He Said What? Love your Enemies!
"He Said What?", focusing on the "radical teachings of Jesus" from the Sermon on the Mount, specifically Matthew chapter 5, verses 43-48. He explains that Jesus's teachings challenge conventional thinking, encouraging individuals to move beyond their comfort zones and embrace their "true selves" as designed by God.
Deep Dive Podcast
Study Guide: Radical Teachings of Jesus on Loving Enemies
Purpose: To explore the "radical teachings of Jesus" that challenge conventional thinking, seem "crazy or even impossible," and push individuals "beyond ourselves and into our true selves."
Contrast with Self-Help: Unlike self-help philosophies based on personal desires, Jesus's teachings call for self-actualization aligned with God's eternal purposes.
Context of Matthew 5:43-48: The Sermon on the Mount
Inaugural Address: Jesus's teaching in Matthew 5 is part of His "inaugural address," presenting a vision of what the Kingdom of God is like under His rule.
Not a To-Do List for Entry: The Sermon on the Mount describes what a "kingdom citizen will look like" as God transforms their lives, rather than a list of tasks to earn entry into the Kingdom.
Emphasis on Internal Transformation: Jesus's teachings go beyond external actions, focusing on internal heart transformation (e.g., not just avoiding murder, but not hating; promoting humility over power).
Initial Reaction of Listeners: The teachings likely seemed "nuts" and impossible to live out, yet also resonated with a deeper human wiring, creating a desire to live such a life, especially for those marginalized.
The Misconception: "Love Your Neighbor, Hate Your Enemy"
Origin of the Saying: This phrase was NOT found in the Old Testament Scriptures (e.g., Leviticus 19:18, Exodus 23:4-5, Proverbs 25:21 all promote kindness to enemies/neighbors).
Source of the Misconception: The religious teachers of Jesus's time taught this, creating exclusive "circles" where only certain people were considered "neighbors" and others "enemies."
Jesus's Reframing of "Neighbor": The story of the Good Samaritan illustrates Jesus's radical expansion of the definition of "neighbor" to include despised groups, even enemies.
Acknowledgment of Enemies: Jesus acknowledges the natural human tendency to view those who have wronged us as "enemies."
Jesus's Radical Command: "Love Your Enemies and Pray for Those Who Persecute You"
Beyond Natural Living: Jesus calls for a "supernatural life" that goes beyond human nature's inclination to hate enemies.
Defining "Love": Love is "action-driven affection" that desires "goodness" and "flourishing" for the other person, even those who have harmed you. It's not just external actions without internal affection.
Practical Example: Carrying the Roman Soldier's Gear: This historical practice (angaria) illustrates going "one more mile" as a concrete act of love for an oppressor, demonstrating an "unnatural" love.
The Power of Prayer for Enemies:Internal Transformation: It's "hard to hate somebody that you pray for." Praying for an enemy confronts one's own heart and requires God's help to desire their good.
Practicality for Powerful Enemies: For those with little direct interaction or influence over powerful enemies (like an emperor), prayer becomes a primary means of loving them.
Belief in Prayer's Efficacy: Jesus teaches that prayer "actually changes people" and can even "turn the enemy into a family member."
Motivation: Being Children of Your Father in Heaven
God's Impartial Goodness: God causes "his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends his rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." He does not play favorites, even with those who rebel against Him.
Foreshadowing of Jesus's Sacrifice: Jesus's death on the cross for sinners, even His enemies, exemplifies this divine love and foreshadows the ultimate act of loving enemies.
Reflection of God's Nature: Loving enemies shows that one is truly a "child of God" because they are acting in accordance with God's character.
Distinction from "Pagans" and "Tax Collectors": Loving only those who love you is common even among "outcasts." Kingdom citizens are called to a higher standard, loving those who are unlike them or have wronged them.
The Call to "Be Perfect"
Meaning of "Perfect" (Telos): Not sinless perfection, but "complete based on its design" or "to fulfill the call of what it means to be a Kingdom citizen."
Analogy of a Perfect Game (Baseball): A pitcher throws a perfect game by fulfilling their designed purpose on the mound, not by being sinless.
God's Design for Humanity: Humans are designed to have the love of God flow within them, so it can flow out to others, including enemies.
Supernatural Work of God: Loving enemies is a "miracle of God happening in your heart and mind," enabling one to desire good for those who have perpetrated evil.
Quiz
Instructions: Answer each question in 2-3 sentences.
What is the main goal of the new sermon series "He Said What?" according to Pastor Tim?
How does Pastor Tim distinguish the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount from a "to-do list" for entry into the Kingdom of God?
Where did the phrase "love your neighbor and hate your enemy" originate, according to Pastor Tim, and why is this significant?
According to the sermon, what is the core meaning of "love" that Jesus commands us to have for our enemies?
Explain the historical context and meaning of "angaria" as an example of loving one's enemy.
List two reasons Pastor Tim gives for why Jesus emphasizes praying for those who persecute you.
How does God's impartial giving of sun and rain illustrate His character in the context of loving enemies?
What is the significance of Jesus's death on the cross in relation to the teaching of loving enemies?
Pastor Tim notes that "tax collectors and pagans" also love those who love them. What point is he making by this comparison?
Define the Greek word "telos" as it relates to Jesus's command to "be perfect."
Quiz Answer Key
The main goal is to explore Jesus's "radical teachings" that challenge conventional thinking and push individuals "beyond ourselves and into our true selves." These teachings aim to reshape how people think about their lives and culture.
Pastor Tim states that the Sermon on the Mount is not a "to-do list to get into the Kingdom," but rather a "glimpse of what a kingdom citizen will look like." It describes the transformed life that God empowers believers to live within His Kingdom.
The phrase "love your neighbor and hate your enemy" did not originate in the Old Testament, but rather from the religious teachers of Jesus's time. This is significant because it highlights a human-made distortion of God's command.
According to the sermon, love is defined as "action-driven affection." It's an internal affection for another person that drives one to show goodness, desiring their thriving and wishing them away from harm, even if they are an enemy.
Angaria was a Roman law, particularly during wartime, allowing soldiers to compel citizens to carry their gear for one mile. Jesus's teaching to carry it "one more mile" exemplifies loving an enemy by going beyond obligation, demonstrating supernatural generosity.
First, it's hard to hate someone you regularly pray for, as it forces internal reflection and transformation. Second, for powerful enemies like an emperor, prayer is often the only way one can practically demonstrate love when direct interaction is limited.
God's impartial giving of sun and rain signifies that He extends common grace and provisions to all people, both good and evil, righteous and unrighteous. This illustrates that God's love is not limited to those who are deserving or within a specific group.
Jesus's death on the cross is a foreshadowing and ultimate example of loving enemies. He died for humanity "while we were yet sinners" (His enemies), demonstrating forgiveness and love even for those who crucified Him.
By comparing believers to "tax collectors and pagans" who also love their own, Jesus emphasizes that loving only those who love you is a natural human inclination, not a radical, supernatural act. He calls His followers to a higher, distinct standard of love that extends to those outside their group, even enemies.
The Greek word "telos" in this context means "complete based on its design" or "to fulfill the call of what it means to be a Kingdom citizen." It refers to living out the purpose for which one was created, aligning with God's design for a life of love.
Essay Questions
Analyze how Pastor Tim uses the concept of "natural life" versus "supernatural life" to explain the radical nature of Jesus's command to love enemies. How does this distinction challenge common self-help philosophies?
Discuss the historical and religious context of Matthew 5:43-48, specifically addressing the misconception that "hate your enemy" was an Old Testament teaching. How did Jesus's teaching challenge the prevailing religious norms of His time?
Pastor Tim provides two specific reasons why Jesus commands us to "pray for those who persecute you." Elaborate on these reasons and discuss their practical and spiritual implications for someone trying to live out this command.
Explain Pastor Tim's interpretation of "be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." How does the baseball analogy clarify this concept, and what does this "perfection" mean for the life of a Kingdom citizen?
Drawing on the example of the father forgiving Gary Ridgway, discuss how this real-life scenario illustrates the "supernatural work of God" in loving one's enemies. What makes this act so profound and difficult to achieve without divine intervention?
Glossary of Key Terms
"He Said What?": The title of Pastor Tim's new sermon series, focusing on the radical and challenging teachings of Jesus.
Radical Teachings: Jesus's instructions that push against conventional thought, seem impossible or crazy, and challenge individuals to live beyond their comfort zones.
Self-Actualization: A term describing the realization or fulfillment of one's talents and potentialities. Pastor Tim contrasts the world's self-centered view with Jesus's call to self-actualize into God's eternal purposes.
Matthew 5:43-48: The specific biblical passage from the Sermon on the Mount being studied, focusing on loving enemies.
Sermon on the Mount: Jesus's "inaugural address" found in Matthew chapters 5-7, outlining the principles and character of life in the Kingdom of God.
Kingdom Citizen: An individual whose life reflects the values and character demonstrated by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, empowered by God's transformation.
"A text with no context is a pretext": A saying quoted by Pastor Tim to emphasize the importance of understanding the historical and literary setting of a biblical passage.
Old Testament (Jewish Bible): The Hebrew Scriptures, which Pastor Tim references to show that the command to "hate your enemy" was not found there.
Religious Teachers: The Jewish leaders of Jesus's time who, according to Pastor Tim, wrongly taught the concept of hating enemies, narrowing the definition of "neighbor."
Good Samaritan: A parable taught by Jesus, mentioned by Pastor Tim, which radically redefines "neighbor" to include despised groups, challenging exclusivity.
Natural Life: Living according to human inclinations and desires, often characterized by self-preservation and reciprocating ill-will towards enemies.
Supernatural Life: Living in a way that goes beyond natural human capacity, empowered by God, enabling acts like loving enemies.
Action-Driven Affection: Pastor Tim's definition of biblical love, emphasizing that true love involves both deep internal affection and outward actions that demonstrate goodness and desire for another's flourishing.
Angaria (Garrison): A Roman law that compelled citizens to carry military gear, used by Jesus as an example to illustrate going above and beyond in loving oppressors (e.g., carrying gear a "second mile").
Dallas Willard, The Great Omission: A book mentioned by Pastor Tim that expands the understanding of Jesus beyond just a wise spiritual teacher to "the greatest human who ever lived."
Pray for Those Who Persecute You: Jesus's specific command to intercede for enemies, which Pastor Tim explains helps transform the heart and is a means of loving powerful adversaries.
Impartial Goodness of God: God's attribute of extending blessings (like sun and rain) to both the righteous and unrighteous, demonstrating His universal love and serving as a model for believers.
Foreshadowing: An indication or warning of a future event. Jesus's teachings and death on the cross are presented as a foreshadowing of God's ultimate love for His enemies.
Tax Collectors and Pagans: Groups considered outcasts or non-believers by the Jewish people, used by Jesus to highlight that even they practice reciprocal love (loving those who love them), thus calling His followers to a higher standard.
"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48): The closing command of the passage, interpreted not as sinless perfection but as completeness according to God's design.
Telos (τέλος): The Greek word for "perfect" in Matthew 5:48, meaning "complete based on its design" or fulfilling one's intended purpose.
Perfect Game (Baseball): An analogy used by Pastor Tim to illustrate "telos," where a pitcher achieves perfection by fulfilling their designed purpose on the mound, not by being sinless.
Gary Ridgway (The Green River Killer): A notorious serial killer whose court hearing is shown in a video clip, featuring a victim's father offering forgiveness as an example of supernatural love.
