This week we continued learning about the Sermon on the Mount. This week we focused on what Jesus taught us about loving our enemies. The lesson came from Matthew 5:17-48 or Story 92 from The Gospel Story Bible. Make the most of your family worship time by reviewing the teaching notes below and download this week's Family Worship Guide.

Do not seek revenge—In this passage Jesus cautions against taking revenge. The Old Testament law said, It shall be “life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (Exodus 21:24). Judges used this standard to limit the degree of retribution that could legally be taken. However, it became a way to justify seeking vengeance. Jesus spoke against this practice, saying that instead of slapping back we are to show love. Yet Jesus knew there were also times to stand our ground. For instance, Jesus resisted the evil of Satan and would not be forced to become Israel’s king (John 6:15).

Treat all men with love—In Leviticus 19:18, God commanded the Israelites not to bear a grudge against anyone, but rather to love their neighbor as themselves. Here, Jesus presents a radical clarification: even our enemies are our neighbors, and we should love them! This would be particularly offensive to the Jew. To consider a Samaritan or Gentile as a neighbor was unthinkable. What the Jews did not know is that Jesus came to break down the barrier between Jew and Gentile. All people are created in the image of God; Jesus died for people of every tribe, nation, and race. He demonstrated the ultimate example of loving his enemies when he died on the cross.

Be perfect as God is perfect—With this command to be perfect, the notion that one might merit salvation by one’s obedience is utterly dispelled. If perfection is the standard for obedience, who can qualify? The answer is that no one qualifies for this righteousness by his or her own works. We can qualify only because Jesus lived a perfect life in our place. God imputes Christ’s righteousness to the account of those who believe and place their trust in Jesus. We are thus perfect in Christ on account of his perfection alone. 

How does today’s Bible story fit into God’s greater plan of redemption?

The call to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48) is an impossible standard to measure up to. If our salvation depends on our being perfect, then no human in the history of the world could enter heaven. That is where the gospel becomes our only hope. Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly by meeting all of its requirements perfectly. Jesus also fulfilled the strict standard he presented in the Sermon on the Mount to love your enemies. Jesus perfectly followed his teaching to love his enemies. Jesus died on the cross to take our sins away—but that leaves us without righteousness. Jesus also lived a sinless life so that he could then give that righteousness to us as our representative.