Matthew 5:43-48
In the Sermon on the Mount there are several sections in which Yeshua states, "You have heard that it was said... but I say unto you." These statements are often interpreted by people in a way which places Yeshua in opposition to the Law of Moses.
"Moses used to say this, but now I am telling you something different" is how most Christians read these verses.
In context, Yeshua has just finished telling his listeners to be holy examples (Matthew 5:13-16), and not to think[1] that he came to destroy the law or the prophets (Matthew 5:17), even the smallest portion (Matthew 5:18-19). Why would Yeshua teach his listeners to not think such, if in the next six subjects (listed in Matthew 5) he is going to overturn the Torah?
Yeshua is rather contrasting the scribes and Pharisees interpretationof the Torah with the true interpretationof the Torah.
One example is Matthew 5:43-44: “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." While many who read these verses believe the Torah taught that it was permissible to hate your enemy, such is hardly the case. Exodus 23:4-5 taught the Israelites that if they came upon their enemy's stray animal, they were required to return it to them; if they saw their enemy's animal in danger, they were required to help the animal. Yahweh was teaching his people to love their enemy as well as their neighbor.
Likewise, Proverbs 25:21-22 shows that the proper treatment of one’s enemy is to give him bread if hungry and water if thirsty. David, when Saul was on a hunt to murder him, did not harm Saul, even though he had the perfect opportunity to do so (1 Samuel 26:7-23).
When we show common grace upon our enemies[2] we are imitating our Father in heaven. Yahweh makes the sun to shine on the good person and the evil person, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.
While the scribes and Pharisees read "Love your neighbor" in the Torah, they had interpreted that to mean "Hate your enemy.”
They used the verse as a righteous excuse to execute personal vengeanceagainst someone they considered their enemy. Yeshua corrected their interpretation, calling attention to how we, if claiming to be the children of the heavenly Father, should follow the example of our Father in heaven.[3]
———--
[1] We are commanded by our Lord not to even let the thought enter our mind that he came to destroy the Torah. In today's churches, people not only think it, but they preach and promote the idea.
[2] It is true that in certain instances in Scripture, Yahweh commanded the Israelites to slay their enemies. The key here is that they were specific enemies of Yahweh rather than just an enemy of a person in Israel. Yahweh has the right to command the riddance of his enemies, because he is the Sovereign Creator. In such cases where he gave Israel a direct command to execute judgment upon people, they were to obey. In all other cases they were to follow the directive of showing love for their enemies.
[3] This helps to interpret Matthew 5:48 properly. Sometimes Torah-keepers read Matthew 5:48 and believe or teach that we are supposed to live perfect, sinless lives. While I do believe we should strive for perfect obedience, this is not what Yeshua was teaching in this text. The word "perfect" is to be understood as meaning "complete." We are perfect/complete when we love not only our neighbors (friends), but also our enemies. Just loving one's neighbor is incomplete or imperfect.
"Moses used to say this, but now I am telling you something different" is how most Christians read these verses.
In context, Yeshua has just finished telling his listeners to be holy examples (Matthew 5:13-16), and not to think[1] that he came to destroy the law or the prophets (Matthew 5:17), even the smallest portion (Matthew 5:18-19). Why would Yeshua teach his listeners to not think such, if in the next six subjects (listed in Matthew 5) he is going to overturn the Torah?
Yeshua is rather contrasting the scribes and Pharisees interpretationof the Torah with the true interpretationof the Torah.
One example is Matthew 5:43-44: “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." While many who read these verses believe the Torah taught that it was permissible to hate your enemy, such is hardly the case. Exodus 23:4-5 taught the Israelites that if they came upon their enemy's stray animal, they were required to return it to them; if they saw their enemy's animal in danger, they were required to help the animal. Yahweh was teaching his people to love their enemy as well as their neighbor.
Likewise, Proverbs 25:21-22 shows that the proper treatment of one’s enemy is to give him bread if hungry and water if thirsty. David, when Saul was on a hunt to murder him, did not harm Saul, even though he had the perfect opportunity to do so (1 Samuel 26:7-23).
When we show common grace upon our enemies[2] we are imitating our Father in heaven. Yahweh makes the sun to shine on the good person and the evil person, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.
While the scribes and Pharisees read "Love your neighbor" in the Torah, they had interpreted that to mean "Hate your enemy.”
They used the verse as a righteous excuse to execute personal vengeanceagainst someone they considered their enemy. Yeshua corrected their interpretation, calling attention to how we, if claiming to be the children of the heavenly Father, should follow the example of our Father in heaven.[3]
———--
[1] We are commanded by our Lord not to even let the thought enter our mind that he came to destroy the Torah. In today's churches, people not only think it, but they preach and promote the idea.
[2] It is true that in certain instances in Scripture, Yahweh commanded the Israelites to slay their enemies. The key here is that they were specific enemies of Yahweh rather than just an enemy of a person in Israel. Yahweh has the right to command the riddance of his enemies, because he is the Sovereign Creator. In such cases where he gave Israel a direct command to execute judgment upon people, they were to obey. In all other cases they were to follow the directive of showing love for their enemies.
[3] This helps to interpret Matthew 5:48 properly. Sometimes Torah-keepers read Matthew 5:48 and believe or teach that we are supposed to live perfect, sinless lives. While I do believe we should strive for perfect obedience, this is not what Yeshua was teaching in this text. The word "perfect" is to be understood as meaning "complete." We are perfect/complete when we love not only our neighbors (friends), but also our enemies. Just loving one's neighbor is incomplete or imperfect.