Sermons on Matthew 5:40-45:

Your Revenge Blinds Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Jul 22, 2015

Revenge comes from a heart of pride and is a terrible way to live life

May 13 “Your revenge blinds” Matthew 5:38-42 Specifically, these codes (Exodus 21, Leviticus, 24, and Deuteronomy 19) make 2 prescriptions: Prescription #1: To make sure that justice is fair; i.e., the punishment matches the crime. Prescription #2: To make sure that there would ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:31-42

Denomination: Baptist

Your Enemies Need You Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Jul 22, 2015

A new understanding of enemies and our response to them must be attained by Christ-followers

“Your Enemies Need You!” (Matthew 5:43-48) (SLIDE) INTRODUCTION http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0HhHLHLHaA A truck driver was sitting in a crowded roadside diner ready to eat his lunch. It wasn’t just any diner and any lunch. It was his favorite diner on the road and his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Baptist

Make Or Break Situations Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Aug 2, 2019

Make or break situations present a distinct challenge to the integrity of a Christian.

“Cross my heart and hope to die!” Did any of you ever use that phrase to swear to a friend that you would keep a promise? As kids, we engaged in such promise making, except that we might have done so with our fingers crossed behind our backs! Big difference between promise-making and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:33-42

Let Love Reign Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Aug 2, 2019

The magnificence of love as defined by the advent, life and death of Jesus, challenges Christians to rise above the mediocrity of love as defined by the world to seek the highest good of everyone.

Have you ever loved someone? Have you ever been loved by someone? These two questions address the two greatest needs of the human race: to love and to be loved. Without love, we die . . . “The Walking Dead” describes the life in which love is markedly absent. “Alive Forevermore” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Turning An Enemy Into A Friend Lesson 4

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Feb 13, 2019

Ask God to give you love for your enemies.

A. INTRODUCTION 1. The word “enemy” is in quotation marks to show they are not permanent enemies. 2. Beware of “enemies’ lists.” Only list them for prayer. 3. Looking through Jesus’ eyes will change everything. 4. Don’t be naive. The Bible doesn’t say; “If” you have enemies. It says, “Love your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-44, Job 1:10

Denomination: Baptist

Practical Christianity Series

Contributed by Jerry Owen on Mar 30, 2017

What is involved in living the Christian life?

PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY MATTHEW 5:33-48 1. SPEAK THE TRUTH. Mt 5:33-37 33 “Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:33-48

Denomination: Baptist

The Limitless Love Of God

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Jun 7, 2022

How should we respond to those who have radical beliefs and lifestyles contrary to our beliefs? The temptation is to counter their viciousness and label them as an enemy. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us a model for the attitude that we are to have when faced with divisive social issues.

If not careful, as we study the Bible, we will pick and choose passages that support certain points of view or principles to which we cling. Yet those who first heard what has become known as the Sermon on the Mount had no idea what Jesus was about to say. They understood the moralism of their day, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48, Romans 12:20, 1 Corinthians 13:13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Love Your Enemies

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jun 7, 2022

Christ said to love your enemies. That takes His grace and the power of the Holy Spirit to do because it is not in our nature.

It is easy to see that Christians are surrounded by enemies on nearly every side. The irony is that while so-called Christians persecuted the Jews for centuries it is the Israelis who are our biggest friends. True, some of the Ultra-Orthodox may not think kindly of us, but other Jews see us as ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27, Luke 6:35, James 4:4, 2 Kings 16:6, John 15:13, Romans 5:7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Cross Has Enemies Series

Contributed by Mike Lewis on Dec 27, 2022

Sergio’s enemy of the priest that turned him away became his inspiration to help others. Even the ones we see as representing Jesus can (at times) be an enemy. And today, our lesson is that The Cross Has Enemies.

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT Sergio Gutierrez Benitez was a kid growing up in a tough neighborhood of Mexico City in the 1950s. By age ten he’d already joined a gang, committed petty crimes, and started using drugs—marijuana at first, then harder drugs. Finally, after years ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Loving Your Enemies Series

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Jun 22, 2022

This sermon looks at what Jesus may have meant when he said "love you enemies" and the risk and rewards of doing so.

Good morning. I have a strange request. I am going to ask that you would take a moment, settle your minds, and begin to think about anybody that you might classify as an enemy. I am not just talking about personal enemies. Maybe somebody who has harmed you in the past like a coworker, a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Christian Church

Do Not Resist Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jun 25, 2022

Many Christians believe that in Matthew 5:39 Jesus is calling us to pacifism. If that was the case, he would be negating the Old Testament! Jesus does call us to nonresistance, but in certain situations only - as his examples show. He isn't pacifist and he doesn't call us to to pacifism.

INTRODUCTION I trained to become a Baptist minister at Bristol Baptist College. While I was there, a Canadian couple called Tom and Rebecca Yoder Neufeld gave a talk. The Yoder Neufelds are Mennonites. Mennonites trace their origins to the Anabaptists, and the Yoder Neufelds were at Bristol ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42

Denomination: Baptist

"Be Perfect” Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jul 9, 2022

Jesus said, 'You therefore must be perfect'. What an unreasonable demand! And yet, there are so many reasons to strive for it.

INTRODUCTION We’re continuing in our series in the Sermon on the Mount. In our passage for today, Jesus starts by saying, ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’ What do you think of that!? Back in March I told you about an interview I heard on Radio 4. The reporter was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Baptist

A New Way Of Responding Series

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Jul 12, 2022

The focus of this sermon is on Jesus' teaching on what the normal auto-response is to various situations in life, and contrasting it with what a Kingdom response would look like.

We are continuing our series called The Story; God’s story as told through the people, places, and events of the Bible. As you may be aware, the last few weeks we have been focusing on the New Testament portion of the story. Specifically the story of Jesus. The ministry and the miracles of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Christian Church

Bless Your Enemies

Contributed by Val Black on Mar 30, 2022

We must forgive our enemies so we will be forgiven. (Matthew 6:14) But the hardest part may be to bless them too. (Mattew 5:43-45)

Bless Your Enemies The message was given on Wed., Sept. 22, 2004 (I owe most of this message to Pastor Bill Ligon who has authored several books on Blessings and how to impart them.) I. Matt. 5:43-45, "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour. and hate thine enemy. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-45, Galatians 2:20, Numbers 6:24-26, Romans 10:9-10

Denomination: Charismatic

How To Get Rid Of Your Enemies

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Apr 14, 2022

The world is torn apart by people reacting to their enemies in ways that just cause further provocation and pain. We all need to know God's way for responding to those who come at us as enemies.

What do you do when people do nasty things to you? What do you do when things happen like someone treating you like an enemy, hating you, cussing you out, abusing you or stealing your coat? That makes it harder to be a Christian, doesn’t it? Everyone here has had an encounter with someone who is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-36, Matthew 5:43-48