Ian Barclay's Thought For The Day

A CHRISTIAN LOOKS AT MATTHEW’S GOSPEL
Love
Reading: Matthew 5:43-48 Click to view passage

Love is a difficult subject to consider because in English we only have one word and in the language of the New Testament there are several. The word here is agape and it is talking about love for the unlovely and even the repulsive. Don’t get too concerned, we are never asked to love our enemies in the same way we love our nearest and dearest. (i) Who is my neighbour? Remember the parable of the Good Samaritan? It is someone who needs our help, whether they deserve it or not. (ii) Who is my enemy? Well it is those who curse, hate and spitefully use us, who even persecute us (v44AV). In a word, it is those we can’t stand! (iii) What is perfect love? The perfection of v48 is not absolute or sinless perfection. It is looking back to the impartial love of God. The love which as Christians has been “poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit,” (Romans 5:5).

Meditation: Is my definition of “neighbour” the same as that of Jesus?
Prayer pointer: Father, you loved me as a repulsive sinner, help me to learn to love the unlovely as you do.





Matthew:23