Читать книгу Boyd's Commentary - R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation - Страница 54

After the four Beatitudes in verses 20–23 and the four woes in verses 24–26, Jesus then included in His sermon commands regarding how believers should address their enemies. While He was addressing the crowd, He gave specific attention to those who listen, referring to followers in the crowd who were open and sincerely willing to receive His teaching. His first command to love your enemies was Jesus’ attempt to challenge His followers’ attitudes about their adversaries. While the enemies Jesus referred to included those whom His followers were in personal conflict with, the wider scope of His directives involved individuals or groups of individuals whose hostility was instigated by those who were committed to following Christ. Coming from the perspective of His hearers, this type of discipline to love is difficult to accept, let alone practice.

To mitigate the challenge of loving their enemies, Jesus offered an approach for carrying out His command. He said to do good to those who hate you. For those who curse and spitefully use you, Jesus told His listeners to bless and pray for them. Jesus’ intentional specificity of the offenses was meant to emphasize the contrast between egregious acts of hatred when juxtaposed to aggressive corresponding actions of love.

These actions point to the will as opposed to the emotional landscape. Whereas it is nearly impossible to enforce a change in one’s emotions, one can be given to new actions. The notion to love one’s enemies is an actionable display of the will. As an example consider the words of Exodus 23:4–5 (NIV): “If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it.” This excerpt from the ancient law of Israel demonstrates what is meant by love and what it means to do good. In this sense, goodness is not understood as an inherent quality or something that is internal. Rather, goodness is tied to deed. Love is not so much about feelings but doings.