Love Your Enemies: Matthew 5:43-48

Materials:

• 2 Jars with lids
• White Vinegar
• Water
• Baking Soda
• Plastic tray

Prep:

1. Fill 1 jar with white vinegar (1/3 full)
2. Fill the other jar with white vinegar and water (1/3 full)
3. Put each jar onto the tray.

Activity:

Ask: “Has anybody ever made you angry?” (Wait for responses) “What was that like?” (listen to responses)

1. Add ½ teaspoon of baking soda to jar #2 (Vinegar/water mixture)
   The mixture will fizz some, but nothing more.
   Put a lid on the jar.
2. Put a spoonful of baking soda in jar #1 (vinegar)
   The mixture will fizz up and explode out of the jar

Explain:

The 2^nd jar shows what happens when someone makes us angry and we fight back, adding more to the mix until the situation explodes out of control.

• In our text today, David chose not to do this at this point in the story. He chose to be a better person than Saul, to do the clever thing and the thing that Jesus tells us to do – Love our enemies.
• David didn’t fight back against Saul and kill him, nor did he allow any of his group to kill Saul, either. Instead, he chose to try and keep a lid on the situation by doing the right thing.
• He could’ve easily turned to violence, but he made a choice not to.

Bible

So let’s look at what Jesus tells us to do in Matthew 5:43-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Ask:

• Who are your enemies?
• Why do you think Jesus told us to pray for those who persecute us?
  • How do we do that?
• What are some ways that we can love our enemies?
  • 1 good example = Abe Lincoln:
    During the US Civil War, hatred became entrenched between the North and South. In one instance, after speaking kindly about the Southern rebels, a critic reminded Lincoln that there was a war going on, the Confederates were the enemy, and that they should be destroyed. But Lincoln wisely responded, “I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends.”
  • Another good example = 2 Kings 6:18-23

Close out in prayer: ask the Lord for help in loving our enemies, help in praying for those who persecute us, and to teach them how to love their enemies as He has commanded us to do so.

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