In a world that seems filled with those who abuse the rights and privileges of others, the command given by Christ Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" may seem to be a monumental, if not an impossible, task. He expected us to obey this command, and he certainly left a great example for us, even while he was on the cross, by forgiving those who crucified him! And what was the reason he gave for doing this? "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven."Matt. 5:44, 45.
Why would loving our enemies have anything to do with being children of God? And how do we obey this command? First, we must determine just exactly who or what our enemy is! And to do this, perhaps we should look again at Jesus' attitude on the cross.
Why could he forgive those who gave every indication of being enemies— people who not only desired his death but had helped bring about the crucifixion? He must have seen beyond the flesh-and-bones man, who would be capable of such hatred. Had he accepted the belief that hatred, revenge, intolerance, and cruelty were actually part of man's identity, he would have been on the same level as those who crucified him, and he could not have risen above the cross.
