To read the texts click on the texts: Deut 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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