The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree

Meditation May 26 2020

Matthew 5:43-48

 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor ⁱ and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that 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. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

I think, for my own benefit, I will begin giving something of an amplified translation of the Greek text. It will help me in reviewing Greek and perhaps it will help you in gaining a little more precise understanding of that which the English is saying. Taking this approach, I suppose will make the thoughts more exegetical and less expository but I think it will make them more useful to me in the future.

By way of introduction: Jesus is still fleshing out that which he began with the beatitudes; i.e. that which is the character, the new creation of those in Him, and the way in which the you being that new character sets to conduct yourself in the world. This is your new character: you are poor in spirit (humble before God and man) you mourn your sins (implying you strive to overcome them) you are a peacemaker; you hunger and thirst to be righteous etc. Being of such character you are salt and light to the world. As salt and light to the world you strive to keep the commandments of God rather than the commandments of men. The commandments of God are two that comprehend the whole of God’s moral law; i.e. that we love the LORD our God with all our heart, mind and soul and that we love our neighbor as ourselves. These two are not separable; i.e., to love God with all one’s heart, mind and soul entails loving our neighbors as ourselves and loving our neighbor as ourselves entails loving God with all our heart, mind and soul. Neither is possible without the other and those who care not for God but suppose themselves to be great lovers of their fellow man only deceive themselves. The same may be said of those who suppose themselves to be lovers of God and followers of Christ but shut up their bowels of compassion toward their fellow man (1John 3:17) That, I think, is where Jesus now is in the sermon. He is explicating what is involved in being new creatures and keeping the two great commandments.   

V43 – You have heard that it was said, “Love - wish well, care for, long for good things (the meaning of agape) - for your neighbor, friend, one near to you and hate, - by comparison wish less well, care less for, your enemy – those who revile, intimidate, seek to destroy you.

There is probably no word in the Greek language more abuse by preachers than Agape. Perhaps because it is used of the love of God for the world in sending Christ as Redeemer, it is most often interpreted as a sacrificial love. Agape may we entail sacrifice, but it may just as well not entail sacrifice. The basic meaning of agape it to wish another well, to long for their good, thus, to love your neighbor as yourself means to wish as well for your neighbor as you wish for yourself and that whether it involve sacrifice or not. Moreover, it is an active love, it is about what one does and not about how one feels. Consequently, to wring one’s hands in self-righteousness bewailing the plight of one’s poor neighbor while doing nothing yourself to improve your neighbor’s circumstance is complete failure at agape. Agape has to do with action; not affection. Agape is acting for the benefit of others regardless of one’s feelings toward them and regardless of cost; i.e. whether great cost (sacrifice) is involved or no cost (sacrifice) at all is involved.

On the other side of the coin of often misunderstood words is hate. As with agape (love), miseo (hate) has to be interpreted within the context in which it is found. Hate does not mean, as we tend to understand hate, that one has a frothing at the mouth, must destroy it distaste and disgust toward something or someone. And, as agape, hate in its root, whether Greek or English (Germanic) refers to one’s actions rather than one’s passions, emotions or feelings. To hate someone is to demonstrate hostility toward them, to fail to act in their best interests, regardless of how we feel about them. Hate, miseo in the Greek, is a comparative word that means treat one person less favorably in comparison to another person. Thus, I John 3:15 etc. “Anyone who hates a brother is a murderer,” is equated with those who have material goods but does not aid a brother in need. (1 John 3:17) In 1 John 4:20ff we get a demonstration of how love and hate are to be understood when we find hating explained as not loving.

If we learn from this only to stop and think when we read ‘love’ or ‘hate’ in the Bible and ask ourselves just what is meant here rather than reading it in the commonly accepted usage which may well be far removed from what is intended, we have spent the time well. We move on.

V44 – But I tell you;= (i.e. contrary to that you have heard I tell you) love (wish well, act for the good of your) enemies (those who have resolved to do you harm) and pray for (offer prayers to God) for those who persecute you, i.e. those who pursue you to do you harm. Your enemies (i.e.those irreconcilably hostile toward you.

Having a correct understanding of love and hate this needs no explanation. Simply stated we are to act toward our enemies just as we act toward our brothers.  The reason for so acting is given in the next verse.

V45 – that you may be (i.e. you may prove to be) sons (descendants, 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

God, though he must act in justice, takes no delight in the death of the wicked (Eze. 18:23ff) and though justice demands punishment upon the wicked, in this life, God loves them, wishes well for them, by causing the sun and rain to fall on them just as on the righteous. Thus, we, in order that we may show we are his descendants, his children and therefore have a like character as God insofar as it is possible, are to act as he acts; i.e. love our enemies.

V46 – if you love (wish well) only those who love (wish well) you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors (Publicans) doing that?

 In other words, if that is the way you act, you are acting no differently from unbelievers.

V47 – and if you greet (welcome, draw to yourself, pay respect) only your own people (your brothers, those of kindred mind) what are you doing more than anyone else? Do not even the Gentiles (pagans, heathen, unbelievers).do that?

V48 – Be perfect therefore (i.e. demonstrate by being different from the heathen that you have become that which God in Christ has created you to be) as your Father in heaven (i.e. as God is that which He is.

Perfect here does not mean flawless or without defect as we normally think when we think perfect. Rather it means to become complete or to become that for which intended. The idea is well demonstrated by a folding table or chair or telescope. When unfolded, it becomes fully useful as that for which it was intended. It is the idea of becoming mature, being brought to the usefulness for which it was meant. Thus, we as children of God, become useful for that which the characteristics given us in the new creation were intended. We become salt and light by demonstrating to the world by our love that we are the children of God. Lemons are seldom found beneath apple trees.