Matthew 5:43-48

(43) "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' (44) But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, (45) that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (46) For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? (47) And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? (48) Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."



What Jesus is saying here is that GOD wants us to go the extra mile as far as our goodwill towards each other. Anyone can love thy neighbor, even the "tax collectors" but it takes an especially kind heart to love thy enemy.  If we are able to do so, then we become a little bit more like GOD. When we sin, we become enemies of all that GOD stands for in HIS perfection but as Jesus said, GOD makes the sun shine and rain give life to the good and wicked alike. HE provides sustenance for all to nourish the good and in hopes that the wicked will one day repent. Even though GOD, by rights, should hate us all, HE chooses to love us all and is trying to bring us all to HIM, where we are intended to belong. GOD wants us to be perfect like HIM so badly that HE sent HIS only begotten Son to die for our sins so that HE doesn't have to hate. GOD circumvented HIS own law to save us.



It's not an easy task to love your enemies but what an amazing quality to have if mastered. It would bring such peace of mind to forego all anger and if we can do so, then we will be one step closer to what GOD intended for us...to be perfect like HIM.