TO UTTER A WISH OF EVIL AGAINST ONE IS A CURSE (DEFINITION BELLOW) Matthew 5:43 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, 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; " “Love thy neighbor … hate thine enemy”: The first half of this is found in Moses’ law (Lev. 19:18). The second part was found in how the scribes and Pharisees explained and applied that Old Testament command. Jesus’ application was exactly the opposite, resulting in a much higher standard: Love for one’s neighbors should extend even to those neighbors who are enemies (verse 44). Again, this was no innovation, since even the Old Testament taught that God’s people should do good to their enemies (Prov. 25:21). “Verses 44-45”: “Love your enemies … that ye may be the children of your father”. This plainly teaches that God’s love extends even to His enemies. This universal love of God is manifest in blessings which God bestows on all indiscriminately. Theologians refer to this as common grace. This must be distinguished from the everlasting love God has for the elect (Jer. 31:3), but it is a sincere goodwill nonetheless (Psalm 145:9). Verses 45-47: In summarizing the importance of love, Jesus reminded that love was a necessary proof of salvation: “that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven” may be better rendered, “that ye may prove to be sons of your Father.” An initial reading of this text out of its context might seem to imply that loving one’s neighbor automatically makes one a child of God. However, the New Testament is clear that love is the evidence that one is already saved by the grace of God (1 John 3:14). Therefore Jesus reminds us that we are to love our enemies as our “brethren,” for “even the publicans” love those who love them. Publicans were public officials of Jewish nationality who worked for the Roman government as tax collectors and were generally despised by the people. KJV Dictionary Definition: curse curse CURSE, v.t. pret. and pp. cursed or curst. 1. To utter a wish of evil against one; to imprecate evil upon; to call for mischief or injury to fall upon; to execrate. Thou shalt not curse the ruler of thy people. Exodus 22. Bless and curse not. Romans 12. Curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me. Numbers 22. 2. To injure; to subject to evil; to vex, harass or torment with great calamities. On impious realms and barbarous kings impose thy plagues, and curse em with such sons as those. 3. To devote to evil. CURSE, v.i. To utter imprecations; to affirm or deny with imprecations of divine vengeance. Then began he to curse and to swear. Matthew 26.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 00:03:50 +0000
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