WEBVTT

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 Good morning. It's great to worship with you.

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 And for those of you who know me, my name is Sean.

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 And it's my joy and privilege to preach God's word to you this morning.

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! Please turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 5, verse 43 to 48.

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 If you don't have a Bible, please raise your hand.

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 We'd love to give you a copy to use.

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 We are coming today to the last and climactic section

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 of the six contrasts that Jesus sets up

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 between the contemporary Jewish misapplication of the Old Testament law

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 and his true interpretation and fulfillment of the Old Testament law.

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 And so this is the sixth and final contrast that he sets up.

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 We're in Matthew chapter 5, verse 43 to 48.

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 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's word.

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 Heavenly Father, we love you because you loved us first.

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 And when you command us to love our enemies,

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 we know that you do not command us to do something you haven't already done for us.

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 So, Lord, we ask for an outpouring of your love by your Spirit

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 into our hearts this morning

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 so that out of the overflow of that love,

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 we might love even our enemies.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 If you're able, please stand for the reading of God's word.

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 We stand to honor God as we read from his word.

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 From Matthew 5, 43 to 48.

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 You have heard that it was said,

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 you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

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 But I say to you,

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 love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

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 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.

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 For he makes his son rise on the evil and on the good

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 and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

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 For if you love those who love you,

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 what reward do you have?

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 Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

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 And if you greet only your brothers,

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 what more are you doing than others?

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 Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

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 You, therefore, must be perfect

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 as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 Please be seated.

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 Who doesn't want to have only friends and no enemies?

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 But unfortunately, in this world, we do have enemies.

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 People who are hostile toward us.

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 People who, for one reason or another,

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 want to see us fail.

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 People who wish ill on you.

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 Even more sadly, sometimes,

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 the enemies in our own lives

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 are people who are close to us.

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 Jesus says in Matthew 10, verse 36,

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 and a person's enemies will be those of his own household.

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 How should we treat such people?

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 This passage flows naturally from verses 38 to 42,

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 in which Jesus taught us never to repay evil for evil,

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 but as sinful people that we are,

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 we always tend to limit and circumscribe God's commands,

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 to contain it and make it manageable.

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 And that's exactly what they did with this command

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 to not resist the evil person.

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 Jesus' audience was likely thinking to themselves,

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 sure, that of course we should love our friends and neighbors.

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 We shouldn't repay evil for evil to our neighbors and friends.

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 But surely that doesn't apply to our enemies.

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 They are, by definition, hostiles.

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 People who hate us.

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 People who are in conflict with us,

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 and contending against us.

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 So surely that doesn't apply to them.

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 But Jesus doesn't leave that loophole for us.

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 He commands us explicitly,

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 love your enemies,

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 like father,

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 like son.

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 So I'm gonna talk about this passage in three sections.

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 First, I'm gonna talk about the rule.

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 Secondly, I'll talk about the reward.

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 And third, I'll talk about the resemblance

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 that God calls us to.

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 First, let's talk about the rule that Jesus gives us.

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 Once again, he quotes from the Old Testament to start off.

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 This time, the quote comes from Leviticus 19,

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 verse 17 and 18.

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 It says,

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 If you examine verse 43 in light of this Old Testament passage,

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 against the sons of your own people,

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 but you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

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 I am the Lord.

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 If you examine verse 43 in light of this Old Testament passage,

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 the first half looks good.

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 You shall love your neighbor.

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 It does leave out a phrase,

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 you shall love your neighbor as yourself,

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 but I don't think that's meant to be a significant detail,

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 because if you look at the Jewish scribe in Mark 12, 33,

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 or the Jewish lawyer in Luke 10, 27,

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 they both mention love your neighbor as yourself.

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 So I think the Jews of Jesus,

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 they understood that,

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 and here Jesus is just paraphrasing what they said.

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 The problem is not with the first half,

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 love your neighbor,

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 but with the second half.

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 They were saying,

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 You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

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 In Leviticus 19 that we just read,

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 it doesn't say hate your enemy.

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 So where did they get that idea,

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 that that was the biblical truth?

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 In Leviticus 19, 17 to 18,

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 he says,

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 You shall not hate your brother,

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 and that's the same command as,

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 You shall love your neighbor.

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 They understood that correctly,

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 that hate is the opposite of love.

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 But because the object of the command in Leviticus 19

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 is your brother and your neighbor,

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 the sons of your own people, it says,

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 they understood this command to apply only to their fellow Jews.

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 Once again, this is the natural, sinful human tendency

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 to be legalistic, to limit and contain God's law.

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 Instead of trying to understand the heart of the law,

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 the spirit of the law,

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 instead of trying to obey the law to its fullest extent,

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 they were legalistically obeying only the superficial letter of the law

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 so they could say,

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 Oh, I did it.

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 Check that box.

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 You can see this clearly in the community rule

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 of the first century Jewish sect called the Essenes.

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 It says there,

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 You should love all that God has chosen

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 and hate all that he has rejected.

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 Love all the sons of light,

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 each according to his law in God's design,

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 and hate all the sons of darkness,

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 each according to his guilt in God's vengeance.

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 Here's another example in the Halakha,

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 which is a collection of Jewish laws

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 derived from both the written and the oral laws.

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 Rabbi Maimonides writes,

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 With regard to a Gentile idolater,

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 it is forbidden to save their lives

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 if their lives are threatened.

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 For example,

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 if such a person fell into the sea,

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 one should not rescue him.

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 Leviticus 19.16 states,

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 Do not stand idly by

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 while your brother's blood is at stake.

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 This does not apply

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 with regard to such individuals

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 because they are not your brothers.

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 Admittedly,

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 this is from the latter centuries,

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 but this is the exact sentiment

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 that Jesus is addressing during his day.

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 Jesus is confronting this attitude

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 and showing us

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 that love your neighbor

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 and hate your enemy

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 is not a faithful interpretation

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 of the Old Testament teaching.

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 In fact,

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 if they looked closely,

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 in that very same chapter of Leviticus 19,

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 if you go down a few verses later,

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 in verse 34,

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 it says,

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 You shall treat the stranger

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 who sojourns with you

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 as the native among you,

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 and you shall love him as yourself.

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 For you were strangers

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 in the land of Egypt.

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 I am the Lord your God.

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 God doesn't allow us to restrict the word neighbor

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 only to our brothers or fellow Jews

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 or people who share our ethnicity

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 or race or whatever

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 because God commands the Israelites

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 to treat the stranger and the sojourner

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 like the natives, it says,

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 to love them as yourself.

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 The Old Testament,

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 like the New Testament,

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 commands us to love our enemies.

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 Here's another example.

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 Deuteronomy 22, verse 1.

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 It says,

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 You shall not see your brother's ox

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 or his sheep going astray

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 and ignore them.

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 You shall take them back to your brother.

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 This is how you should love your brother,

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 your neighbor,

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 a fellow Israelite.

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 But look at a similar command

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 in Exodus 23, verse 4.

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 If you meet your enemy's ox

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 or his donkey going astray,

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 you should let it go astray

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 as far as it can.

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 No, that's not what it says.

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 It says the exact same thing

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 that it said that you should do

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 to your brother and to your neighbor.

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 Bring it back to him.

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 The Old Testament demands

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 the same loving treatment

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 of your enemy as your brother.

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 Sometimes, even as Christians,

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 we can believe the lie

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 that the Old Testament is,

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 the Old Testament ethic is sub-Christian,

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 that it's barbaric,

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 but that cannot be true

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 because the God of the New Testament

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 is the God of the Old Testament

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 and he doesn't change.

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 Let me give you an example

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 from the New Testament,

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 the classic text about loving our enemies,

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 Romans 12, 17 to 21.

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 Repay no one evil for evil,

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 but give thought to do

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 what is honorable in the sight of all.

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 If possible, so far as it depends on you,

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 live peaceably with all.

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 Beloved, never avenge yourselves,

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 but leave it to the wrath of God.

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 For it is written, vengeance is mine.

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 I will repay, says the Lord.

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 To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry,

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 feed him.

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 If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

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 For by so doing,

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 you will heap burning coals on his head.

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 Do not be overcome by evil,

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 but overcome evil with good.

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 If you could leave that up there for a little bit.

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 You could see two quotes there.

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 I think the first quote is in the previous slide.

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 The first quote was,

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 vengeance is mine.

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 Where is that from?

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 That's from the Old Testament.

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 Deuteronomy 32, verse 35.

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 What about the command?

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 If your enemy is hungry,

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 give him bread to eat.

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 If he is thirsty,

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 give him water to drink for you.

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 He will heap burning coals on his head.

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 Where does that come from?

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 The Old Testament.

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 Proverbs 25, 21 to 22.

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 The New Testament command to love our enemies

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 comes from the Old Testament.

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 But what does it mean to heap burning coals on his head?

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 Having burning coals heaped on your head

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 is not a good thing.

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 In Psalm 140, verse 9 and 10,

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 when David is praying to God

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 for deliverance from his enemies,

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 he prays,

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 ask for the head of those who surround me.

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 Let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them.

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 Let burning coals fall upon them.

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 Let them be cast into fire,

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 into miry pits,

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 no more to rise.

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 So having burning coals heaped on your head

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 is not a good thing.

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 It's a bad thing.

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 But that raises a question, doesn't it?

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 Doesn't that sound kind of vindictive

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 and unloving?

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 Didn't Jesus just tell us to love our enemies?

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 It would be vindictive and unloving

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 if this were referring to

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 our own personal vengeance.

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 But in scripture,

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 burning coals always represent divine judgment.

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 In the vision of Ezekiel,

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 prophet Ezekiel,

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 in Ezekiel chapter 10,

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 verses 1 to 8,

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 an angelic being a man in linen cloth

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 takes burning coals from where?

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 From the throne of God.

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 And then he scatters it upon Jerusalem

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 as God's judgment over this sinful city.

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 Burning coals are the judgments of God.

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 By repaying wickedness done toward us with kindness,

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 by refusing to take vengeance into our own hands,

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 we store up God's wrath upon our enemy's head.

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 It's like what we see in the book of Revelation.

00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:16.840
 In Revelation 5, verse 8,

00:13:16.899 --> 00:13:18.600
 we are told that the golden censer

00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:21.259
 that is at the altar of God,

00:13:21.460 --> 00:13:22.299
 it's heavenly throne room,

00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:24.259
 it's the prayers of the saints.

00:13:24.460 --> 00:13:25.620
 It's prayers of the saints

00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:26.700
 that are described metaphorically

00:13:26.700 --> 00:13:27.840
 as a golden censer.

00:13:28.939 --> 00:13:30.840
 And these saints are praying to God,

00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:31.860
 oh Lord,

00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:32.879
 how long

00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:34.939
 before you will judge

00:13:34.939 --> 00:13:35.860
 and avenge our blood

00:13:35.860 --> 00:13:37.059
 on those who dwell on the earth?

00:13:38.200 --> 00:13:39.519
 They were martyred,

00:13:39.659 --> 00:13:41.340
 so they did not take vengeance

00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:42.240
 into their own hands.

00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:44.259
 They did not resist the ones who are evil.

00:13:44.259 --> 00:13:45.740
 They paid the ultimate price

00:13:45.740 --> 00:13:47.720
 and were killed for their faith in Jesus Christ.

00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:49.340
 So they love their enemies

00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:51.319
 and they're crying out for vengeance

00:13:51.319 --> 00:13:52.759
 because that was not right.

00:13:52.840 --> 00:13:53.559
 That was wrong.

00:13:55.700 --> 00:13:56.980
 And they're crying out

00:13:56.980 --> 00:13:57.879
 and these prayers,

00:13:58.039 --> 00:13:59.159
 that's the golden censer

00:13:59.159 --> 00:14:00.319
 later in Revelation 8,

00:14:00.419 --> 00:14:02.259
 an angel takes the golden censer

00:14:02.259 --> 00:14:03.000
 and then,

00:14:03.299 --> 00:14:04.500
 which is the prayers of the saints,

00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:07.600
 and then he puts the fire from the altar,

00:14:07.939 --> 00:14:09.340
 aka the burning coals,

00:14:09.379 --> 00:14:10.340
 into that censer

00:14:10.340 --> 00:14:11.620
 and then he spreads it,

00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:13.480
 which then becomes

00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:14.460
 the seventh seal

00:14:14.460 --> 00:14:15.320
 of God's judgment.

00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:19.019
 When we refuse

00:14:19.019 --> 00:14:20.179
 to avenge ourselves,

00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:22.399
 we leave it to the wrath of God

00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:23.740
 and God's justice

00:14:23.740 --> 00:14:25.360
 will indeed

00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:26.299
 have its way.

00:14:27.980 --> 00:14:29.299
 Does this mean then

00:14:29.299 --> 00:14:30.960
 that when we

00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:32.100
 repay our enemies'

00:14:32.560 --> 00:14:33.360
 evil with kindness,

00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:35.259
 that we should do so

00:14:35.259 --> 00:14:36.379
 gleefully?

00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:40.340
 Ah, you think

00:14:40.340 --> 00:14:41.480
 I'm being nice to you.

00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:43.200
 I'm just heaping

00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:43.879
 burning coals

00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:44.500
 upon your head.

00:14:48.779 --> 00:14:50.000
 No, of course not.

00:14:50.279 --> 00:14:51.340
 That's the wrong attitude

00:14:51.340 --> 00:14:52.299
 because we're supposed

00:14:52.299 --> 00:14:54.399
 to love our enemies.

00:14:54.500 --> 00:14:55.080
 That's the command.

00:14:55.799 --> 00:14:56.799
 Our refusal

00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:58.200
 to avenge ourselves

00:14:58.200 --> 00:14:59.120
 should be an expression

00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:00.019
 of love for them.

00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:02.419
 Proverbs 24, 17 to 18

00:15:02.419 --> 00:15:04.259
 warns about that precisely.

00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:06.080
 Do not rejoice

00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:07.220
 when your enemy falls

00:15:07.220 --> 00:15:09.139
 and let not your heart

00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:09.720
 be glad

00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:10.460
 when he stumbles.

00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:11.580
 Lest the Lord

00:15:11.580 --> 00:15:12.039
 see it

00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:13.500
 and be displeased

00:15:13.500 --> 00:15:14.200
 and turn away

00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:15.419
 his anger from him.

00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.860
 Our attitude

00:15:17.860 --> 00:15:19.259
 instead should mirror

00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:20.159
 God's attitude

00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:21.000
 towards sinners.

00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:23.740
 In Romans 2,

00:15:23.819 --> 00:15:25.200
 verse 4 to 5,

00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:26.179
 it says that God

00:15:26.179 --> 00:15:27.639
 has forbearance

00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:28.480
 and patience

00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:29.299
 and kindness

00:15:29.299 --> 00:15:31.039
 toward evildoers

00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:32.759
 and that that kindness

00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:33.840
 is meant to lead us

00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:34.660
 to repentance.

00:15:35.340 --> 00:15:36.060
 But in the immediately

00:15:36.060 --> 00:15:36.740
 following verse,

00:15:36.800 --> 00:15:37.259
 it says that,

00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:38.680
 but if they do not repent,

00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:39.899
 if they are impenitent

00:15:39.899 --> 00:15:40.460
 and hard,

00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:42.879
 then they are storing up

00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:44.399
 wrath for themselves

00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:45.220
 on the day of wrath

00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:46.220
 when God's righteous judgment

00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:46.860
 will be revealed.

00:15:48.700 --> 00:15:49.580
 Similarly then,

00:15:49.780 --> 00:15:51.379
 we love our enemies

00:15:51.379 --> 00:15:52.360
 with kindness

00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:53.980
 and forbearance

00:15:53.980 --> 00:15:54.899
 and patience

00:15:54.899 --> 00:15:57.000
 in hopes that we might,

00:15:57.160 --> 00:15:57.800
 by our kindness,

00:15:57.980 --> 00:15:58.980
 lead them to repentance.

00:15:58.980 --> 00:15:59.240
 repentance.

00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:01.680
 But if they refuse

00:16:01.680 --> 00:16:03.139
 to repent in the end,

00:16:03.680 --> 00:16:04.480
 you can be assured

00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:05.740
 that there will be justice,

00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:07.220
 that burning coals

00:16:07.220 --> 00:16:08.320
 have been being heaped up.

00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:12.200
 In fact,

00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:13.019
 I would argue,

00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:14.560
 though this might seem

00:16:14.560 --> 00:16:15.180
 counterintuitive

00:16:15.180 --> 00:16:15.860
 to some of us,

00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:18.320
 that a robust faith

00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:19.560
 in divine vengeance

00:16:19.560 --> 00:16:21.899
 is necessary

00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:22.820
 in order for us

00:16:22.820 --> 00:16:24.039
 to love our enemies

00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:25.240
 and not avenge ourselves.

00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:31.460
 This is how we make sense

00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:34.240
 of parts of scripture

00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:36.759
 like the conquest of Canaan

00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:38.200
 when God orders

00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:38.860
 the destruction

00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:40.259
 of the wicked nations

00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:42.860
 as well as

00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:44.580
 the imprecatory psalms,

00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:46.680
 the imprecatory psalms

00:16:46.680 --> 00:16:47.519
 where the psalmist

00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:48.980
 invoke curses

00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:50.399
 of God's judgment

00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:51.639
 upon the enemies of God.

00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:55.100
 These are never intended

00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:56.820
 to be personal vengeance,

00:16:57.420 --> 00:16:58.379
 but prayers

00:16:58.379 --> 00:16:59.639
 for divine vengeance.

00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.180
 Let me give you

00:17:01.180 --> 00:17:01.600
 an example

00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:03.700
 of an imprecatory psalm.

00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:04.660
 Psalm 139,

00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:05.640
 19 to 22.

00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:06.519
 David prays,

00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:07.519
 Oh,

00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:08.500
 that you would slay

00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:08.980
 the wicked,

00:17:09.099 --> 00:17:09.480
 O God.

00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:11.059
 O men of blood,

00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:12.059
 depart from me.

00:17:12.620 --> 00:17:14.000
 They speak against you

00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:15.319
 with malicious intent.

00:17:15.700 --> 00:17:16.200
 Your enemies

00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:17.460
 take your name in vain.

00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:18.860
 Do I not hate

00:17:18.860 --> 00:17:19.740
 those who hate you,

00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:20.099
 O Lord?

00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:21.680
 And do I not loathe

00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:22.599
 those who rise up

00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:23.160
 against you?

00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:24.220
 I hate them

00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:25.420
 with complete hatred.

00:17:25.660 --> 00:17:26.560
 I count them

00:17:26.560 --> 00:17:27.600
 my enemies.

00:17:28.380 --> 00:17:29.380
 David says

00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:30.240
 he hates

00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:31.240
 his enemies,

00:17:31.360 --> 00:17:31.960
 these enemies.

00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:33.080
 Doesn't that contradict

00:17:33.080 --> 00:17:33.880
 Jesus' teaching?

00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:34.840
 I don't think it does

00:17:34.840 --> 00:17:35.400
 because

00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:36.720
 of a couple reasons.

00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:37.640
 First,

00:17:37.840 --> 00:17:39.019
 it's clear from the context

00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:39.820
 that these are not

00:17:39.820 --> 00:17:40.800
 his personal enemies.

00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:42.840
 They are enemies

00:17:42.840 --> 00:17:44.000
 of the Lord God.

00:17:44.120 --> 00:17:45.600
 They speak against God.

00:17:45.860 --> 00:17:47.259
 They take God's name

00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:47.720
 in vain.

00:17:48.080 --> 00:17:48.540
 The hatred

00:17:48.540 --> 00:17:49.540
 that David feels

00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:50.799
 is not a sinful

00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:52.180
 personal spite

00:17:52.180 --> 00:17:52.980
 or hatred

00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:54.259
 toward his personal enemy

00:17:54.259 --> 00:17:55.980
 but a righteous anger

00:17:55.980 --> 00:17:58.059
 in response to sinners

00:17:58.059 --> 00:17:59.200
 who rebel against God.

00:17:59.879 --> 00:18:01.019
 Righteous indignation

00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:02.879
 toward the enemies of God.

00:18:03.539 --> 00:18:04.480
 He is not motivated

00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:05.599
 by a personal vendetta.

00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:07.960
 He's consumed instead

00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:08.599
 like Jesus

00:18:08.599 --> 00:18:09.759
 when he drove

00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:10.480
 the money changers

00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:11.159
 out of the temple.

00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:12.059
 He's consumed

00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:12.779
 by the zeal

00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:14.079
 for the glory of God.

00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:15.519
 In fact,

00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.519
 David is so certain

00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:17.399
 of his integrity

00:18:17.399 --> 00:18:18.460
 when he prays this

00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:19.380
 that later on

00:18:19.380 --> 00:18:20.160
 in that same psalm

00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:21.400
 he asks God,

00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:22.579
 come search me.

00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:23.960
 Search me

00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:25.100
 and know my heart.

00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:26.100
 See if there's

00:18:26.100 --> 00:18:27.319
 any grievous way in me.

00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:30.799
 And second,

00:18:30.980 --> 00:18:31.960
 David is not taking

00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:32.380
 vengeance

00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:33.539
 into his own hands

00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:34.259
 in this situation.

00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:35.100
 He is simply

00:18:35.100 --> 00:18:37.319
 praying for God's justice.

00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:41.600
 Prayer for God's justice

00:18:41.600 --> 00:18:43.640
 and love for our enemies

00:18:43.640 --> 00:18:44.840
 are not mutually exclusive.

00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:46.920
 Yes,

00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:47.940
 we should love our enemies.

00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:49.299
 And we should pray

00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:50.420
 for those who persecute us.

00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:51.420
 We should do good to them.

00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:54.059
 But when injustice

00:18:54.059 --> 00:18:55.500
 cannot be righted,

00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:57.880
 when injustice

00:18:57.880 --> 00:18:58.920
 is not righted,

00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:01.079
 it is morally imperative

00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:01.720
 for us

00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:02.980
 to pray for God's justice

00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:03.660
 for the sake

00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:04.519
 of the vindication

00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.559
 of God's name,

00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:06.799
 not for our sake.

00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:09.100
 If you think about it,

00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:10.220
 whenever we pray,

00:19:10.620 --> 00:19:11.299
 Marantha,

00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:13.200
 whenever we pray,

00:19:13.380 --> 00:19:14.640
 come Lord Jesus,

00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:14.880
 justice,

00:19:15.600 --> 00:19:18.300
 we're actually praying

00:19:18.300 --> 00:19:19.640
 for the judgment

00:19:19.640 --> 00:19:20.200
 of the wicked

00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:22.520
 because Jesus promises

00:19:22.520 --> 00:19:23.460
 that when he returns

00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:24.880
 that he will bring justice

00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:27.340
 and avenge

00:19:27.340 --> 00:19:28.520
 the righteous.

00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:31.960
 We are longing

00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:33.060
 for God's justice

00:19:33.060 --> 00:19:33.840
 and vindication

00:19:33.840 --> 00:19:34.740
 whenever we cry,

00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:35.620
 how long,

00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:36.120
 oh Lord?

00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:40.539
 if we have a hard time

00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:42.719
 stomaching that kind of

00:19:42.719 --> 00:19:44.079
 cry for divine vengeance,

00:19:44.379 --> 00:19:46.139
 it's probably because

00:19:46.139 --> 00:19:47.699
 we don't take sin

00:19:47.699 --> 00:19:48.739
 as seriously

00:19:48.739 --> 00:19:50.279
 as God takes sin.

00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:55.979
 A.F. Kirkpatrick,

00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:56.539
 a theologian,

00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:57.419
 writes on his book,

00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:58.299
 The Book of Psalms,

00:19:58.299 --> 00:19:59.940
 men have need

00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:00.779
 to beware

00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:02.480
 lest in pity

00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:03.200
 for the sinner

00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:04.940
 they condone the sin

00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:06.259
 or relax

00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:07.039
 the struggle

00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:07.960
 against evil.

00:20:09.379 --> 00:20:11.000
 In Matthew 23,

00:20:11.159 --> 00:20:12.019
 even Jesus

00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:13.619
 pronounces woes

00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:14.599
 on the Pharisees

00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:15.319
 and the scribes.

00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:16.659
 There is a time

00:20:16.659 --> 00:20:17.579
 and place

00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:19.099
 for the imprecatory

00:20:19.099 --> 00:20:19.700
 psalms,

00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:21.460
 but you better

00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:22.259
 search your heart

00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:25.659
 because many people

00:20:25.659 --> 00:20:26.680
 sin in this regard

00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:27.700
 instead of obeying

00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:28.200
 God's command

00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:28.900
 to love our enemies.

00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:32.940
 How then should we

00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:34.059
 treat our personal enemies?

00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:35.720
 People who wish ill

00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:36.120
 on us

00:20:36.120 --> 00:20:37.100
 and harm upon us

00:20:37.100 --> 00:20:38.340
 see how David

00:20:38.340 --> 00:20:39.360
 treats his personal enemies

00:20:39.360 --> 00:20:40.100
 which is very different

00:20:40.100 --> 00:20:41.519
 from the earlier psalm

00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:42.640
 we looked at in 139.

00:20:43.100 --> 00:20:44.279
 In Psalm 35,

00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:45.299
 verse 11 to 16,

00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:46.200
 he writes that

00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:47.220
 his enemies

00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:47.960
 rose up

00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:49.360
 as malicious witnesses

00:20:49.360 --> 00:20:49.319
!

00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:50.200
 against him,

00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:51.039
 false witnesses

00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:52.080
 trying to frame him

00:20:52.080 --> 00:20:53.400
 and corner him.

00:20:53.860 --> 00:20:54.840
 They repaid him

00:20:54.840 --> 00:20:55.880
 evil for good.

00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:57.000
 They rejoiced

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.000
 at his stumbling.

00:20:58.319 --> 00:20:59.059
 They mocked him

00:20:59.059 --> 00:20:59.900
 and tore at him

00:20:59.900 --> 00:21:00.720
 without ceasing.

00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:01.859
 That's how his enemies

00:21:01.859 --> 00:21:02.480
 treated him.

00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:03.700
 But,

00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:05.039
 he says in the same psalm,

00:21:05.539 --> 00:21:06.619
 when they were sick,

00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.500
 I fasted

00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:09.920
 and prayed for them.

00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:11.500
 I went about

00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:12.579
 as though I grieved

00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:13.619
 for my friend

00:21:13.619 --> 00:21:14.480
 or my brother.

00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:17.539
 That's how we should

00:21:17.539 --> 00:21:18.579
 treat our personal enemies.

00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:23.039
 maybe there's a co-worker

00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:25.319
 or a peer at school

00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:26.899
 who tends to discredit you,

00:21:27.899 --> 00:21:28.759
 is always

00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:29.720
 maybe taking,

00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:32.559
 stealing credit from you,

00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:34.939
 engaged in this

00:21:34.939 --> 00:21:35.939
 one-upmanship

00:21:35.939 --> 00:21:37.199
 against you,

00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:38.980
 delighting in your failures

00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:39.740
 and rejoicing

00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:41.059
 in his triumphs over you.

00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:42.639
 Instead of

00:21:42.639 --> 00:21:44.699
 harboring this selfish ambition

00:21:44.699 --> 00:21:45.339
 and rivalry

00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:46.799
 and trying to sabotage them,

00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:48.619
 love your enemies

00:21:48.619 --> 00:21:49.639
 by helping them,

00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:51.559
 by seeking their success,

00:21:51.940 --> 00:21:52.899
 by praying for them.

00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:57.319
 Maybe you have

00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:59.779
 a manipulative boss

00:21:59.779 --> 00:22:03.240
 who guilt trips you,

00:22:03.919 --> 00:22:04.839
 pushes you around,

00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:06.799
 all to advance

00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:08.599
 his own personal agenda.

00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.680
 Makes you do

00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:13.460
 all the hard work,

00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:14.159
 but when it's time

00:22:14.159 --> 00:22:14.759
 to take credit,

00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:15.639
 he takes the project

00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:16.259
 for himself.

00:22:20.580 --> 00:22:21.840
 Instead of repaying him

00:22:21.840 --> 00:22:22.780
 evil for evil

00:22:22.780 --> 00:22:25.020
 by putting in

00:22:25.020 --> 00:22:26.080
 minimal effort

00:22:26.080 --> 00:22:30.280
 and undermining your boss

00:22:30.280 --> 00:22:30.960
 at every turn

00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:31.840
 by second-guessing

00:22:31.840 --> 00:22:32.960
 every decision he makes

00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:35.360
 and then gossiping

00:22:35.360 --> 00:22:36.380
 about him behind his back,

00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:38.200
 do your work,

00:22:38.300 --> 00:22:38.920
 love your enemies,

00:22:39.040 --> 00:22:39.700
 do your work

00:22:39.700 --> 00:22:40.460
 with diligence

00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:42.520
 and wish for your boss' success.

00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:43.519
 love your friends.

00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:46.279
 Maybe you have a friend

00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:47.980
 who betrayed your confidence,

00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:52.660
 but you resolve,

00:22:52.859 --> 00:22:54.740
 instead of lashing out,

00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.940
 you resolve to give that friend

00:22:56.940 --> 00:22:57.900
 the benefit of the doubt

00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:59.660
 and to continue to speak well

00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:00.240
 of that friend.

00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:04.279
 Maybe you've been ghosted

00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:04.839
 or abandoned

00:23:04.839 --> 00:23:06.400
 by a loved one.

00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.440
 Maybe you were neglected

00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:10.019
 by a family member.

00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:13.200
 Maybe you had a spouse

00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:14.619
 or a boyfriend

00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:14.960
 or girlfriend

00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:16.440
 who was unfaithful to you.

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:18.859
 Love your enemies.

00:23:19.859 --> 00:23:21.500
 You choose to forgive them

00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:23.139
 and love them

00:23:23.139 --> 00:23:24.019
 nonetheless.

00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:27.039
 Love your enemies.

00:23:27.579 --> 00:23:28.420
 Pray for those

00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:29.160
 who persecute you.

00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:30.799
 Prayer is a wonderful

00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:31.559
 antidote

00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:32.660
 to personal hatred.

00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:35.560
 it's really hard

00:23:35.560 --> 00:23:37.340
 to keep hating someone

00:23:37.340 --> 00:23:38.400
 that you're praying for.

00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:41.340
 So pray for your enemies.

00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:47.880
 While Jesus was being crucified

00:23:47.880 --> 00:23:48.980
 by wicked men,

00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:51.120
 Jesus prayed for them

00:23:51.120 --> 00:23:52.460
 in Luke 23, 34.

00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:53.080
 Father,

00:23:53.620 --> 00:23:54.540
 forgive them

00:23:54.540 --> 00:23:55.600
 for they know not

00:23:55.600 --> 00:23:56.380
 what they do.

00:23:58.220 --> 00:23:58.700
 Likewise,

00:23:58.960 --> 00:23:59.320
 Stephen,

00:23:59.460 --> 00:24:00.440
 when he was being stoned

00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:00.840
 to death

00:24:00.840 --> 00:24:01.779
 by evildoers,

00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:04.559
 prayed in Acts 7,

00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:05.139
 verse 60,

00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:05.559
 Lord,

00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:07.279
 do not hold this sin

00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.139
 against them.

00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:10.680
 How can they be

00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:11.879
 so magnanimous

00:24:11.879 --> 00:24:12.720
 toward their enemies?

00:24:13.899 --> 00:24:14.859
 It's because they knew

00:24:14.859 --> 00:24:15.599
 that they know not

00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:16.119
 what they do.

00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:16.720
 They knew

00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:17.819
 that they were blinded

00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:18.420
 by Satan,

00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:19.460
 the ruler of this world,

00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:20.399
 the spirit that is now

00:24:20.399 --> 00:24:21.220
 at work in the sons

00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:22.079
 of disobedience.

00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:23.460
 So instead of being

00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:24.299
 vindictive,

00:24:24.879 --> 00:24:25.920
 they were compassionate

00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:27.059
 and merciful

00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:27.720
 toward sinners.

00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:31.140
 I remember being

00:24:31.140 --> 00:24:32.720
 particularly affected,

00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:34.440
 impacted by a testimony

00:24:34.440 --> 00:24:36.440
 of a pastor

00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:37.460
 from Rwanda

00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:38.440
 named Antoine

00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:39.360
 Ruta Isire.

00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:42.579
 I heard him

00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:43.180
 for the first time

00:24:43.180 --> 00:24:44.039
 at a missions conference.

00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:46.900
 He grew up

00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:47.579
 during the Rwandan

00:24:47.579 --> 00:24:49.140
 genocide in 1994

00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:51.559
 in one year,

00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:52.799
 or actually even

00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.400
 less than one year,

00:24:53.460 --> 00:24:54.039
 in a period

00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:55.039
 of 100 days.

00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:57.799
 Rwandan genocide

00:24:57.799 --> 00:24:59.279
 claimed a million lives.

00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:01.240
 A million people

00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:02.579
 killed in 100 days.

00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:06.759
 As a Tutsi,

00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:08.619
 Ruta Isire

00:25:08.619 --> 00:25:09.740
 grew up hating

00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:10.500
 the Hutus.

00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:13.299
 The Hutus

00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:14.379
 had killed

00:25:14.379 --> 00:25:15.500
 Ruta Isire's father.

00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:19.119
 Hutus had gotten

00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:19.680
 Ruta Isire

00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:20.720
 kicked out of school

00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:21.680
 when he was 15.

00:25:23.399 --> 00:25:24.899
 Hutus had made him

00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:26.180
 lose his teaching job

00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:26.920
 when he was 25.

00:25:30.420 --> 00:25:31.440
 Later in his life,

00:25:31.800 --> 00:25:32.540
 Ruta Isire

00:25:32.540 --> 00:25:33.440
 finally decided

00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:35.340
 to open the Bible

00:25:35.340 --> 00:25:35.680
 that someone

00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:36.240
 had given to him

00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:36.600
 that had been

00:25:36.600 --> 00:25:37.240
 collecting dust

00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:37.880
 on his shelf,

00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:40.580
 and God

00:25:40.580 --> 00:25:41.400
 opened the eyes

00:25:41.400 --> 00:25:41.840
 of his heart

00:25:41.840 --> 00:25:42.440
 by his spirit,

00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.560
 and he met Jesus.

00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:46.259
 He said he

00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:47.860
 read through

00:25:47.860 --> 00:25:48.600
 the entire Bible

00:25:48.600 --> 00:25:49.360
 three times

00:25:49.360 --> 00:25:50.220
 in six months,

00:25:51.060 --> 00:25:52.480
 and then he said

00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:52.900
 to God,

00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:54.140
 Lord, here I am.

00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:54.600
 Use me.

00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:57.720
 He became a pastor.

00:25:58.280 --> 00:25:59.120
 He started preaching

00:25:59.120 --> 00:25:59.940
 regularly,

00:26:00.280 --> 00:26:01.780
 but he still

00:26:01.780 --> 00:26:04.040
 hated Hutus.

00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:11.980
 And then one day

00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:12.980
 he came to this passage

00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:14.440
 where Jesus prays,

00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:15.300
 Father,

00:26:15.860 --> 00:26:16.540
 forgive them

00:26:16.540 --> 00:26:17.400
 for they know

00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:19.040
 not what they do.

00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:22.340
 Ruta Isire

00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:23.399
 felt convicted

00:26:23.399 --> 00:26:24.139
 by the Holy Spirit.

00:26:24.139 --> 00:26:25.399
 He knew God

00:26:25.399 --> 00:26:26.240
 was telling him,

00:26:26.399 --> 00:26:27.759
 you need to forgive

00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.720
 the Hutus.

00:26:29.199 --> 00:26:30.000
 And he was

00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:31.099
 so resistant

00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:31.679
 to the idea,

00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:32.500
 he said that he

00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:33.959
 yelled out loud

00:26:33.959 --> 00:26:34.419
 to God,

00:26:34.639 --> 00:26:35.159
 no!

00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:38.019
 I will not!

00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:45.859
 And for the next

00:26:45.859 --> 00:26:46.440
 two weeks,

00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:48.279
 he was in a crisis

00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:48.940
 of faith.

00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:51.440
 He knew he could

00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:52.079
 not go on

00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:52.639
 with his faith

00:26:52.639 --> 00:26:53.379
 in the Lord Jesus

00:26:53.379 --> 00:26:55.019
 unless he forgave.

00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:01.019
 He recalls,

00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:02.279
 quote,

00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:03.639
 I made a list

00:27:03.639 --> 00:27:05.059
 of specific people

00:27:05.059 --> 00:27:05.920
 that I hated

00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:07.240
 with cause,

00:27:07.660 --> 00:27:08.559
 but the Lord

00:27:08.559 --> 00:27:09.160
 told me

00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:10.359
 I had no cause

00:27:10.359 --> 00:27:11.379
 because Jesus

00:27:11.379 --> 00:27:12.420
 forgave the good

00:27:12.420 --> 00:27:13.279
 and evil people

00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:14.539
 upon his crucifixion.

00:27:15.160 --> 00:27:16.319
 I wept

00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:17.740
 as I forgave

00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:18.599
 those I hated.

00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:21.259
 the most painful

00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:22.039
 experience

00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:22.959
 is to forgive,

00:27:23.959 --> 00:27:24.719
 but I have now

00:27:24.719 --> 00:27:26.179
 become a reconciler.

00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:30.819
 After that point,

00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:31.839
 Ruta Isire

00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:32.779
 went to prisons,

00:27:34.339 --> 00:27:35.039
 preached the gospel

00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:36.199
 to many Hutus

00:27:36.199 --> 00:27:37.319
 and led them

00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:37.879
 to the Lord,

00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:39.519
 expressed the forgiveness

00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:40.379
 that they can find

00:27:40.379 --> 00:27:41.419
 in Jesus Christ.

00:27:41.420 --> 00:27:46.759
 who is it

00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:47.920
 that you are

00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:49.360
 having a hard time

00:27:49.360 --> 00:27:50.960
 forgiving today?

00:27:58.980 --> 00:28:00.120
 This is the rule

00:28:00.120 --> 00:28:00.600
 of Christ.

00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:02.460
 Love your enemies.

00:28:06.080 --> 00:28:07.080
 Jesus knows

00:28:07.080 --> 00:28:07.539
 that this is

00:28:07.539 --> 00:28:08.220
 a hard command

00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:10.200
 and he's very

00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:11.019
 gracious to us.

00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:11.599
 He gives us

00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:12.299
 not one,

00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:14.039
 but two motivations

00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:15.660
 to help us

00:28:15.660 --> 00:28:16.420
 to do this.

00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:19.599
 The first motivation

00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:20.759
 is our heavenly reward.

00:28:20.859 --> 00:28:21.599
 It's my second point,

00:28:21.660 --> 00:28:22.019
 the reward.

00:28:22.119 --> 00:28:22.720
 It says in verses

00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:24.079
 46 and 47,

00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:24.960
 for if you love

00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:25.759
 those who love you,

00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:26.839
 what reward

00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:27.500
 do you have?

00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:28.279
 Do not even

00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:29.160
 the tax collectors

00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:29.819
 do the same.

00:28:30.180 --> 00:28:30.839
 And if you greet

00:28:30.839 --> 00:28:31.519
 only your brothers,

00:28:31.639 --> 00:28:32.660
 what more are you

00:28:32.660 --> 00:28:33.279
 doing than others?

00:28:33.379 --> 00:28:33.779
 Do not even

00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:34.519
 the Gentiles

00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:35.180
 do the same.

00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:37.059
 The basic,

00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:37.900
 ordinary,

00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:38.940
 natural,

00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:40.019
 human decency,

00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:40.799
 Jesus says,

00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:41.940
 is not enough.

00:28:43.639 --> 00:28:44.200
 You must do

00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:45.000
 more than that.

00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:48.720
 Christians must do

00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.659
 more than what

00:28:49.659 --> 00:28:50.579
 others are doing.

00:28:51.099 --> 00:28:51.940
 Our righteousness,

00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:52.619
 as Jesus said

00:28:52.619 --> 00:28:54.180
 earlier in chapter 5,

00:28:54.200 --> 00:28:54.559
 verse 20,

00:28:54.659 --> 00:28:56.019
 must exceed that

00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:56.639
 of the scribes

00:28:56.639 --> 00:28:57.259
 and Pharisees.

00:28:57.379 --> 00:28:58.319
 Only then can we

00:28:58.319 --> 00:28:59.440
 expect heavenly reward.

00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:02.700
 Matthew speaks

00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:04.019
 of rewards

00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:05.139
 more frequently

00:29:05.139 --> 00:29:06.339
 than any other

00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:07.220
 New Testament author.

00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:10.220
 earlier in verse 12

00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:11.059
 of the same chapter,

00:29:11.140 --> 00:29:11.579
 Jesus said,

00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:12.680
 rejoice and be glad

00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:13.200
 when people

00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:14.400
 persecute you

00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:15.339
 and see all kinds

00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:16.259
 of false things,

00:29:16.339 --> 00:29:17.039
 evil against you

00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:17.819
 because of me.

00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:19.779
 Rejoice and be glad

00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.779
 for great is your

00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:21.480
 reward in heaven

00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.200
 for in the same way

00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:23.740
 they persecuted

00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:24.200
 the prophets

00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:24.860
 who were before you.

00:29:26.440 --> 00:29:27.579
 In chapter 6,

00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:28.319
 which Ed will

00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:28.819
 preach on

00:29:28.819 --> 00:29:29.920
 in a couple weeks,

00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:30.960
 Jesus speaks

00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:31.600
 repeatedly

00:29:31.600 --> 00:29:33.059
 about the importance

00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:33.940
 of practicing

00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:34.660
 our righteousness

00:29:34.660 --> 00:29:35.740
 in secret

00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:37.240
 rather than for show.

00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:40.860
 He says that

00:29:40.860 --> 00:29:42.960
 if we are seen

00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:44.220
 doing our good works

00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:45.320
 and admired

00:29:45.320 --> 00:29:45.900
 and praised

00:29:45.900 --> 00:29:47.019
 by people as a result,

00:29:47.120 --> 00:29:47.620
 then he says

00:29:47.620 --> 00:29:48.640
 you will have no reward

00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:49.240
 from your father

00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:49.580
 in heaven

00:29:49.580 --> 00:29:50.640
 because you already

00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:51.820
 received your reward

00:29:51.820 --> 00:29:52.420
 here on earth

00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:52.900
 by men.

00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:57.279
 This is helpful

00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:57.840
 for understanding

00:29:57.840 --> 00:29:58.299
 our passage.

00:29:58.420 --> 00:29:59.620
 Why is there no reward

00:29:59.620 --> 00:30:00.480
 for loving those

00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:01.240
 who love us?

00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:03.620
 because when you

00:30:03.620 --> 00:30:04.180
 love people

00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:05.180
 who love you back,

00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:06.559
 you already

00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:07.620
 get your reward.

00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:12.900
 You pat your back

00:30:12.900 --> 00:30:13.900
 and they pat your back.

00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:15.160
 You give them a massage,

00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:15.920
 they give you a massage.

00:30:16.019 --> 00:30:16.599
 You greet them

00:30:16.599 --> 00:30:17.460
 and they greet you.

00:30:17.819 --> 00:30:18.359
 You give them,

00:30:18.460 --> 00:30:19.440
 oh, you're so great,

00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:20.000
 you're amazing.

00:30:20.120 --> 00:30:20.660
 Oh, they tell you

00:30:20.660 --> 00:30:21.220
 you're so great,

00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:21.740
 you're amazing.

00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.859
 You got all your rewards.

00:30:27.380 --> 00:30:28.640
 Luke makes this explicit

00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:29.660
 in a parallel passage,

00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:30.240
 chapter 6,

00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:31.220
 verse 32 to 36.

00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:32.000
 If you love those

00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:32.500
 who love you,

00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:33.700
 what benefit is that to you?

00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:34.940
 For even sinners

00:30:34.940 --> 00:30:36.079
 love those who love them

00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:38.140
 and if you lend to those,

00:30:38.220 --> 00:30:38.740
 skim forward,

00:30:38.859 --> 00:30:39.799
 if you lend to those

00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:40.720
 from whom you expect

00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:41.519
 to receive,

00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:43.339
 what credit is that to you?

00:30:43.779 --> 00:30:44.819
 Even sinners lend

00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:45.279
 to sinners

00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:46.500
 to get back the same.

00:30:47.319 --> 00:30:48.960
 But love your enemies

00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:50.200
 and do good

00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:51.579
 and lend expecting

00:30:51.579 --> 00:30:52.960
 nothing in return

00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:54.660
 and your reward

00:30:54.660 --> 00:30:55.859
 will be great.

00:30:56.920 --> 00:30:57.859
 The reason why

00:30:57.859 --> 00:30:58.720
 love for enemies

00:30:58.720 --> 00:30:59.259
 is rewarded

00:30:59.259 --> 00:31:00.319
 by our father in heaven

00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:01.000
 is because there's

00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:01.599
 no reward

00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:02.539
 for loving our enemies

00:31:02.539 --> 00:31:03.259
 here on earth.

00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:05.779
 You get nothing

00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:06.779
 back in return.

00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:08.399
 If we are looking

00:31:08.399 --> 00:31:09.200
 for rewards

00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:10.019
 here and now,

00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:10.759
 we will never

00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.519
 love our enemies.

00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:13.480
 I mean,

00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:14.059
 think about it

00:31:14.059 --> 00:31:14.879
 for a moment.

00:31:15.079 --> 00:31:15.460
 Is there,

00:31:16.039 --> 00:31:16.899
 can you think of

00:31:16.899 --> 00:31:18.779
 anything more

00:31:18.779 --> 00:31:20.039
 unrewarding

00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:20.859
 than loving your enemies?

00:31:20.859 --> 00:31:23.740
 you don't get

00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:24.419
 the satisfaction

00:31:24.419 --> 00:31:25.259
 of vengeance.

00:31:27.459 --> 00:31:28.119
 You don't get

00:31:28.119 --> 00:31:28.759
 the satisfaction

00:31:28.759 --> 00:31:29.539
 of justice.

00:31:32.679 --> 00:31:33.399
 You just

00:31:33.399 --> 00:31:34.759
 swallow your pride

00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:34.939
 and say,

00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:35.319
 oh, hey.

00:31:37.199 --> 00:31:37.959
 Hey there, enemy.

00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:40.159
 And then they just

00:31:40.159 --> 00:31:41.119
 glare at you

00:31:41.119 --> 00:31:41.639
 and give you

00:31:41.639 --> 00:31:42.159
 the cold shoulder

00:31:42.159 --> 00:31:42.819
 and walk away.

00:31:42.819 --> 00:31:42.899
 Okay.

00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:48.040
 you help them.

00:31:48.540 --> 00:31:48.700
 Oh,

00:31:49.220 --> 00:31:50.980
 fine,

00:31:51.060 --> 00:31:51.940
 I hope you help

00:31:51.940 --> 00:31:52.280
 them out

00:31:52.280 --> 00:31:52.620
 and then

00:31:52.620 --> 00:31:54.120
 you get nothing

00:31:54.120 --> 00:31:54.519
 back

00:31:54.519 --> 00:31:55.300
 and you're in need

00:31:55.300 --> 00:31:55.740
 and then they

00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:56.820
 don't do anything

00:31:56.820 --> 00:31:57.259
 for you.

00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:01.900
 Who wants

00:32:01.900 --> 00:32:02.460
 to keep doing

00:32:02.460 --> 00:32:02.759
 that?

00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:06.220
 Christians do

00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:07.620
 because

00:32:07.620 --> 00:32:08.500
 we are not

00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:08.920
 looking for

00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:09.380
 an earthly

00:32:09.380 --> 00:32:09.860
 reward

00:32:09.860 --> 00:32:10.500
 but a heavenly

00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:10.820
 one.

00:32:10.819 --> 00:32:14.019
 Our heavenly

00:32:14.019 --> 00:32:14.839
 father never

00:32:14.839 --> 00:32:15.720
 reneeds

00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.119
 on his

00:32:16.119 --> 00:32:16.639
 promises.

00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:18.259
 If he promises

00:32:18.259 --> 00:32:18.779
 a reward,

00:32:18.879 --> 00:32:19.700
 he will surely

00:32:19.700 --> 00:32:20.159
 give it.

00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:21.240
 And he promises

00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:21.559
 us,

00:32:21.619 --> 00:32:22.019
 Jesus says

00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:22.559
 in Matthew 10

00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:22.879
 42,

00:32:23.399 --> 00:32:23.960
 that not even

00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:24.779
 a cup of

00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:26.059
 cold water

00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:28.299
 that we give

00:32:28.299 --> 00:32:29.019
 to one of his

00:32:29.019 --> 00:32:29.519
 followers

00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:30.579
 will go

00:32:30.579 --> 00:32:31.519
 unrewarded.

00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:36.119
 If that's

00:32:36.119 --> 00:32:36.679
 how a cup

00:32:36.679 --> 00:32:37.359
 of cold water

00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:38.099
 to one of the

00:32:38.099 --> 00:32:38.879
 disciples of Jesus

00:32:38.879 --> 00:32:39.460
 gets rewarded,

00:32:39.799 --> 00:32:40.279
 then how about

00:32:40.279 --> 00:32:40.740
 a cup of

00:32:40.740 --> 00:32:41.120
 cold water

00:32:41.120 --> 00:32:41.380
 for an

00:32:41.380 --> 00:32:41.660
 enemy?

00:32:46.140 --> 00:32:46.880
 Hebrews 6

00:32:46.880 --> 00:32:47.259
 10 says,

00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:47.720
 for God

00:32:47.720 --> 00:32:48.059
 is not

00:32:48.059 --> 00:32:48.660
 unjust

00:32:48.660 --> 00:32:49.000
 so as to

00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:49.420
 overlook

00:32:49.420 --> 00:32:50.099
 your work

00:32:50.099 --> 00:32:50.660
 and the

00:32:50.660 --> 00:32:51.180
 love that

00:32:51.180 --> 00:32:51.500
 you have

00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:52.000
 shown.

00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:52.880
 God will

00:32:52.880 --> 00:32:53.380
 not

00:32:53.380 --> 00:32:54.140
 overlook

00:32:54.140 --> 00:32:55.259
 the love

00:32:55.259 --> 00:32:55.660
 that you

00:32:55.660 --> 00:32:56.140
 show to

00:32:56.140 --> 00:32:56.720
 your enemies

00:32:56.720 --> 00:32:57.640
 because God

00:32:57.640 --> 00:32:58.440
 sees and

00:32:58.440 --> 00:32:58.920
 he's not

00:32:58.920 --> 00:32:59.799
 unjust.

00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:01.019
 He will

00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:01.700
 reward you.

00:33:04.620 --> 00:33:05.099
 Sometimes

00:33:05.099 --> 00:33:05.819
 I think as

00:33:05.819 --> 00:33:06.279
 Christians we

00:33:06.279 --> 00:33:06.620
 can be a

00:33:06.620 --> 00:33:06.900
 little bit

00:33:06.900 --> 00:33:07.799
 sheepish about

00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:08.700
 seeking heavenly

00:33:08.700 --> 00:33:09.180
 reward.

00:33:09.180 --> 00:33:11.180
 we ask,

00:33:11.580 --> 00:33:11.960
 isn't it

00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:13.220
 sinful and

00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:14.500
 selfish of

00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:14.860
 us to

00:33:14.860 --> 00:33:15.820
 pursue heavenly

00:33:15.820 --> 00:33:16.519
 reward for

00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:16.940
 ourselves?

00:33:17.600 --> 00:33:18.019
 Shouldn't we

00:33:18.019 --> 00:33:18.560
 be more

00:33:18.560 --> 00:33:19.440
 altruistic?

00:33:20.900 --> 00:33:21.420
 Shouldn't we

00:33:21.420 --> 00:33:22.560
 do good deeds

00:33:22.560 --> 00:33:23.279
 not for some

00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:24.440
 reward but

00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:25.100
 out of our

00:33:25.100 --> 00:33:26.000
 gratitude and

00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:26.840
 obedience toward

00:33:26.840 --> 00:33:27.160
 God?

00:33:27.160 --> 00:33:27.200
 God?

00:33:29.320 --> 00:33:30.140
 Well, of

00:33:30.140 --> 00:33:31.100
 course, if

00:33:31.100 --> 00:33:31.660
 there were

00:33:31.660 --> 00:33:33.880
 such a thing

00:33:33.880 --> 00:33:34.200
 as a

00:33:34.200 --> 00:33:35.560
 Christian who

00:33:35.560 --> 00:33:36.279
 has no

00:33:36.279 --> 00:33:36.840
 love for

00:33:36.840 --> 00:33:37.140
 God

00:33:37.140 --> 00:33:37.860
 whatsoever

00:33:37.860 --> 00:33:39.660
 but he

00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:40.960
 just obeys

00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:41.640
 these commands

00:33:41.640 --> 00:33:43.680
 just thinking

00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:44.140
 about that

00:33:44.140 --> 00:33:44.920
 heavenly reward

00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:46.180
 like, oh, I

00:33:46.180 --> 00:33:46.380
 don't want

00:33:46.380 --> 00:33:46.860
 anything to do

00:33:46.860 --> 00:33:47.380
 with God but

00:33:47.380 --> 00:33:47.820
 oh man, I

00:33:47.820 --> 00:33:48.519
 want that.

00:33:50.200 --> 00:33:50.720
 Well, yeah, that

00:33:50.720 --> 00:33:51.160
 would obviously

00:33:51.160 --> 00:33:51.660
 be wrong.

00:33:51.660 --> 00:33:55.140
 But here's

00:33:55.140 --> 00:33:56.320
 the key.

00:33:57.860 --> 00:33:58.279
 Such a

00:33:58.279 --> 00:33:58.779
 Christian does

00:33:58.779 --> 00:33:59.360
 not exist

00:33:59.360 --> 00:34:03.460
 because only

00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:03.900
 those who

00:34:03.900 --> 00:34:04.779
 love God

00:34:04.779 --> 00:34:05.820
 truly obey

00:34:05.820 --> 00:34:07.840
 him from

00:34:07.840 --> 00:34:08.400
 the heart.

00:34:10.480 --> 00:34:11.139
 Love for

00:34:11.139 --> 00:34:11.720
 God and

00:34:11.720 --> 00:34:12.539
 obedience to

00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:13.260
 God cannot

00:34:13.260 --> 00:34:14.280
 be severed

00:34:14.280 --> 00:34:14.639
 from each

00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:15.039
 other and

00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:15.639
 many passages

00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:16.000
 of scripture

00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:16.680
 teach this.

00:34:17.099 --> 00:34:17.619
 Jesus says in

00:34:17.619 --> 00:34:18.539
 John 14, 15,

00:34:18.539 --> 00:34:20.119
 if you love

00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:21.340
 me, you

00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:22.179
 will keep

00:34:22.179 --> 00:34:22.860
 my commandments.

00:34:24.340 --> 00:34:25.179
 And why do

00:34:25.179 --> 00:34:25.739
 we love

00:34:25.739 --> 00:34:26.139
 God?

00:34:26.779 --> 00:34:27.699
 We love, it

00:34:27.699 --> 00:34:28.360
 says in 1 John

00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:29.519
 4, 19, because

00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:31.380
 he first loved

00:34:31.380 --> 00:34:31.880
 us.

00:34:32.219 --> 00:34:32.679
 It always

00:34:32.679 --> 00:34:33.179
 starts with

00:34:33.179 --> 00:34:33.599
 God, doesn't

00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:33.759
 it?

00:34:35.279 --> 00:34:36.440
 Philippians 2, 13

00:34:36.440 --> 00:34:37.099
 says it is

00:34:37.099 --> 00:34:38.139
 God who

00:34:38.139 --> 00:34:39.400
 works in you

00:34:39.400 --> 00:34:40.340
 both to

00:34:40.340 --> 00:34:40.980
 will and to

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:41.699
 work for his

00:34:41.699 --> 00:34:42.440
 good pleasure.

00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:43.559
 Without God

00:34:43.559 --> 00:34:44.759
 himself empowering

00:34:44.759 --> 00:34:45.820
 us by his

00:34:45.820 --> 00:34:46.659
 spirit, we

00:34:46.659 --> 00:34:47.860
 cannot ever

00:34:47.860 --> 00:34:48.380
 hope to love

00:34:48.380 --> 00:34:48.760
 our enemies.

00:34:49.360 --> 00:34:49.900
 We cannot

00:34:49.900 --> 00:34:50.500
 obey that

00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:50.920
 command and

00:34:50.920 --> 00:34:51.300
 do his

00:34:51.300 --> 00:34:51.680
 works.

00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:54.260
 Paul says

00:34:54.260 --> 00:34:54.840
 in 1 Corinthians

00:34:54.840 --> 00:34:55.539
 15, verse

00:34:55.539 --> 00:34:56.140
 10, I

00:34:56.140 --> 00:34:57.260
 worked harder

00:34:57.260 --> 00:34:57.980
 than any

00:34:57.980 --> 00:34:58.519
 of them,

00:34:58.800 --> 00:34:59.000
 though it

00:34:59.000 --> 00:34:59.400
 was not

00:34:59.400 --> 00:35:00.420
 I, but

00:35:00.420 --> 00:35:01.000
 the grace

00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:01.539
 of God

00:35:01.539 --> 00:35:02.099
 that is

00:35:02.099 --> 00:35:03.140
 with me.

00:35:05.220 --> 00:35:05.960
 All that

00:35:05.960 --> 00:35:06.320
 to say,

00:35:07.079 --> 00:35:07.700
 only a

00:35:07.700 --> 00:35:08.200
 Christian who

00:35:08.200 --> 00:35:09.480
 sincerely loves

00:35:09.480 --> 00:35:10.099
 God and

00:35:10.099 --> 00:35:10.680
 desires to

00:35:10.680 --> 00:35:11.400
 please him

00:35:11.400 --> 00:35:12.519
 will forego

00:35:12.519 --> 00:35:13.579
 earthly rewards

00:35:13.579 --> 00:35:14.320
 in pursuit of

00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:15.119
 heavenly rewards.

00:35:15.380 --> 00:35:16.140
 So don't be

00:35:16.140 --> 00:35:16.920
 bashful about

00:35:16.920 --> 00:35:18.360
 driving hard

00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:18.740
 for those

00:35:18.740 --> 00:35:19.519
 heavenly rewards.

00:35:22.240 --> 00:35:22.960
 That is

00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:23.640
 how God

00:35:23.640 --> 00:35:24.099
 wants us

00:35:24.099 --> 00:35:24.559
 to think,

00:35:25.180 --> 00:35:26.579
 to keep

00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:27.079
 a heavenly

00:35:27.079 --> 00:35:27.579
 perspective.

00:35:29.140 --> 00:35:30.059
 God offers

00:35:30.059 --> 00:35:30.460
 us these

00:35:30.460 --> 00:35:30.980
 heavenly rewards

00:35:30.980 --> 00:35:31.539
 to encourage

00:35:31.539 --> 00:35:32.640
 us, and

00:35:32.640 --> 00:35:33.000
 there's no

00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:33.680
 selfishness to

00:35:33.680 --> 00:35:34.120
 be motivated

00:35:34.120 --> 00:35:34.519
 by them.

00:35:35.340 --> 00:35:35.880
 Let me ask

00:35:35.880 --> 00:35:36.400
 you a

00:35:36.400 --> 00:35:36.740
 question.

00:35:37.860 --> 00:35:38.200
 I think,

00:35:39.660 --> 00:35:40.559
 are we hosting

00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:40.940
 the Olympics

00:35:40.940 --> 00:35:41.300
 next?

00:35:42.760 --> 00:35:43.200
 Yeah, so

00:35:43.200 --> 00:35:44.620
 if you ever

00:35:44.620 --> 00:35:44.980
 watch the

00:35:44.980 --> 00:35:45.300
 Olympics,

00:35:45.300 --> 00:35:47.160
 I love

00:35:47.160 --> 00:35:47.820
 watching the

00:35:47.820 --> 00:35:48.400
 track and

00:35:48.400 --> 00:35:48.960
 field events,

00:35:49.960 --> 00:35:50.480
 the sprints

00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:51.000
 especially,

00:35:51.280 --> 00:35:51.840
 or the,

00:35:52.220 --> 00:35:52.580
 you know,

00:35:53.880 --> 00:35:54.580
 not the

00:35:54.580 --> 00:35:54.820
 marathon,

00:35:54.920 --> 00:35:55.100
 it's just

00:35:55.100 --> 00:35:55.440
 too long,

00:35:55.500 --> 00:35:55.820
 you can't

00:35:55.820 --> 00:35:56.240
 watch it

00:35:56.240 --> 00:35:56.600
 for that

00:35:56.600 --> 00:35:56.760
 long.

00:35:57.140 --> 00:35:58.140
 But when

00:35:58.140 --> 00:35:59.260
 you watch

00:35:59.260 --> 00:36:00.060
 the Olympics

00:36:00.060 --> 00:36:01.240
 and you

00:36:01.240 --> 00:36:01.760
 see a

00:36:01.760 --> 00:36:02.060
 runner

00:36:02.060 --> 00:36:03.380
 cross the

00:36:03.380 --> 00:36:03.920
 finish line

00:36:03.920 --> 00:36:04.400
 first,

00:36:05.680 --> 00:36:06.160
 and then

00:36:06.160 --> 00:36:07.640
 you see the

00:36:07.640 --> 00:36:08.240
 runner just

00:36:08.240 --> 00:36:10.039
 collapse on

00:36:10.039 --> 00:36:10.580
 the floor

00:36:10.579 --> 00:36:11.880
 with just

00:36:11.880 --> 00:36:12.880
 overwhelmed

00:36:12.880 --> 00:36:13.739
 with emotion,

00:36:13.900 --> 00:36:14.420
 their chest

00:36:14.420 --> 00:36:15.340
 heaving,

00:36:15.460 --> 00:36:15.679
 and they're

00:36:15.679 --> 00:36:16.599
 just kicking

00:36:16.599 --> 00:36:17.319
 their hands

00:36:17.319 --> 00:36:17.579
 and their

00:36:17.579 --> 00:36:17.880
 faces,

00:36:18.059 --> 00:36:18.340
 and they're

00:36:18.340 --> 00:36:19.299
 crying,

00:36:19.500 --> 00:36:20.319
 and why are

00:36:20.319 --> 00:36:20.659
 they so

00:36:20.659 --> 00:36:21.360
 overcome with

00:36:21.360 --> 00:36:21.659
 emotion?

00:36:21.759 --> 00:36:22.539
 Because they

00:36:22.539 --> 00:36:23.920
 lived for

00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:24.460
 how many

00:36:24.460 --> 00:36:24.940
 years of

00:36:24.940 --> 00:36:25.500
 their life

00:36:25.500 --> 00:36:26.940
 with nothing

00:36:26.940 --> 00:36:27.659
 but that

00:36:27.659 --> 00:36:28.279
 moment as

00:36:28.279 --> 00:36:28.880
 their goal?

00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:31.219
 That's what

00:36:31.219 --> 00:36:31.719
 they lived

00:36:31.719 --> 00:36:31.920
 for.

00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:32.420
 That's what

00:36:32.420 --> 00:36:33.340
 they sacrificed

00:36:33.340 --> 00:36:33.799
 for.

00:36:34.779 --> 00:36:35.380
 That's what

00:36:35.380 --> 00:36:36.059
 they gave up

00:36:36.059 --> 00:36:36.599
 their life

00:36:36.599 --> 00:36:36.900
 for.

00:36:37.799 --> 00:36:38.420
 That's what

00:36:38.420 --> 00:36:40.279
 they had in

00:36:40.280 --> 00:36:40.660
 mind when

00:36:40.660 --> 00:36:41.060
 they gave

00:36:41.060 --> 00:36:41.420
 up all

00:36:41.420 --> 00:36:41.880
 the good

00:36:41.880 --> 00:36:42.220
 delicious

00:36:42.220 --> 00:36:42.720
 things that

00:36:42.720 --> 00:36:43.160
 other people

00:36:43.160 --> 00:36:43.460
 eat that

00:36:43.460 --> 00:36:43.900
 they cannot

00:36:43.900 --> 00:36:44.280
 eat.

00:36:45.420 --> 00:36:46.000
 That's what

00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:46.240
 they were

00:36:46.240 --> 00:36:46.660
 thinking about

00:36:46.660 --> 00:36:46.940
 when they

00:36:46.940 --> 00:36:47.280
 went through

00:36:47.280 --> 00:36:47.840
 all those

00:36:47.840 --> 00:36:48.380
 grueling

00:36:48.380 --> 00:36:49.240
 exercises with

00:36:49.240 --> 00:36:49.640
 blood,

00:36:49.800 --> 00:36:50.019
 sweat,

00:36:50.080 --> 00:36:50.580
 and tears.

00:36:52.780 --> 00:36:53.440
 That's what

00:36:53.440 --> 00:36:53.760
 they were

00:36:53.760 --> 00:36:54.580
 driving for.

00:36:55.780 --> 00:36:56.300
 And how

00:36:56.300 --> 00:36:56.780
 many of us

00:36:56.780 --> 00:36:57.200
 look at

00:36:57.200 --> 00:36:58.300
 that and

00:36:58.300 --> 00:36:58.640
 then think

00:36:58.640 --> 00:36:59.200
 to ourselves,

00:37:00.140 --> 00:37:00.380
 oh,

00:37:00.540 --> 00:37:01.700
 how selfish.

00:37:04.660 --> 00:37:05.380
 I can't

00:37:05.380 --> 00:37:05.780
 believe he

00:37:05.780 --> 00:37:06.500
 just won a

00:37:06.500 --> 00:37:06.920
 gold medal

00:37:06.920 --> 00:37:07.560
 just so he

00:37:07.560 --> 00:37:08.340
 could be a

00:37:08.340 --> 00:37:08.940
 gold medalist.

00:37:09.019 --> 00:37:09.420
 That's so

00:37:09.420 --> 00:37:09.820
 selfish.

00:37:10.280 --> 00:37:11.500
 Who thinks

00:37:11.500 --> 00:37:11.880
 that way?

00:37:13.580 --> 00:37:14.240
 None of us

00:37:14.240 --> 00:37:15.000
 think that

00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:15.180
 way.

00:37:17.400 --> 00:37:18.080
 Because there's

00:37:18.080 --> 00:37:19.700
 something good

00:37:19.700 --> 00:37:21.420
 about

00:37:21.420 --> 00:37:22.400
 persevering

00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:25.000
 and running

00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:25.400
 toward a

00:37:25.400 --> 00:37:25.760
 gold like

00:37:25.760 --> 00:37:26.040
 that.

00:37:32.460 --> 00:37:32.980
 Is there

00:37:32.980 --> 00:37:33.620
 idolatry

00:37:33.620 --> 00:37:33.780
 there?

00:37:33.840 --> 00:37:33.960
 Yeah,

00:37:34.019 --> 00:37:34.340
 probably,

00:37:34.519 --> 00:37:34.880
 but I'm

00:37:34.880 --> 00:37:35.100
 just,

00:37:35.380 --> 00:37:35.960
 don't worry

00:37:35.960 --> 00:37:36.280
 about it.

00:37:36.320 --> 00:37:36.440
 Yeah,

00:37:36.440 --> 00:37:39.559
 just stick

00:37:39.559 --> 00:37:39.800
 with the

00:37:39.800 --> 00:37:40.079
 point that

00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:40.300
 I'm trying

00:37:40.300 --> 00:37:40.559
 to make.

00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:40.760
 Yeah.

00:37:46.340 --> 00:37:46.780
 And

00:37:46.780 --> 00:37:47.340
 ultimately,

00:37:47.519 --> 00:37:47.820
 the gold

00:37:47.820 --> 00:37:48.240
 medal for

00:37:48.240 --> 00:37:48.820
 that man

00:37:48.820 --> 00:37:49.800
 redounds the

00:37:49.800 --> 00:37:50.320
 glory of his

00:37:50.320 --> 00:37:50.880
 country too,

00:37:50.940 --> 00:37:51.320
 doesn't it?

00:37:51.320 --> 00:37:59.019
 do you

00:37:59.019 --> 00:37:59.780
 know that,

00:37:59.920 --> 00:38:00.360
 do you not

00:38:00.360 --> 00:38:00.860
 know that in

00:38:00.860 --> 00:38:01.900
 a race all

00:38:01.900 --> 00:38:02.300
 the runners

00:38:02.300 --> 00:38:02.960
 run but only

00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:03.640
 one receives

00:38:03.640 --> 00:38:04.140
 the prize?

00:38:04.580 --> 00:38:05.539
 So run that

00:38:05.539 --> 00:38:06.660
 you may obtain

00:38:06.660 --> 00:38:06.940
 it.

00:38:07.220 --> 00:38:07.760
 1 Corinthians

00:38:07.760 --> 00:38:08.080
 9,

00:38:08.140 --> 00:38:09.160
 24 to 25.

00:38:10.039 --> 00:38:11.000
 Every athlete

00:38:11.000 --> 00:38:12.559
 exercises self-control

00:38:12.559 --> 00:38:13.360
 in all things.

00:38:13.440 --> 00:38:14.059
 They do it to

00:38:14.059 --> 00:38:14.700
 receive a

00:38:14.700 --> 00:38:15.300
 perishable

00:38:15.300 --> 00:38:15.680
 wreath,

00:38:16.000 --> 00:38:16.539
 but we

00:38:16.539 --> 00:38:16.800
 an

00:38:16.800 --> 00:38:17.920
 imperishable

00:38:17.920 --> 00:38:18.220
 wreath.

00:38:18.219 --> 00:38:21.219
 God will

00:38:21.219 --> 00:38:22.039
 not overlook

00:38:22.039 --> 00:38:22.559
 your love

00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:22.859
 for your

00:38:22.859 --> 00:38:23.159
 enemies.

00:38:24.239 --> 00:38:24.919
 You will

00:38:24.919 --> 00:38:25.500
 be rewarded

00:38:25.500 --> 00:38:26.000
 for it.

00:38:27.119 --> 00:38:27.559
 And that

00:38:27.559 --> 00:38:28.379
 reward will

00:38:28.379 --> 00:38:29.059
 ultimately

00:38:29.059 --> 00:38:29.639
 redound to

00:38:29.639 --> 00:38:29.980
 the glory

00:38:29.980 --> 00:38:30.359
 of God

00:38:30.359 --> 00:38:30.859
 the Father.

00:38:31.239 --> 00:38:31.539
 It will

00:38:31.539 --> 00:38:31.939
 be no

00:38:31.939 --> 00:38:32.239
 selfish

00:38:32.239 --> 00:38:32.579
 thing.

00:38:36.579 --> 00:38:37.139
 That's the

00:38:37.139 --> 00:38:37.819
 first motivation,

00:38:38.000 --> 00:38:38.599
 heavenly rewards.

00:38:38.739 --> 00:38:39.119
 And here's the

00:38:39.119 --> 00:38:39.779
 second motivation,

00:38:39.980 --> 00:38:40.659
 resemblance to

00:38:40.659 --> 00:38:40.939
 our heavenly

00:38:40.939 --> 00:38:41.279
 Father.

00:38:41.359 --> 00:38:41.699
 It says in

00:38:41.699 --> 00:38:42.399
 verse 45,

00:38:42.899 --> 00:38:43.519
 love your

00:38:43.519 --> 00:38:44.579
 enemies and

00:38:44.579 --> 00:38:45.339
 pray for those

00:38:45.339 --> 00:38:45.859
 who persecute

00:38:45.859 --> 00:38:47.099
 you so that

00:38:47.099 --> 00:38:48.039
 you may be

00:38:48.039 --> 00:38:48.639
 sons of your

00:38:48.639 --> 00:38:49.159
 Father who

00:38:49.159 --> 00:38:49.400
 is in

00:38:49.400 --> 00:38:49.619
 heaven.

00:38:50.199 --> 00:38:50.559
 For he

00:38:50.559 --> 00:38:50.980
 makes his

00:38:50.980 --> 00:38:51.820
 sun rise

00:38:51.820 --> 00:38:52.139
 on the

00:38:52.139 --> 00:38:52.539
 evil and

00:38:52.539 --> 00:38:52.880
 on the

00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:53.500
 good and

00:38:53.500 --> 00:38:54.179
 sends rain

00:38:54.179 --> 00:38:54.460
 on the

00:38:54.460 --> 00:38:54.940
 just and

00:38:54.940 --> 00:38:55.320
 on the

00:38:55.320 --> 00:38:55.900
 unjust.

00:38:57.300 --> 00:38:58.159
 This does

00:38:58.159 --> 00:38:58.820
 not mean

00:38:58.820 --> 00:38:59.980
 that the

00:38:59.980 --> 00:39:00.880
 condition of

00:39:00.880 --> 00:39:01.820
 our sonship

00:39:01.820 --> 00:39:02.340
 is our

00:39:02.340 --> 00:39:03.300
 good works,

00:39:03.420 --> 00:39:03.739
 our love

00:39:03.739 --> 00:39:04.000
 for our

00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:04.219
 enemies.

00:39:06.659 --> 00:39:07.440
 It doesn't

00:39:07.440 --> 00:39:07.860
 say that we

00:39:07.860 --> 00:39:09.079
 become children

00:39:09.079 --> 00:39:09.699
 of God by

00:39:09.699 --> 00:39:10.099
 loving our

00:39:10.099 --> 00:39:10.400
 enemies.

00:39:10.880 --> 00:39:11.519
 Galatians 3,

00:39:11.579 --> 00:39:12.360
 26 is

00:39:12.360 --> 00:39:13.079
 clear.

00:39:13.239 --> 00:39:13.440
 It says,

00:39:13.639 --> 00:39:13.980
 for in

00:39:13.980 --> 00:39:15.019
 Christ Jesus,

00:39:15.320 --> 00:39:16.059
 you are all

00:39:16.059 --> 00:39:16.739
 sons of

00:39:16.739 --> 00:39:17.699
 God through

00:39:17.699 --> 00:39:18.679
 faith.

00:39:19.019 --> 00:39:19.239
 We are

00:39:19.239 --> 00:39:19.759
 saved by

00:39:19.759 --> 00:39:20.460
 grace through

00:39:20.460 --> 00:39:21.339
 faith alone.

00:39:21.939 --> 00:39:22.439
 Christians are

00:39:22.439 --> 00:39:22.859
 saved and

00:39:22.859 --> 00:39:23.559
 adopted as

00:39:23.559 --> 00:39:24.059
 sons by

00:39:24.059 --> 00:39:24.699
 grace and

00:39:24.699 --> 00:39:25.559
 through faith

00:39:25.559 --> 00:39:26.299
 alone, not

00:39:26.299 --> 00:39:26.799
 by our

00:39:26.799 --> 00:39:27.299
 good works,

00:39:27.559 --> 00:39:28.019
 not by

00:39:28.019 --> 00:39:28.460
 loving our

00:39:28.460 --> 00:39:28.719
 enemies.

00:39:29.579 --> 00:39:30.000
 What does

00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:30.299
 it mean

00:39:30.299 --> 00:39:30.919
 then that we

00:39:30.919 --> 00:39:31.359
 should love

00:39:31.359 --> 00:39:31.719
 our enemies

00:39:31.719 --> 00:39:32.739
 so that we

00:39:32.739 --> 00:39:33.339
 may be sons

00:39:33.339 --> 00:39:33.539
 of our

00:39:33.539 --> 00:39:33.879
 Father who

00:39:33.879 --> 00:39:34.079
 is in

00:39:34.079 --> 00:39:34.279
 heaven?

00:39:35.339 --> 00:39:35.599
 The

00:39:35.599 --> 00:39:36.119
 expression

00:39:36.119 --> 00:39:37.379
 son of

00:39:37.379 --> 00:39:38.839
 something is

00:39:38.839 --> 00:39:39.319
 a Hebrew

00:39:39.319 --> 00:39:40.259
 idiom that

00:39:40.259 --> 00:39:40.980
 doesn't always

00:39:40.980 --> 00:39:41.539
 refer to

00:39:41.539 --> 00:39:42.859
 literal paternity.

00:39:44.219 --> 00:39:44.719
 For example,

00:39:44.839 --> 00:39:45.319
 when Psalm

00:39:45.319 --> 00:39:46.439
 89 verse 22

00:39:46.440 --> 00:39:47.019
 refers to

00:39:47.019 --> 00:39:47.519
 the wicked,

00:39:47.760 --> 00:39:48.220
 it calls

00:39:48.220 --> 00:39:48.659
 the wicked

00:39:48.659 --> 00:39:49.740
 a son of

00:39:49.740 --> 00:39:50.340
 wickedness.

00:39:51.559 --> 00:39:51.960
 Wickedness

00:39:51.960 --> 00:39:52.720
 doesn't have

00:39:52.720 --> 00:39:53.320
 children.

00:39:53.519 --> 00:39:54.220
 This is a

00:39:54.220 --> 00:39:54.440
 metaphor.

00:39:55.119 --> 00:39:56.099
 Proverbs 31

00:39:56.099 --> 00:39:56.599
 verse 5

00:39:56.599 --> 00:39:57.320
 describes those

00:39:57.320 --> 00:39:57.559
 who are

00:39:57.559 --> 00:39:58.139
 afflicted

00:39:58.139 --> 00:39:58.700
 literally as

00:39:58.700 --> 00:39:59.559
 sons of

00:39:59.559 --> 00:40:00.380
 affliction.

00:40:01.019 --> 00:40:01.420
 Deuteronomy

00:40:01.420 --> 00:40:02.019
 3.18

00:40:02.019 --> 00:40:02.500
 describes

00:40:02.500 --> 00:40:03.340
 courageous men

00:40:03.340 --> 00:40:04.200
 as sons

00:40:04.200 --> 00:40:05.480
 of valor.

00:40:05.960 --> 00:40:06.260
 So when

00:40:06.260 --> 00:40:07.099
 Jesus says,

00:40:07.480 --> 00:40:08.340
 so that you

00:40:08.340 --> 00:40:09.480
 may be sons

00:40:09.480 --> 00:40:10.079
 of your

00:40:10.079 --> 00:40:10.720
 Father who

00:40:10.720 --> 00:40:10.900
 is in

00:40:10.900 --> 00:40:11.079
 heaven,

00:40:11.220 --> 00:40:11.619
 he's not

00:40:11.619 --> 00:40:12.260
 talking about

00:40:12.260 --> 00:40:13.240
 your status,

00:40:13.239 --> 00:40:14.099
 but about

00:40:14.099 --> 00:40:15.079
 your resemblance.

00:40:17.059 --> 00:40:17.619
 The

00:40:17.619 --> 00:40:18.159
 followers of

00:40:18.159 --> 00:40:18.719
 Christ are

00:40:18.719 --> 00:40:19.779
 already adopted

00:40:19.779 --> 00:40:20.379
 children of

00:40:20.379 --> 00:40:20.679
 God,

00:40:20.859 --> 00:40:21.579
 but when we

00:40:21.579 --> 00:40:22.079
 love our

00:40:22.079 --> 00:40:22.619
 enemies and

00:40:22.619 --> 00:40:23.259
 do good to

00:40:23.259 --> 00:40:23.659
 those who

00:40:23.659 --> 00:40:24.219
 hate us,

00:40:24.379 --> 00:40:25.239
 we act

00:40:25.239 --> 00:40:26.179
 like God.

00:40:26.539 --> 00:40:27.419
 We behave

00:40:27.419 --> 00:40:28.299
 like God.

00:40:28.779 --> 00:40:29.799
 For he

00:40:29.799 --> 00:40:30.519
 makes his

00:40:30.519 --> 00:40:31.459
 sun rise

00:40:31.459 --> 00:40:31.739
 on the

00:40:31.739 --> 00:40:32.299
 evil and

00:40:32.299 --> 00:40:32.759
 on the

00:40:32.759 --> 00:40:33.479
 good and

00:40:33.479 --> 00:40:34.299
 sends rain

00:40:34.299 --> 00:40:34.599
 on the

00:40:34.599 --> 00:40:35.119
 just and

00:40:35.119 --> 00:40:35.579
 on the

00:40:35.579 --> 00:40:36.199
 unjust.

00:40:37.479 --> 00:40:38.459
 Verse 48

00:40:38.459 --> 00:40:39.319
 clinches this

00:40:39.319 --> 00:40:39.919
 interpretation.

00:40:39.920 --> 00:40:40.460
 You

00:40:40.460 --> 00:40:40.920
 therefore

00:40:40.920 --> 00:40:41.519
 must be

00:40:41.519 --> 00:40:42.800
 perfect as

00:40:42.800 --> 00:40:43.920
 your heavenly

00:40:43.920 --> 00:40:45.159
 Father is

00:40:45.159 --> 00:40:45.740
 perfect.

00:40:46.039 --> 00:40:46.460
 Again,

00:40:46.599 --> 00:40:47.039
 it's not

00:40:47.039 --> 00:40:47.900
 about status,

00:40:48.200 --> 00:40:48.619
 it's about

00:40:48.619 --> 00:40:49.519
 your resemblance.

00:40:50.519 --> 00:40:51.280
 We ought

00:40:51.280 --> 00:40:51.740
 to act

00:40:51.740 --> 00:40:52.360
 like God,

00:40:52.440 --> 00:40:52.920
 not so that

00:40:52.920 --> 00:40:53.159
 we can

00:40:53.159 --> 00:40:54.019
 become sons

00:40:54.019 --> 00:40:54.300
 of God,

00:40:54.360 --> 00:40:54.980
 but because

00:40:54.980 --> 00:40:55.960
 we are

00:40:55.960 --> 00:40:56.820
 sons of

00:40:56.820 --> 00:40:57.180
 God.

00:40:59.780 --> 00:41:00.420
 Like

00:41:00.420 --> 00:41:00.840
 Father,

00:41:01.099 --> 00:41:01.300
 like

00:41:01.300 --> 00:41:01.680
 Son.

00:41:03.519 --> 00:41:04.360
 We all

00:41:04.360 --> 00:41:05.059
 expect children

00:41:05.059 --> 00:41:05.539
 to resemble

00:41:05.539 --> 00:41:06.059
 their parents,

00:41:06.139 --> 00:41:06.420
 don't we?

00:41:08.159 --> 00:41:09.139
 I remember

00:41:09.139 --> 00:41:09.900
 seeing a

00:41:09.900 --> 00:41:10.760
 doctored

00:41:10.760 --> 00:41:12.240
 photo on

00:41:12.240 --> 00:41:12.720
 the internet

00:41:12.720 --> 00:41:14.980
 of a

00:41:14.980 --> 00:41:15.780
 family with

00:41:15.780 --> 00:41:16.780
 a gorgeous

00:41:16.780 --> 00:41:17.980
 couple,

00:41:18.920 --> 00:41:19.420
 like they

00:41:19.420 --> 00:41:19.740
 looked like

00:41:19.740 --> 00:41:20.099
 models,

00:41:20.599 --> 00:41:21.160
 the father

00:41:21.160 --> 00:41:21.480
 and mom,

00:41:21.920 --> 00:41:22.340
 and then

00:41:22.340 --> 00:41:22.619
 they had

00:41:22.619 --> 00:41:23.039
 like three

00:41:23.039 --> 00:41:23.380
 or four

00:41:23.380 --> 00:41:23.760
 children,

00:41:24.220 --> 00:41:24.500
 and they

00:41:24.500 --> 00:41:25.119
 were so

00:41:25.119 --> 00:41:25.500
 ugly.

00:41:26.980 --> 00:41:27.539
 Yeah.

00:41:30.900 --> 00:41:31.700
 It was

00:41:31.700 --> 00:41:32.920
 an advertisement

00:41:32.920 --> 00:41:34.280
 for plastic

00:41:34.280 --> 00:41:36.320
 surgery with

00:41:36.320 --> 00:41:36.940
 the tagline

00:41:36.940 --> 00:41:37.460
 that read,

00:41:37.760 --> 00:41:38.079
 the only

00:41:38.079 --> 00:41:38.599
 thing you'll

00:41:38.599 --> 00:41:39.119
 ever have to

00:41:39.119 --> 00:41:39.500
 worry about

00:41:39.500 --> 00:41:39.820
 is having

00:41:39.820 --> 00:41:40.280
 to explain

00:41:40.280 --> 00:41:40.500
 it to

00:41:40.500 --> 00:41:40.900
 the kids.

00:41:43.840 --> 00:41:44.239
 We

00:41:44.239 --> 00:41:45.280
 expect a

00:41:45.280 --> 00:41:45.539
 handsome

00:41:45.539 --> 00:41:46.280
 couple to

00:41:46.280 --> 00:41:46.500
 have

00:41:46.500 --> 00:41:46.840
 handsome

00:41:46.840 --> 00:41:47.260
 kids,

00:41:47.320 --> 00:41:47.599
 don't we?

00:41:52.119 --> 00:41:52.599
 I mean,

00:41:52.639 --> 00:41:53.039
 look at my

00:41:53.039 --> 00:41:53.280
 kids.

00:41:53.360 --> 00:41:53.760
 Just kidding.

00:41:56.099 --> 00:41:56.639
 I know

00:41:56.639 --> 00:41:56.900
 it's from

00:41:56.900 --> 00:41:57.159
 the Hannah

00:41:57.159 --> 00:41:57.460
 side,

00:41:57.519 --> 00:41:57.719
 everybody

00:41:57.719 --> 00:41:58.199
 tells me.

00:41:58.199 --> 00:41:58.480
 Yeah.

00:42:01.639 --> 00:42:02.579
 We expect

00:42:02.579 --> 00:42:03.239
 intelligent

00:42:03.239 --> 00:42:04.159
 people,

00:42:04.360 --> 00:42:05.179
 an intelligent

00:42:05.179 --> 00:42:05.559
 couple to

00:42:05.559 --> 00:42:06.059
 have intelligent

00:42:06.059 --> 00:42:06.420
 kids,

00:42:06.460 --> 00:42:06.760
 don't we?

00:42:06.760 --> 00:42:11.660
 likewise,

00:42:12.060 --> 00:42:12.580
 as those

00:42:12.580 --> 00:42:12.800
 who have

00:42:12.800 --> 00:42:13.320
 been united

00:42:13.320 --> 00:42:14.220
 with Jesus

00:42:14.220 --> 00:42:14.660
 Christ,

00:42:14.760 --> 00:42:15.380
 God's only

00:42:15.380 --> 00:42:15.780
 son,

00:42:15.860 --> 00:42:16.680
 by faith,

00:42:16.980 --> 00:42:17.920
 we share

00:42:17.920 --> 00:42:18.640
 in his

00:42:18.640 --> 00:42:19.380
 sonship.

00:42:19.680 --> 00:42:20.100
 That's why

00:42:20.100 --> 00:42:20.480
 he calls

00:42:20.480 --> 00:42:21.140
 us sons,

00:42:21.720 --> 00:42:23.400
 because we're

00:42:23.400 --> 00:42:24.020
 in Jesus

00:42:24.020 --> 00:42:24.520
 Christ.

00:42:25.580 --> 00:42:25.760
 Therefore,

00:42:25.860 --> 00:42:26.520
 it is fitting

00:42:26.520 --> 00:42:27.360
 that we

00:42:27.360 --> 00:42:28.580
 resemble our

00:42:28.580 --> 00:42:28.960
 heavenly

00:42:28.960 --> 00:42:29.720
 father who

00:42:29.720 --> 00:42:30.840
 blesses even

00:42:30.840 --> 00:42:31.460
 his enemies

00:42:31.460 --> 00:42:32.580
 by making

00:42:32.580 --> 00:42:33.080
 his son

00:42:33.080 --> 00:42:33.640
 rise on the

00:42:33.640 --> 00:42:34.140
 evil and on

00:42:34.140 --> 00:42:34.600
 the good and

00:42:34.600 --> 00:42:35.460
 sends rain on

00:42:35.460 --> 00:42:35.960
 the just and

00:42:35.960 --> 00:42:36.539
 the unjust.

00:42:37.659 --> 00:42:38.280
 Did you notice

00:42:38.280 --> 00:42:39.059
 that possessive

00:42:39.059 --> 00:42:39.420
 pronoun,

00:42:39.679 --> 00:42:40.000
 his?

00:42:41.179 --> 00:42:41.840
 It highlights

00:42:41.840 --> 00:42:42.860
 God's benevolence.

00:42:43.360 --> 00:42:43.740
 It doesn't say

00:42:43.740 --> 00:42:44.519
 God makes the

00:42:44.519 --> 00:42:45.519
 son rise.

00:42:46.000 --> 00:42:46.480
 It says God

00:42:46.480 --> 00:42:47.720
 makes his

00:42:47.720 --> 00:42:49.240
 son rise on

00:42:49.240 --> 00:42:49.880
 the evil and

00:42:49.880 --> 00:42:50.539
 on the good.

00:42:52.860 --> 00:42:53.780
 We humans

00:42:53.780 --> 00:42:54.679
 live like,

00:42:54.980 --> 00:42:55.699
 live as the

00:42:55.699 --> 00:42:56.900
 entitled people,

00:42:57.119 --> 00:42:57.800
 like we like,

00:42:57.880 --> 00:42:58.220
 as if we're

00:42:58.220 --> 00:42:59.059
 entitled to this

00:42:59.059 --> 00:42:59.599
 rising son,

00:42:59.599 --> 00:42:59.760
 oh,

00:42:59.820 --> 00:43:00.199
 that's our

00:43:00.199 --> 00:43:00.519
 son.

00:43:01.619 --> 00:43:02.280
 Every day we

00:43:02.280 --> 00:43:02.900
 count on it.

00:43:02.900 --> 00:43:04.900
 But God

00:43:04.900 --> 00:43:05.220
 says,

00:43:05.340 --> 00:43:05.460
 no,

00:43:05.579 --> 00:43:06.420
 that is my

00:43:06.420 --> 00:43:06.940
 son.

00:43:08.400 --> 00:43:09.340
 Every time it

00:43:09.340 --> 00:43:09.900
 comes up,

00:43:09.940 --> 00:43:10.619
 it's an expression

00:43:10.619 --> 00:43:11.440
 of my grace

00:43:11.440 --> 00:43:12.019
 toward you.

00:43:13.340 --> 00:43:14.059
 My grace,

00:43:14.300 --> 00:43:14.680
 mercy,

00:43:14.780 --> 00:43:15.260
 and blessing

00:43:15.260 --> 00:43:15.800
 to you.

00:43:16.960 --> 00:43:17.639
 We take it

00:43:17.639 --> 00:43:18.059
 for granted,

00:43:18.200 --> 00:43:18.760
 but the son

00:43:18.760 --> 00:43:19.360
 that keeps us

00:43:19.360 --> 00:43:20.099
 warm and makes

00:43:20.099 --> 00:43:20.860
 the crops grow

00:43:20.860 --> 00:43:21.700
 and infuses

00:43:21.700 --> 00:43:22.700
 our skins

00:43:22.700 --> 00:43:23.260
 with vitamin

00:43:23.260 --> 00:43:24.639
 D is his

00:43:24.639 --> 00:43:25.019
 son.

00:43:27.180 --> 00:43:27.860
 And God

00:43:27.860 --> 00:43:28.579
 makes it rise

00:43:28.579 --> 00:43:29.200
 on the evil

00:43:29.200 --> 00:43:29.880
 people and on

00:43:29.880 --> 00:43:30.340
 good people.

00:43:30.340 --> 00:43:32.700
 He doesn't

00:43:32.700 --> 00:43:33.260
 have to do

00:43:33.260 --> 00:43:33.559
 that,

00:43:34.280 --> 00:43:35.140
 yet he does

00:43:35.140 --> 00:43:35.440
 that.

00:43:37.100 --> 00:43:37.380
 God

00:43:37.380 --> 00:43:38.059
 sovereignly

00:43:38.059 --> 00:43:38.980
 and providentially

00:43:38.980 --> 00:43:39.440
 makes the

00:43:39.440 --> 00:43:39.900
 sun rise

00:43:39.900 --> 00:43:40.460
 every single

00:43:40.460 --> 00:43:40.740
 morning,

00:43:40.800 --> 00:43:41.420
 even on the

00:43:41.420 --> 00:43:42.039
 very people

00:43:42.039 --> 00:43:42.579
 who rebel

00:43:42.579 --> 00:43:43.260
 against him

00:43:43.260 --> 00:43:44.000
 and besmirch

00:43:44.000 --> 00:43:44.460
 his name.

00:43:46.880 --> 00:43:47.720
 In the same

00:43:47.720 --> 00:43:47.960
 way,

00:43:48.059 --> 00:43:48.720
 he makes the

00:43:48.720 --> 00:43:49.800
 rain come

00:43:49.800 --> 00:43:50.200
 down,

00:43:50.579 --> 00:43:50.960
 makes the

00:43:50.960 --> 00:43:51.800
 crops grow

00:43:51.800 --> 00:43:52.760
 to cool the

00:43:52.760 --> 00:43:53.280
 hot summer

00:43:53.280 --> 00:43:53.740
 days,

00:43:54.280 --> 00:43:54.720
 fills the

00:43:54.720 --> 00:43:55.039
 land with

00:43:55.039 --> 00:43:55.539
 water for

00:43:55.539 --> 00:43:56.140
 us to drink.

00:43:57.180 --> 00:43:57.680
 The rain

00:43:57.680 --> 00:43:58.100
 doesn't come

00:43:58.100 --> 00:43:58.559
 of its own

00:43:58.559 --> 00:43:58.920
 accord.

00:43:58.920 --> 00:44:00.240
 Yeah,

00:44:00.360 --> 00:44:00.599
 sure,

00:44:00.740 --> 00:44:01.360
 evaporation,

00:44:01.539 --> 00:44:02.099
 condensation,

00:44:03.039 --> 00:44:03.440
 but who

00:44:03.440 --> 00:44:04.860
 upholds the

00:44:04.860 --> 00:44:05.539
 universe by

00:44:05.539 --> 00:44:06.039
 the word of

00:44:06.039 --> 00:44:06.559
 his power?

00:44:06.680 --> 00:44:07.840
 Who upholds

00:44:07.840 --> 00:44:08.440
 and maintains

00:44:08.440 --> 00:44:09.220
 the laws of

00:44:09.220 --> 00:44:09.579
 nature?

00:44:10.740 --> 00:44:11.440
 It's the

00:44:11.440 --> 00:44:11.780
 creator,

00:44:11.900 --> 00:44:12.139
 the Lord

00:44:12.139 --> 00:44:12.519
 God.

00:44:12.639 --> 00:44:13.340
 He sends

00:44:13.340 --> 00:44:13.900
 rain to

00:44:13.900 --> 00:44:14.260
 us.

00:44:19.480 --> 00:44:20.200
 It says

00:44:20.200 --> 00:44:20.619
 in Acts

00:44:20.619 --> 00:44:21.300
 17,

00:44:21.420 --> 00:44:21.960
 25,

00:44:21.960 --> 00:44:22.900
 God himself

00:44:22.900 --> 00:44:24.059
 gives us,

00:44:24.180 --> 00:44:24.820
 all mankind,

00:44:25.480 --> 00:44:26.400
 life and

00:44:26.400 --> 00:44:27.680
 breath and

00:44:27.679 --> 00:44:28.559
 everything

00:44:28.559 --> 00:44:29.099
 else.

00:44:31.099 --> 00:44:32.079
 It says

00:44:32.079 --> 00:44:32.519
 that in

00:44:32.519 --> 00:44:33.460
 him we

00:44:33.460 --> 00:44:34.539
 live and

00:44:34.539 --> 00:44:35.599
 move and

00:44:35.599 --> 00:44:36.359
 have our

00:44:36.359 --> 00:44:36.799
 being.

00:44:37.719 --> 00:44:39.219
 Every single

00:44:39.219 --> 00:44:40.440
 moment that

00:44:40.440 --> 00:44:41.119
 we live,

00:44:41.419 --> 00:44:42.099
 we are alive

00:44:42.099 --> 00:44:42.619
 because God

00:44:42.619 --> 00:44:43.539
 sustains us and

00:44:43.539 --> 00:44:44.179
 gives us

00:44:44.179 --> 00:44:44.579
 breath.

00:44:45.159 --> 00:44:46.059
 Every day

00:44:46.059 --> 00:44:47.539
 we receive a

00:44:47.539 --> 00:44:49.039
 thousand undeserved

00:44:49.039 --> 00:44:50.079
 gifts of God's

00:44:50.079 --> 00:44:51.199
 grace and yet

00:44:51.199 --> 00:44:52.299
 so often

00:44:52.299 --> 00:44:53.639
 we fixate

00:44:53.639 --> 00:44:54.739
 on the one

00:44:54.739 --> 00:44:55.519
 or two things

00:44:55.519 --> 00:44:56.039
 that we don't

00:44:56.039 --> 00:44:56.579
 have that we

00:44:56.579 --> 00:44:57.239
 wish we had.

00:44:57.679 --> 00:45:04.000
 And then we

00:45:04.000 --> 00:45:04.699
 grumble against

00:45:04.699 --> 00:45:05.019
 God.

00:45:05.819 --> 00:45:06.460
 We resent

00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:06.839
 him.

00:45:08.039 --> 00:45:08.539
 Instead,

00:45:09.179 --> 00:45:09.980
 if we knew

00:45:09.980 --> 00:45:10.960
 the reality,

00:45:11.659 --> 00:45:12.379
 if we knew

00:45:12.379 --> 00:45:12.960
 the true

00:45:12.960 --> 00:45:13.779
 state of

00:45:13.779 --> 00:45:14.219
 things,

00:45:14.579 --> 00:45:15.519
 every single

00:45:15.519 --> 00:45:16.179
 one of us

00:45:16.179 --> 00:45:17.019
 would abound

00:45:17.019 --> 00:45:17.940
 in thanksgiving

00:45:17.940 --> 00:45:18.480
 and worship

00:45:18.480 --> 00:45:19.219
 and praise

00:45:19.219 --> 00:45:20.359
 every waking

00:45:20.359 --> 00:45:20.980
 moment of

00:45:20.980 --> 00:45:21.579
 our lives.

00:45:21.579 --> 00:45:22.519
 God.

00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.519


00:45:51.579 --> 00:45:52.799
 He reminds me of God.

00:45:56.699 --> 00:46:00.259
 Oh, that group of people at Trinity Cambridge Church,

00:46:00.400 --> 00:46:04.679
 they must be sons of God, children of God.

00:46:17.119 --> 00:46:21.179
 God loves those who rebel against him and hate him.

00:46:21.179 --> 00:46:25.119
 His enemies, that's his common grace

00:46:25.119 --> 00:46:27.319
 that God extends to all of humanity.

00:46:28.440 --> 00:46:32.719
 But incredibly, for us, his chosen people,

00:46:34.039 --> 00:46:36.500
 God extends much more than common grace.

00:46:36.679 --> 00:46:38.639
 He gives us his special grace,

00:46:40.319 --> 00:46:43.460
 saving grace.

00:46:44.859 --> 00:46:49.239
 He does that by giving his only son, Jesus Christ, to us.

00:46:51.179 --> 00:46:53.059
 If we are honest with ourselves,

00:46:53.239 --> 00:46:55.379
 I think we would all admit that this kind of teaching

00:46:55.379 --> 00:46:58.079
 can be quite discouraging on one level.

00:46:59.940 --> 00:47:02.119
 I mean, which of us can claim to have obeyed God's commands

00:47:02.119 --> 00:47:03.659
 and love our enemies perfectly?

00:47:03.659 --> 00:47:10.599
 I was really encouraged by this excerpt from the Martin Lloyd-Jones sermon.

00:47:10.719 --> 00:47:11.960
 He's the studies in the Sermon on the Mount.

00:47:12.599 --> 00:47:14.920
 I know we have a group of people in our church

00:47:14.920 --> 00:47:17.559
 who are on their own going through this book that I recommend.

00:47:17.839 --> 00:47:18.739
 Nat, can you raise your hand?

00:47:18.819 --> 00:47:20.519
 Yeah, if you guys want to participate in the study,

00:47:20.599 --> 00:47:21.239
 we'll talk to Nat.

00:47:22.279 --> 00:47:25.179
 D. Martin Lloyd-Jones is one of my own personal heroes of the faith.

00:47:25.179 --> 00:47:29.379
 And so, sometimes when I think of guys like him,

00:47:29.440 --> 00:47:30.539
 I think, oh man, of course,

00:47:30.879 --> 00:47:32.839
 when I feel really bad about myself sometimes,

00:47:32.919 --> 00:47:34.559
 that's the accusation that I hear from the enemy.

00:47:34.739 --> 00:47:36.799
 He's like, well, yeah, D. Martin Lloyd-Jones

00:47:36.799 --> 00:47:38.099
 would never do the stuff you do.

00:47:38.980 --> 00:47:40.699
 I mean, D. Martin Lloyd-Jones would never struggle

00:47:40.699 --> 00:47:41.940
 with the stuff you do as a pastor.

00:47:42.919 --> 00:47:44.799
 That's the kind of stuff that I hear in my own head.

00:47:45.359 --> 00:47:47.139
 And then I read this, and I was so encouraged,

00:47:47.859 --> 00:47:49.559
 because he says this is discouraging.

00:47:51.039 --> 00:47:52.679
 He says, is there anything known to us

00:47:52.679 --> 00:47:54.619
 that is more discouraging than the Sermon on the Mount?

00:47:55.460 --> 00:47:57.219
 Take this passage from verse 17

00:47:57.219 --> 00:47:58.960
 to the end of this fifth chapter.

00:47:59.399 --> 00:48:01.719
 These detailed illustrations given by our Lord

00:48:01.719 --> 00:48:03.739
 as to how we are to live.

00:48:03.980 --> 00:48:05.559
 Is there anything more discouraging?

00:48:06.460 --> 00:48:08.239
 We feel that the Ten Commandments,

00:48:08.319 --> 00:48:10.279
 the ordinary moral standards of decency,

00:48:10.460 --> 00:48:11.659
 are difficult enough.

00:48:12.239 --> 00:48:13.460
 But look at these statements

00:48:13.460 --> 00:48:15.099
 about not even looking with lust,

00:48:15.419 --> 00:48:16.699
 about going the second mile

00:48:16.699 --> 00:48:18.739
 and throwing in the cloak together with the coat,

00:48:19.059 --> 00:48:19.839
 and so on.

00:48:19.839 --> 00:48:22.139
 There is nothing more discouraging

00:48:22.139 --> 00:48:23.440
 than the Sermon on the Mount.

00:48:25.179 --> 00:48:27.679
 It seems to throw us right out

00:48:27.679 --> 00:48:30.139
 and to damn our every effort

00:48:30.139 --> 00:48:31.679
 before we have started.

00:48:32.219 --> 00:48:35.019
 It seems utterly impossible.

00:48:36.339 --> 00:48:37.659
 But at the same time,

00:48:37.879 --> 00:48:40.819
 do we know of anything more encouraging

00:48:40.819 --> 00:48:41.960
 than the Sermon on the Mount?

00:48:42.440 --> 00:48:43.900
 Do we know of anything

00:48:43.900 --> 00:48:46.339
 that pays us a greater compliment?

00:48:47.000 --> 00:48:49.219
 The very fact that we are commanded

00:48:49.219 --> 00:48:50.299
 to do these things

00:48:50.299 --> 00:48:52.699
 carries with it an implicit assertion

00:48:52.699 --> 00:48:55.059
 that it is possible.

00:48:57.219 --> 00:48:58.379
 In our own strength,

00:48:58.480 --> 00:48:58.919
 no, it isn't.

00:48:58.959 --> 00:48:59.480
 It's impossible.

00:49:01.339 --> 00:49:02.599
 Christ in us,

00:49:02.739 --> 00:49:03.619
 it is possible.

00:49:03.619 --> 00:49:09.920
 And isn't it an amazing compliment

00:49:09.920 --> 00:49:10.719
 that God,

00:49:11.199 --> 00:49:12.699
 the creator of the cosmos,

00:49:13.739 --> 00:49:16.179
 calls us His children.

00:49:17.859 --> 00:49:19.480
 Says, hey, you're my kids.

00:49:20.759 --> 00:49:21.739
 So do this.

00:49:22.440 --> 00:49:23.239
 Follow my example.

00:49:23.460 --> 00:49:24.079
 Be like me.

00:49:24.079 --> 00:49:29.400
 We read from Romans 5, 8 to 10 earlier

00:49:29.400 --> 00:49:31.000
 in the assurance of pardon.

00:49:31.139 --> 00:49:33.239
 God shows His love for us,

00:49:33.360 --> 00:49:34.119
 His special people,

00:49:34.179 --> 00:49:35.420
 His chosen people in this,

00:49:35.840 --> 00:49:37.619
 that while we were still sinners,

00:49:37.779 --> 00:49:38.860
 Christ died for us.

00:49:39.440 --> 00:49:41.279
 Since therefore we have now been justified

00:49:41.279 --> 00:49:42.079
 by His blood,

00:49:42.199 --> 00:49:43.920
 much more shall we be saved by Him

00:49:43.920 --> 00:49:45.239
 from the wrath of God.

00:49:45.699 --> 00:49:47.319
 For if while we were enemies,

00:49:47.739 --> 00:49:49.119
 we were reconciled to God

00:49:49.119 --> 00:49:50.219
 by the death of His Son,

00:49:50.219 --> 00:49:52.179
 much more now that we are reconciled

00:49:52.179 --> 00:49:53.880
 shall we be saved by His life.

00:49:54.819 --> 00:49:57.179
 Jesus died on the cross

00:49:57.179 --> 00:49:59.420
 to pay the penalty for our sins,

00:49:59.599 --> 00:50:03.539
 not because we were sincerely

00:50:03.539 --> 00:50:04.880
 reforming our ways

00:50:04.880 --> 00:50:06.679
 and starting to put our life together.

00:50:08.259 --> 00:50:09.639
 Isn't that often our standard?

00:50:10.840 --> 00:50:11.940
 For our enemies?

00:50:13.239 --> 00:50:15.799
 I need to see some real remorse, you know.

00:50:17.199 --> 00:50:19.079
 I gotta see you start making some changes.

00:50:22.179 --> 00:50:23.340
 God didn't do that.

00:50:23.340 --> 00:50:24.820
 Jesus didn't do that for us.

00:50:24.920 --> 00:50:26.600
 We were sinners.

00:50:26.740 --> 00:50:28.260
 While we were still sinners,

00:50:30.360 --> 00:50:36.579
 Jesus died to reconcile us to the Father.

00:50:37.960 --> 00:50:39.019
 He says that He did this,

00:50:39.440 --> 00:50:40.620
 while we were enemies,

00:50:40.860 --> 00:50:42.120
 we were reconciled to God

00:50:42.120 --> 00:50:43.240
 by the death of His Son.

00:50:44.600 --> 00:50:45.820
 Jesus didn't die for us

00:50:45.820 --> 00:50:46.880
 to reconcile us to the Father

00:50:46.880 --> 00:50:48.900
 while we were raising the white flag

00:50:48.900 --> 00:50:51.460
 and seeking terms of truth with God.

00:50:51.519 --> 00:50:54.240
 No, we were pounding against Him,

00:50:55.500 --> 00:50:56.940
 marching against Him,

00:50:57.300 --> 00:50:58.660
 rebelling against Him,

00:51:00.340 --> 00:51:02.139
 resisting Him at every turn

00:51:02.139 --> 00:51:03.519
 by living for ourselves

00:51:03.519 --> 00:51:04.360
 and living for us

00:51:04.360 --> 00:51:05.780
 to satisfy our own pride.

00:51:06.320 --> 00:51:07.420
 That's why it's not wrong,

00:51:07.539 --> 00:51:08.260
 as the song,

00:51:08.360 --> 00:51:09.539
 How Deep the Father's Love,

00:51:09.639 --> 00:51:09.940
 says.

00:51:10.200 --> 00:51:11.920
 It was our mocking voice

00:51:11.920 --> 00:51:13.559
 that calls out among the scoffers

00:51:13.559 --> 00:51:14.900
 who are at Jesus' crucifixion.

00:51:14.900 --> 00:51:18.800
 It's our sin that held Jesus there

00:51:18.800 --> 00:51:19.500
 on the cross

00:51:19.500 --> 00:51:20.500
 until it was accomplished.

00:51:23.300 --> 00:51:24.740
 We did that.

00:51:25.200 --> 00:51:26.420
 We were His enemies.

00:51:28.079 --> 00:51:30.820
 And yet while we were still His enemies,

00:51:31.039 --> 00:51:33.700
 Jesus died for us.

00:51:37.000 --> 00:51:39.480
 I'm so grateful for this truth

00:51:39.480 --> 00:51:41.119
 because I know myself,

00:51:41.119 --> 00:51:44.480
 and if God had not loved me first

00:51:44.480 --> 00:51:45.759
 when I was still His enemy,

00:51:45.880 --> 00:51:47.159
 I would never love Him.

00:51:56.980 --> 00:52:00.319
 It's because Jesus loved me well

00:52:00.319 --> 00:52:02.799
 while I was still an enemy of God

00:52:02.799 --> 00:52:09.619
 that now I am a son.

00:52:11.920 --> 00:52:13.000
 Reconciled to the Father.

00:52:15.819 --> 00:52:18.059
 A participant at the table of the Lord.

00:52:18.960 --> 00:52:20.839
 A member of the family of God,

00:52:20.940 --> 00:52:21.839
 the household of God.

00:52:26.019 --> 00:52:27.059
 So do you know,

00:52:27.219 --> 00:52:27.739
 let me ask you,

00:52:27.779 --> 00:52:29.039
 do you know the love

00:52:29.039 --> 00:52:30.940
 of the Father

00:52:30.940 --> 00:52:33.059
 who makes His Son shine

00:52:33.059 --> 00:52:34.900
 on the good and the evil?

00:52:35.339 --> 00:52:36.699
 Do you know the love of the Son

00:52:36.699 --> 00:52:38.339
 who died for the sake of His enemies?

00:52:38.340 --> 00:52:41.579
 Then and only then,

00:52:42.260 --> 00:52:44.600
 we can love our enemies

00:52:44.600 --> 00:52:46.660
 like Father,

00:52:47.100 --> 00:52:47.980
 like Son.

00:52:48.440 --> 00:52:49.240
 Let's pray.

00:52:57.039 --> 00:52:59.460
 Father, thank You for loving us

00:52:59.460 --> 00:53:01.660
 while we were still Your enemies.

00:53:01.659 --> 00:53:04.119
 Jesus,

00:53:04.539 --> 00:53:07.339
 thank You for dying for us

00:53:07.339 --> 00:53:10.779
 while we were still Your enemies.

00:53:13.199 --> 00:53:15.019
 And oh, we are so grateful

00:53:15.019 --> 00:53:18.599
 that we are no longer Your enemies,

00:53:19.139 --> 00:53:22.659
 but that You have adopted us

00:53:22.659 --> 00:53:24.159
 as Your sons and daughters,

00:53:25.239 --> 00:53:27.119
 united to Jesus Christ, Your Son.

00:53:27.119 --> 00:53:33.619
 Oh God,

00:53:33.739 --> 00:53:34.880
 we can never hope

00:53:34.880 --> 00:53:36.159
 to repay You for that.

00:53:36.639 --> 00:53:37.779
 And You don't expect us to.

00:53:39.039 --> 00:53:41.099
 We simply love You in return.

00:53:42.119 --> 00:53:42.920
 We worship You.

00:53:43.659 --> 00:53:44.579
 We submit to You.

00:53:47.579 --> 00:53:48.519
 Help us

00:53:48.519 --> 00:53:50.759
 with the love You have given us

00:53:50.759 --> 00:53:51.659
 to love the enemies

00:53:51.659 --> 00:53:52.400
 in our own lives.

00:53:52.400 --> 00:53:55.680
 In Jesus' name we pray.

00:53:56.180 --> 00:53:56.519
 Amen.