There is no explicit command in the Torah or the whole of the Old Testament that tells Israel or Israelites to hate enemies. Of course, there is plenty of action that demonstrates such a notion.
So this is indeed a radical call from Jesus. And if it’s not radical enough in word, it surely is in attempted action. Perhaps Jesus is talking about the person who honks angrily at us. Perhaps. But he is surely talking about those who have come to harm us in some way (beyond our driving ego). We might know this because Jesus demonstrates this very thing from the cross when he says, “Father forgive them…”.
And yet even though Jesus leads us in action, we still find it hard.
Praying for our enemies…
But do you have the Kingdom vision for such a radical optimism of love and prayer?
Matthew 5:43-48
You have heard that it was said, You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who harass you so that you will be acting as children of your Father who is in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both the evil and the good and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete.
Prayer
God,
Help me to love everyone.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.