Love & Pray // Matthew 5:43-44

By Mark Jordan | Spiritual Advisor

Matthew 5:43-45a (NLT) | 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.

Jesus’ earthly ministry was all about flipping paradigms. Today’s verse is certainly in that camp as He taught that we are to love and pray for those in opposition to faith. He wanted to shift the eye-for-an-eye motif to one of love, grace, and mercy. We are getting plenty of opportunities now to live into the wisdom of this verse knowing the world yearns for truth. So, let’s take Jesus’ wisdom and declare it to all with the knowledge that “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:15, NLT).