by jimwalton » Fri Nov 18, 2022 6:48 pm
No, it does not. When Jesus says to love our enemies (Mt. 5.43-48), He's speaking about humans. We know this because of the context it's couched in. He starts off with the common knowledge that we are love our neighbors. That's clearly about those humans who are around us. And it comes from Leviticus 19.18, which is about those humans around us.
Then he talks about loving enemies and praying for those who persecute us, a clear reference to people who are rotten to us.
Finally, He shows the general grace of God to all humans, who enjoy the sunlight and the rain (Mt. 5.45). His continuing words in Mt. 5.46-47 shows that He's talking about how we relate to the people around us.
This teaching has nothing to do with how we view or treat Satan.
No, it does not. When Jesus says to love our enemies (Mt. 5.43-48), He's speaking about humans. We know this because of the context it's couched in. He starts off with the common knowledge that we are love our neighbors. That's clearly about those humans who are around us. And it comes from Leviticus 19.18, which is about those humans around us.
Then he talks about loving enemies and praying for those who persecute us, a clear reference to people who are rotten to us.
Finally, He shows the general grace of God to all humans, who enjoy the sunlight and the rain (Mt. 5.45). His continuing words in Mt. 5.46-47 shows that He's talking about how we relate to the people around us.
This teaching has nothing to do with how we view or treat Satan.