“The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people.” – G. K. Chesterton
We are clearly to love both. Jesus insisted: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). His words can be translated literally from the Greek, “Continually and unconditionally love those who hate you and ask God for their best even as they are persecuting you.”
Our Lord went even further when He taught us, “Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34). To translate again, “To the exact same degree that I have loved you, you also are to continually love one another.”
Our Savior’s love was unconditional (Romans 8:35–39), sacrificial (1 John 3:16), and empathetic (John 11:35). Now we are commanded to love others, including those who hate us, in the same way.
However, Jesus never intended me to do so. He wants to continue His earthly ministry through me as His “body” (1 Corinthians 12:27), which includes His ministry of love. He wants to forgive those who sin, comfort those who grieve, and heal those who hurt through me.
My part is to stay submitted to His Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) and then measure success by what Jesus does through me (John 15:5). When my words and deeds express His love for those I serve, I love my neighbor well. When they do not, I do not.
This works in every dimension of life. If you’re a teacher, Jesus loves your students and wants to love them through you. If you’re a doctor, lawyer, pastor, or business person, He wants to love your patients, clients, congregation, and customers through you. If you’re a parent, He wants to love your children through you. If you’ve been hurt by someone, He wants to love even your enemy through you.
I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself. – Dr. Jim Denison
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