The Vineyard- February 19, 2017

The Vineyard- February 19^th, 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.