Loving My Enemies – Cloaks, Miles, and Turning Cheeks

Greetings Dear Reader,

So Jesus has been clear concerning the nature of his command to love an enemy.  We need to remember that we have entered the conversation in the midst of things.  This teaching is part of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus expressed the core of how we should live as his followers through example.

Other instructions have already been given that lead to the requirement to love our enemies.  During this time a Roman soldier could conscript someone to carry his pack a mile outside the city.  Jesus is telling us to carry our enemies’ burdens further than required.  We are to go from requirement to giving.  Imagine the impact on a soldier when you ask him to allow you to carry your pack further and in exchange tell you about his home.  If we seek to understand people with a pure heart they will begin to understand Christ.

In our litigious society Jesus’ statement bout law suits is a bit alarming.  He instructs that if someone sues us for our cloak we are to give him our coat as well.  The components of this seem foolish to us.  They require us to remember that all we have is a gift from the Father and it will not hurt us to give.  Giving is always to be preferred over strife with someone.   This command reminds us also that people are much more important than possessions. 

So an enemy may compel us to labor for him.  He may go after our possessions.  He may even strike us in the face.  It is in that moment that we choose where we stand.  Violence against us does not have to breed more violence.  We cannot love an enemy if we are punching him in the face.  If someone hits me I am to offer him a second opportunity.  I am not supposed to fight back.

I think what we fail to see is that the spirit of this is extends to all interactions.  We should not be greedy.  We should help when asked with more than the required help.  We must not argue and strive.  We must indulge in treating others with lesser regard. 

If I am to truly love my enemy then his needs are important.  His demands for material things must be respected.  His aggression must be met with peace.  There is no alternative if I wish to be seen as a follower of Christ.   The second mile is always the one where we see the truth in the teaching.   I wonder Dear Reader if we really have the faith to walk it.  What do you think?

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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