Matthew 5:43-48
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
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All through the first third of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, Christ lays out an extremely high standard of living. Many say that it is so high that it is unreachable. In one sense, that is true. However, remember that as Christians, Christ is IN us. He is righteousness FOR us.
Because we have that, we actually are capable of living to the standard that he sets in Matthew 5.
If we could just get out of the way and let Him do His thing, the type of life he describes can occur. He gives us everything we need to live as "children of your heavenly father"
Really, this is the spiritual journey of our lives. If we remain in Christ ... obeying his commands, continually searching for Him, and opening up our hearts and minds to Him, we are transformed. Flesh is put to death, and we move to life in the Spirit. If we pursue a life of virtue, we receive grace to help with the journey.
