I have heard pastors say this, and when they do I think to myself, as soon as you love someone he/she is not able to be your enemy. In order for someone to be your enemy you cannot love that person. Its like saying that I want to listen to the radio but at the same time lower the volume or completely cutting off the power supply. What do you think?
2007-05-10 18:21:00 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think that's the point. So you don't have enemies.
2007-05-10 18:24:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jesus said - "Love your enemies". Why did he say that?
His motive was deeper than his hearers comprehended. His heart was that no one should miss Heaven. On the cross he said - "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." That's the ultimate expression of "Love your enemies."
There are many good answers in this thread and some tongue-in-cheek, as always on a topic of this type. The difference is - Jesus was thinking about others and not himself.
So, if you are not a religious person, "love your enemies" simply means to wish even your enemies the best in life for they know not what they do to you.
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Jim DeSantis publishes a blog about spiritual matters at http://on-line-tribune-spiritual-matters.blogspot.com
2007-05-10 18:40:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, anyone will have enemies, especially when he starts to do something right.
Your enemy is someone who dislikes or hates you, or even has no personal feelings towards you but will trample you to get what he wants. Most of them, you are unaware of.
Jesus told us to love even these people. Some of them may cease to be your enemy, but that isn't the main point. The point is that their actions or thoughts towards you should not prevent your love for them.
2007-05-10 18:29:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because if you do not, you may be consumed by anger which can be quite uncomfortable and bothersome. However, if you love them, you will not have to bear the uncomfortable burden of agitation and hate.
Loving you enemy is actually adding years to your life, and helps one cope with people who stress you out.
In my past, there was a lady who manipulated me and caused me much pain, I used to think about the situation and get very worked up and come up with "if I only stood up for myself," analogies. However, I was able to forgive her and move on with my life after I decided to "love her." Now my heart is not stressed by anger concerning her.
Loving your enemies ensures you a better life, and makes you a strong person whom can't be hurt easily by others. Its spiritual power.
It doesn't mean to be their friend and go to the park with them, so to speak, it means simply to replace those negative feelings you have concerning them with love, it frees your soul and heart for pain. And possibly prevents you from doing evil when seeking revenge and move on with your life.
Peace and Blessings :)
Artist :)
2007-05-10 18:58:27 · answer #4 · answered by Muse 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A person can be loved by you and still be your enemy because of their actions or words. That is what the passage means to me anyway. You will not "like" everyone or like what they do, but you are commanded to love them in the sense that they too are one of God's creations and He wants them to come back to him.
2007-05-10 18:27:27 · answer #5 · answered by Poohcat1 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First, I want you to know that true love is not self-centered, but others-focused. Meaning, you love a person, not for what he/she can give you, or not because of who he/she is or has, but because you love DESPITE OF.
When you love your enemies, you love them, not for what you may recieve in return, but only because YOU LOVE THEM, and would like to live in peace with them. Imagine a world without somebody to hate...
...paradise!
Second, we love our enemies because God did it first. When we were still in sin, we were God's enemies. But because of His great love for us--not for what we have done of what we are--He sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins, so that we may live eternally in heaven (that is, if we believe in Him with all our heart).
2007-05-10 18:34:18 · answer #6 · answered by sirpogi 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Love your enemies... angry man will be defeated in a battle as in life... revange is a dish best served cold.
2007-05-11 05:56:27 · answer #7 · answered by S c a l p e r 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep on reading from Matthew 5:44-48.
You will see that it says at the end:
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
This is the reason.
2007-05-10 18:31:05 · answer #8 · answered by great gig in the sky 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Seriously who is your enemy? I don't consider anyone I know my enemy whether we're friends or not.
2007-05-10 18:27:42 · answer #9 · answered by chatticathi52 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
people say it because Christ said it. Christ said it because God does it. Man is God's enemy, hating Him and shaking his hairy fist at Him. God sent His Son to die for those who did not deserve it or want it, so that they might begin to grasp true love. So, God wants us to begin to try to understand His love for us by us loving those who hate us.
Ath
2007-05-10 18:33:37 · answer #10 · answered by athanasius was right 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋