 demonstrates that the standard of Jesus always supersedes the Law, i.e. love your enemies.