To read the texts click on the texts: Dt 26:16-19; Mt 5:43-48
In the last of the six antitheses, Matthew focuses on the love command.
. While there is no command to hate the enemy in the Old Testament, yet, there
are statements that God hates all evildoers and statements that imply that
others do or should do the same. Jesus, makes explicit here the command to love
enemies. This is the behaviour expected of a true disciple of Jesus. They
cannot merely love those who love them, since one does not require to be a
disciple to do this. Everyone, even the vilest of people can do this. The
conduct of the disciples of Jesus must reveal who they are really are, namely
“sons and daughters of God”.
The command to “be perfect
as your heavenly Father is perfect” does not mean to be without faults, but
means to be undivided in love as God is undivided in love.
The love we have for others
is more often than not a conditional love. We indulge in barter exchange and
term it love. We are willing to do something for someone and expect that they
do the same or something else in return. It is a matter of “give”, but also a
matter of “take”. When Jesus asks us to be like the heavenly Father, he is
calling us to unconditional love.
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