Scripture to Read: Matthew 5:43-48, Matthew 6:12-14

The movie The Least of These depicts missionary Gladys Staines waiting for word about the whereabouts of her husband Graham and their two sons. Gladys and her daughter Esther were worried, and rather than assuring her daughter that everything was fine, she said, “Whatever happens, God is in control.” Shortly after, they received word that Graham and the two boys had been trapped in a car and burned to death by Hindu extremists. 

Jesus teaches us to love our enemies, pray for our persecutors, and be like our Heavenly Father. Obedience to these commands is only possible when we live fully surrendered to Him. When we pray for our enemies and forgive those who hurt us, we demonstrate true love, God’s love, to the watching world.

Matthew 5:43-48 is part of a bigger passage that includes other “You have heard it said...but I tell you...” statements. Jesus’ rules and expectations for believers are different than what the world accepts as good and right. That’s because, through the Holy Spirit in us, He gives us the power to do hard things.

As believers, we cannot minimize the grace God gave us when He sacrificed His only Son. Those who truly grasp the extent and effects of His forgiveness at the cross are then obligated to extend forgiveness to others.

Forgiving others is not a requirement for salvation; it is evidence that it has taken place. It’s not enough to say you love Jesus. If you don’t show it with your actions toward other people, then the love you claim to have is different than the love He exemplified.

TALK IT OVER

1. How does placing your trust in Christ affect your ability to love others‒even those who hurt you?
2. What does Matthew 6:12-15 say to you about the relationship between forgiving and being forgiven?
3. When you pray “Forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors,” what are
   you really praying?