Sermons on Matthew 5:43-46:

Mr Weaver Fish

Contributed by Ken Durham on Aug 12, 2005

Even Jesus was not free from conflict and opposition in His ministry and unfortunately nor are we, yet He calls us to love our enemies.

MR WEAVER FISH 1. Introduction: On a mission trip to Kosova this summer I had a very nasty encounter with a weaver fish. This innocent looking fish lurks in the sand craftily leaving just its dark dorsal fins showing and anyone unlucky enough to step on one can be in serious ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Selfless Love

Contributed by Greg Tabor on Oct 21, 2005

Loving your enemies?? What??? Yep. That’s truly showing genuine love.

Selfless Love Read Text: Matthew 5:43-48 "You have heard that it was said, ’Love your neighbor…”(Matt 5:43). Heard from whom? Their teachers. Where did their teachers get it from? Leviticus 19:18 NIV says, “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Assembly Of God

How To Deal With The Enemy Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 21, 2010

Jesus says I have to love my enemies. But there’s a reason they’re my enemies - I don’t like them! So why should I do this?

OPEN: The military apparently understands the need to make their instructions memorable and so they occasionally resort to humor to explain the basics. For example: Instructions printed on Rocket Launcher tells soldiers to "Aim towards the Enemy." U.S. Marine Corps tells its recruits that when it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

La Segunda Milla

Contributed by Craig Benner on Mar 9, 2010

La primera milla fue obligatoria por la ley. La segunda milla nos muestra la importancia de la gracia.

La Segunda Milla (Un Kilómetro X Dos) Mateo 5:38-42 38 Oísteis que fue dicho: Ojo por ojo, y diente por diente. 39 Pero yo os digo: No resistáis el mal; antes a cualquiera que te hiriere en la mejilla derecha, vuélvele también la otra; 40 y a cualquiera que te demandare ante la ley y tomare tu ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Pentecostal

Warnings And Early Warnings Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Oct 14, 2012

This message looks at some early warnings that Jesus gives about our behavior.

Warnings and Early warnings Video from (Peggy’s Cove) If you aren’t familiar with the video shot, then I’m not sure what to say. I took that a month ago while we were on our annual pilgrimage to Peggy’s cove, and while I preparing to take some of these phone photos I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-43

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Perfect Hole

Contributed by Rick Pendleton on Oct 29, 2012

A different understanding of "Be ye perfect" (Matt. 5:48) that talks about 1. The perfection OF Christ, the perfection IN Christ and the perfection LIKE Christ.

The Perfect Hole Matthew 5:38-5:48 In the last sentence of our passage today, Jesus says something that is very confusing… "Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect." Be Perfect! Doesn’t that make you scratch your head? How can we possibly be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Baptist

Destroying Your Enemy

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Nov 8, 2012

Obeying Jesus’ command to love our enemies doesn’t come naturally, however. Often our first response is to retaliate. The best way - the Christ-like way - to destroy an enemy is to make him your friend! To melt an enemy, try the warmth of love.

Opening illustration: There is a story told of two shopkeepers. Their stores were across the street from each other, and the two had a bitter rivalry. One day an angel came to one of the shopkeepers and said, “The Lord has sent me to tell you that you may have one wish. Whatever you ask for, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"That's The Way God Loves"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Feb 16, 2011

A sermon that looks at the radical love of God and challenges us to try and imitate it.

Matthew 5:38-48 “That’s the Way God Loves” By: Rev. Ken Sauer, Pastor of East Ridge United Methodist Church, Chattanooga, Tn www.eastridgeumc.com There once was a father who had to go out of town… …away from his young family for three or four days on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: United Methodist

Making Forgiveness Perfect

Contributed by Jay Bunting on Feb 17, 2011

This sermon deals with how we forgive others who mistreat us.

7th Epiphany 2011 Matthew 5:38-48 Making forgiveness perfect. For years we in the church have been challenged by the initials, “WWJD.” The initials stand for What Would Jesus Do? For the most part it is easy at times to follow these simple guidelines, but sometimes it goes totally ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Anglican

Sermon On The Mount (3) Series

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Feb 18, 2011

What do we value more our RIGHTS or our RESPONSIBILITIES

Sermon on the Mount (3) Rights and Responsibities of Christians Story: A number of years ago, Newsweek magazine carried the story of the memorial service held for Hubert Humphrey, former vice-president of the United States. Hundreds of people came from all over the world to say good-bye to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Anglican

Donut Theology / Be Teleios

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 18, 2011

In Greek, the word translated "perfect" in Matthew is "teleios". " If something accomplishes what it is designed to do, it is said to be perfect that is "teleios" So "telios" is often translated as "mature". "Teleios" has the idea of "being complete."

Jesus proclaims In the Gospel Lesson today: "Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect." Be Perfect! Let us consider two other passages that speak to this calling, a calling to be perfect: From Genesis Gen. 6:9 "Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-8, Colossians 1:21-22, Hebrews 5:12-14, Leviticus 19:1-18, Matthew 5:38-48  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Go The Second Mile

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Feb 19, 2011

Jesus shows us how to go the second mile in our daily walk through life.

Text: “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two” (Matthew 5:41). Our Scripture lesson begins with the words, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’” (Matthew 5:38). I don’t know what you think, but I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Christian Church

Loving My Enemies

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Feb 20, 2011

1. Jesus is teaching us to stop the cycle of violence and revenge. 2. Jesus is sayi8ng that we have nothing to fear, and there is therefore no reason to seek revenge. 3. Jesus is telling us to take on the nature of God.

• In the movie “Fiddler on the Roof”, Tevye and his neighbors have been informed that the Tsar has evicted all Jews from their village and confiscated their land. There is a great upheaval and anger in the community, as you can imagine. If someone told this to you and all the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Methodist

Lesson 4: Turning An "Enemy" Into A Friend

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Feb 21, 2011

Jesus commandments to us about how to pray for and deal with our 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 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-44

Denomination: Baptist

The Trouble Lies Deeper Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Sep 27, 2011

We give glory to God by living a life that is consistent with the heart of the law and not just the letter of the law.

The great preacher of many years ago, Henry Ward Beecher, had a clock in this church that didn't keep good time. It was always too fast or too slow. And he fiddled with it month after month after month trying to get it right and it became kind of a standard topic of conversation in the church. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-48

Denomination: Baptist