THEO 201
Theology Critique and Application Paper
(Dr. N. Troy Matthews)
Theology Critique & Application Paper
Name: Yazan Abbasi
THEO 201- 006
Date: 11/15/2020
CONTENT
I. Summary of “Loving our Enemies” Matthews 5:43-48
In this passage Matthew talks about loving your enemy the same as you love your neighbor
because we are all a family in Christ. “this does not mean we can earn our way into God's family
by loving our enemies. Rather it means that when we love our enemies, we prove ourselves to be
in God's family” This passage clears out the teaching about God’s love even to the enemies. This
divine love is evident in the blessings that God has given to everyone without being bias. And
Theologists call it general grace. God makes it clear that he makes the rainfall on the righteous
and the unrighteous, “For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the
righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthews 5:45). And Jesus emphasizes the idea that we need to
be good to those who aren’t good and love the unlovable. Also, God is trying to show us from
another angle the law of God that we must comprehend and practice. And one of the main points
in pursuing is that we have to love our enemies, but also we must understand that no matter what
things we do, we can never approach the perfection of God. It also talks about the kingdom of
God and that’s why Jesus descended from heaven not to die, but to set his kingdom up. Jewish
people misunderstood the incomplete story of Jesus’ Kingdom, and he clarifies that Jesus Came
to fulfill his Kingdom.
200 word minimum (Word Count: 252)
II. Arguments Against This Doctrine
Jesus commands us to “Be Perfect” as our heavenly father, but being perfect is impossible for
humans. Then how did Jesus talked and commanded us to achieve this scale of perfection even
though he knows that we can’t reach it? Jesus sets an unreachable standard here, and this
summarizes what the law itself requires. Even though this level of perfection is impossible to
achieve, God cannot reduce it without compromising his perfection. He who is perfect cannot set
a measure of imperfect righteousness. The amazing truth of the bible is that Christ fulfilled this
standard for us.
Also in Matthews, Jesus shows a side from the law that was never seen from. The Pharisees and
the Jewish were misinterpreting the law of Moses by taking the literal meaning of it and applying
it. However, the position of Jesus was completely different, as it resulted in a much higher
standard: the love of neighbor should extend to even our enemies. Even this awareness of the
situation was not innovative, as the Old Testament also taught that God’s people should do what
is good for their enemies. “Matthew built a contrast between the limitations of the old law --
which only regulated one's outer actions -- and the new law -- which holds one accountable for
his thoughts and demands a higher standard of morality”2. In our nature as humans, we cannot
love our enemies, because hating the enemy is what is normal for a human being. And that is
why we need the help of Jesus and his supernatural help because loving our enemies is merely
impossible for us without his strength and help.
Jesus was criticized all the time for claiming that he’s the king “the title "King of the Jews"
leads to charges against Jesus that result in his crucifixion”1, and that is due to the
misinterpretation of the people in Matthews.
300 word minimum (Word Count: 313)
III. Arguments for This Doctrine
Jesus from the beginning made it clear that he came for everyone, He also sets the record
straight in Matthew 5 that we shouldn’t hate our enemies, as what the Pharisees use to teach
people (which is the wrong teaching because they were distorting the word). But we should
bless them, do good things for them, and above all, pray for them. Because we are sinners in
nature, Jesus came to reconcile us with the Father, and we were all saved. So if God did this
with us, then we need to do the same with all human beings
Jesus said in V. 45-46 “45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his
sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If
you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing
that?” This passage reflects a clear teaching about God’s love that reaches even his enemies.
This general divine love is an evidence in the blessings that God bestows upon everyone
without discrimination. But these should be distinguished from the eternal love of God,
which is for the elect, knowing that there are also genuine mercies stemming from the will of
God.
Matthew is trying to show the people of Israel that Jesus came to fulfill the story of the bible, and
did not come to destroy the law. The Author is also showing that walking with Jesus, there must
have been a standard that we have to reach so we can be truly walking with Jesus. Jesus said
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, (Matthews 5) This basic teaching
of loving neighbors and hating enemies was adequate for its time but we need to reveal the true
meaning inside it, which is that the righteous and the unrighteous will receive the rain without
being bias towards one of them.
300 word minimum - (Word Count: 349)
IV. The Practical Implication of this doctrine
The world is full of evil, people that could kill just for money, shooting someone for their skin
color and. Those people are desperate because all of these actions are the results of sin. These
people need Jesus more than anyone, and so do we. We all are sinner, this is our nature and this
is how we were born, which is why we need Jesus to come and change our lives and teach us to
live a life that is led by Loving one another. We have to seek God’s grace and pray for another
chance, not just for us but also for the others. We should be looking around us and help the
people to change by God and be right with him, even for our enemies. This is how God the
Father wants us to love, and to love our enemies just the same as everyone else. This would
sound like an impossible task for a human to carry out, but we can only do it by trusting and
leaning on the love of God. We must Love everyone with no judgment or condemning, but by
forgiving and praying for these people who need help. This is the kind of love that God was
showing, and that we must strive for this kind of holly love to meet the character of God. This
shows us that we must not depend on daily situations or feelings and emotions but put God as the
standard of love.
200 word minimum - (Word Count: 248)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1 The Gospel of Matthew by R. T. France 2007, p. 1048
2 Stuart W. Young, Emory College (freshman) on February 24, 1999
3 "But I Say to You, Love Your Enemies, Part 2." Desiring God. -05-21 1995. Web. Nov 15,
2020 <https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/but-i-say-to-you-love-your-enemies-part-2>.
