The
Vineyard- February 19th, 2017
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him,
he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. – John
15:5
Pray
for God to speak to you through the reading of His word.
Read
Matthew 5.38-48
-
Passive Love
o
Refuses to Seek Vengeance
§ The
Old Testament allowed vengeance, within limits, but Jesus seeks to do away with
vengeance altogether.
§ Passages
to Consider: Exodus 21:23-25; Leviticus 24:19-20; Deuteronomy 19:21
o
Isn’t Provoked by Pride
§ Jesus
encourages us not to “hit back,” to not allow our pride to lead us to repay
evil for evil.
§ Passages
to Consider: Proverbs 20:22; 24:29
o
Gives More than Is Required
§ Jesus
is telling them to go beyond what is legally required, and to give what could
never be expected.
§ Passages
to Consider: Exodus 22:25-27; Deuteronomy 24:12-13
o
Does More than is Asked
§ Jesus
says to do more than what could be expected of us. We see the same language used to describe
Simon of Cyrene carrying Jesus’ cross.
§ Passages
to Consider: Matthew 27:32
o
Never Says “No”
§ Jesus
says not to withhold what we have from others, whoever they may be.
§ Passages
to Consider: Deuteronomy 15:7-11; Matthew 26:39
-
Active Love
o
Shows No Partiality
§ Jesus
says to love not only our neighbor, but our enemy.
§ Passages
to Consider: Leviticus 19:18; Luke 10:25-37
o
Prays for Enemies
§ Jesus,
as well as Stephen, pray for those who are killing them.
§ Passages
to Consider: Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60
o
Imitates the Father
§ Jesus
perfectly imitates what he sees the Father doing.
§ Passages
to Consider: Psalm 145:9; John 5:19; I Peter 1:14-16
Pray
for the ability to love passively, by not returning evil for evil.
Pray
for the ability to love actively, by seeking to do good even to your
enemies.
In
short, pray that you can be more like Jesus.
