Scripture to Read: Matthew 5:43
Jesus came to set people free from their bondage to sin. One of the sins the religious leaders committed in the days of Christ was that they would misinterpret God’s Law and even add to it. That is why Jesus said in Matthew 5:43, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’” When people first read this, they assume God must have taught them to hate their enemies, but that teaching never came from God or His Word. God made it clear in Leviticus 19:18, “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.” It was the religious leaders in the days of Jesus who added to God's perfect Law how people had the right to hate their enemy. The religious leaders also taught that since the Gentiles were uncircumcised, they were not their “neighbor” and were not required to love them. Even today, there are false teachers who add to, take away, and misinterpret God’s Word to meet their culture's wants, satisfy their alternate lifestyles, fulfill their selfish desires, and any other excuse they can come up with. If we claim Christ as our Lord and Savior, we must know His Word and choose to obey His Word no matter what it costs us. Jesus said it this way in Luke 9:23, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”
Challenge & Application
· How do you guard your heart and mind from being deceived by false teachers and preachers?
· How are you denying yourself and willingly following our Lord each day?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!