December 26, 2025
Matthew 5:38-48 (HCSB)
Go the Second Mile
38 “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 39 But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Love Your Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Drew Nash
According to the Lifeway lesson from this week, the scribes and Pharisees proclaimed themselves as being righteous because they loved their neighbors, but they conveniently defined “neighbors” as consisting only of folks whom they liked. They did not consider their enemies as their neighbors. Jesus turned their mindset upside down by declaring that we must love our neighbors. It is easy to be consumed by thoughts of anger, especially when we feel someone–our enemy–has wronged us. If we allow our anger or thoughts of our enemies to live rent-free in our head, eventually that anger will spill out into other aspects of our lives. It is impossible to rely on ourselves or our own actions to demonstrate true righteousness. We must ask God and Jesus for help and guidance. When we get angry, let’s remember to pray and ask for help. In verse 48, Jesus commands us to, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Jesus set God’s perfection as the standard, and the only way we can achieve this perfection, and true righteousness, is to follow God and ask Him to guide us.
Go the Second Mile
38 “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 39 But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Love Your Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Drew Nash
According to the Lifeway lesson from this week, the scribes and Pharisees proclaimed themselves as being righteous because they loved their neighbors, but they conveniently defined “neighbors” as consisting only of folks whom they liked. They did not consider their enemies as their neighbors. Jesus turned their mindset upside down by declaring that we must love our neighbors. It is easy to be consumed by thoughts of anger, especially when we feel someone–our enemy–has wronged us. If we allow our anger or thoughts of our enemies to live rent-free in our head, eventually that anger will spill out into other aspects of our lives. It is impossible to rely on ourselves or our own actions to demonstrate true righteousness. We must ask God and Jesus for help and guidance. When we get angry, let’s remember to pray and ask for help. In verse 48, Jesus commands us to, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Jesus set God’s perfection as the standard, and the only way we can achieve this perfection, and true righteousness, is to follow God and ask Him to guide us.
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