Some people think that the command to love your enemies was first given by Jesus. But actually, you can see the roots of this in verses 4-5 of this passage.
If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it.
If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it. (Exodus 23:4-5)
When misfortune happens to our enemies, we often rejoice. We think to ourselves, “I’m glad that it happened. He deserves it!”
But God says here not only to not rejoice at an enemy’s misfortune, but to go out of your way to help them.
That’s a pretty tough command. To actually go out of your way to help someone who hates you goes against everything we feel for the person.
It’s hard enough sometimes to go out of our way to help someone we like. But to go out of our way to help an enemy? That’s doubly hard to do.
But Jesus commands us to be perfect in our love. (Matthew 5:48).
The word “perfect” also has the meaning of “complete.”
In other words, don’t just love the people who love you. Love the people who don’t.
Don’t just be kind to people who are kind to you. Be kind to people who aren’t.
God also commanded that the Israelites not discriminate against the poor and the foreign residents among them.
When I was living in Osaka, a homeless man came by our church one Thursday or Friday and he started asking me questions about the church.
Unfortunately, my Japanese wasn’t so good at the time, but I happened to see the pastor’s wife come out, and I motioned to her to come talk to this man.
As soon as she saw who I was talking, she immediately made a face, and I could see that she didn’t want to talk to him. But it was too late; the man had turned and seen her, so she had to talk to him.
It really bothered me seeing that from the pastor’s wife, though.
On the other hand, I can’t say I’m perfect in my reactions towards people either, especially when they’re different from me.
I’m considered the foreigner here in Japan. I’m the one who’s different in this country. I should be the one making the extra effort to build bridges.
But I still often find myself shying away from people who are different from me.
I much prefer to be with people that are like me. I suppose that’s true of everyone.
But, for example, when I see someone is sitting by himself at church, I need to become more perfect in my love and reach out to them.
When Jesus was on this earth, he had a perfect love.
It didn’t matter whether people were different from him or not.
It didn’t matter whether people were his friends or his enemies.
He still loved them all.
And now he tells us this:
Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34-35)
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 