The Most Impossible Expectation
Sermon Note:
The bulk of this week’s sermon was a recording of a sermon preached by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957. You can listen to the recording on YouTube here. There is not a separate audio recording available on our website this week.
Click here to read the sermon.
Scripture: Matthew 5:38 – 48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ Read more…
Looking to Sunday
by Elaine Poproski
Love till it hurts, and then love some more. That’s what Jesus is saying in this week’s scripture passage. Love till it hurts. This is no hearts and cherubs, chocolates and roses, cuddles and kisses kind of love. This is a sacrifice everything, Jesus on the cross kind of love. This is a turn the other cheek, walk an extra mile, give the shirt off your back kind of love. You can read it for yourself in Matthew 5:38 – 48.
Last Sunday we were challenged to ask what we see when we look at other people. Do we see people created in the image of God? Do we see beloved children of God? Do we see brothers and sisters? We were encouraged that when we see people this way – the way Jesus sees people – all the seemingly impossible expectations Jesus sets out in the Sermon on the Mount suddenly become less impossible. That same thing holds true in this week’s reading.
In January the Toronto Zoo launched a fundraising campaign they called the Name-a-Roach Valentine’s Campaign. For a donation, people could name a cockroach after an ex. They had donors from 20 countries across 5 continents. More than 660 cockroaches were named before they shut down the campaign on Jan. 20th because they were overwhelmed by the number of orders coming in. Whether you think this was a toxic publicity stunt or a brilliantly creative and fun way to engage people and raise some money, one of the things that’s certain is that there’s no love here.
Jesus said, “You have heard it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44). Anyone who’s been dumped or rejected or hurt in any way by another person knows how impossible this command to ‘love your enemies’ often is. But that’s Jesus’ command, nonetheless. Love your enemies. Love those who hate you. Love those who hurt you.
As you prepare for Sunday, perhaps spend some time considering what this kind of love looks like. How do we love an enemy? For sure Jesus didn’t mean that we’re just to put up with harmful behaviour from other people; he didn’t mean we are to simply be a doormat for other people to walk all over. So what did he mean? Perhaps spend some time with Matthew 5:38-48 and listen for clues to the answer.