WHAT DOES THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACH ABOUT YOUR ENEMIES
Posted : 20 Nov, 2019 04:16 AM
Much a false teaching has been taught by prophetic 7744 on the Biblical Questions and Discussion Forum. One of his many false teachings assumes the Old Testament teaches that Israel was to “hate and kill their enemies” but he asserts the opposite is taught in the New Testament by Jesus. But is it true that Israel was indeed taught to “hate and kill their enemies” and is it indeed true that Jesus taught contrary to what God taught in the Old Testament? The following CARM article might shed some needed light on this sometimes misunderstood topic.
WHAT DOES THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACH ABOUT YOUR ENEMIES
Posted : 20 Nov, 2019 04:20 AM
Does the Old Testament teach to hate your enemies?
by Luke Wayne
No, the Old Testament never teaches to hate our enemies any more than the New Testament does. Throughout the Scriptures, we are commanded to treat even those who hate us with dignity and compassion as men and women created in the image of God. Some critics challenge, however, that this creates a problem with Jesus' own teaching, which seems (they claim) to indicate that the Old Testament taught hate of enemies and that Jesus replaced this with the stricter ethic of love for even one's enemies. During His famous "Sermon on the Mount," Jesus utters the powerful words:
"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," (Matthew 5:43-44).
These words have been a central part of Christian ethics for nearly two thousand years and resonate even with many unbelievers around the world. Yet, there are those who cry foul here, saying that Jesus' statement is predicated on a misquotation of the Old Testament and a false assumption that the Old Testament taught people to hate their enemies. The command to "love your neighbors" comes from Leviticus, and reads:
"You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord," (Leviticus 19:18).
The command says to love your neighbor, but it never says anything about hating your enemies. Indeed, the fact that it forbids vengeance seems to indicate that you are to love your neighbor even if they are your enemy. This is consistent with other statements in the law like:
"If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall refrain from leaving it to him, you shall surely release it with him," (Exodus 23:4-5).
Elsewhere in the Old Testament, we read words such as:
"If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink," (Proverbs 25:21).
So why does Jesus say that it says to hate your enemies? The simple answer is that Jesus doesn't say that at all. Jesus is demonstrating what God really commands over against the teachings and practices of his day. He is addressing faulty interpretations of the Law. How can we know this? Jesus refers to the Old Testament Scriptures often in Matthew's Gospel, and He never uses any phrase like "you have heard," to quote them. Matthew frequently records Jesus challenging the Pharisees with phrases like, "Have you not read?"1 Never, "have you not heard?" When speaking from the Prophet Daniel, Jesus bids "let the reader understand," not "let the hearer understand." This pattern is extremely consistent. The Gospel of Matthew doesn't present Jesus as speaking of the Scriptures themselves as something "heard,' but rather as something "read." So in Matthew 5, when Jesus uses the formula of "you have heard it said...but I say," Jesus is not arguing with the passage itself. Indeed, Jesus later cites this very passage "love your neighbor as yourself," (Leviticus 19:18) as the second greatest commandment of the whole law.2 So, Jesus is not critiquing the words of Scripture, but rather the way those Scriptures were being taught and interpreted by the teachers and practices of His day. Remember that Jesus prefaces this whole section of His sermon by saying:
"For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven," (Matthew 5:20).
And also:
"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven," (Matthew 5:17-19).
So, when Jesus challenges what the people have heard, "love your neighbor and hate your enemy," He is not twisting the Old Testament to attack it. He is defending the actual teaching of the Old Testament against this popular misrepresentation of its intent!
Interestingly, Mormonism alters Jesus' words here and accidentally creates the very problem for which Jesus is falsely accused! The Book of Mormon tells a story of Jesus descending from heaven in ancient America and preaching the Sermon on the Mount again to the people there. In the Book of Mormon version, however, Jesus' words are reported as:
"And behold it is written also, that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy; But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you," (3 Nephi 12:43-44).
Notice that Jesus' actual words, "you have heard it said," are replaced with the formula "behold it is written." Now, whenever Jesus used the words "It is written," in Matthew, He is always referring to the words of Scripture. So, by carelessly altering Jesus' words, the Book of Mormon actually creates a false situation where Jesus does accuse the Old Testament of containing the command to hate your enemy. The fault here, however, is not with Jesus or the Old Testament. The fault is with the Book of Mormon and its author. In reality, the Old Testament and the New both teach that we are to love even our enemies. Jesus was consistent with and upheld all that had been revealed before His earthly coming
WHAT DOES THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACH ABOUT YOUR ENEMIES
Posted : 20 Nov, 2019 04:29 AM
Please note Luke’s words here:
QUOTE
Interestingly, Mormonism alters Jesus' words here and accidentally creates the very problem for which Jesus is falsely accused! The Book of Mormon tells a story of Jesus descending from heaven in ancient America and preaching the Sermon on the Mount again to the people there. In the Book of Mormon version, however, Jesus' words are reported as:
"And behold it is written also, that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy; But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you," (3 Nephi 12:43-44).
END QUOTE
Why is Prophetic 7744 ignorantly or possibly purposefully teaching the same false teaching about Jesus’ words that compares with identical Mormonism false teaching on this matter as indicated from the above quote?
WHAT DOES THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACH ABOUT YOUR ENEMIES
Posted : 20 Nov, 2019 04:32 AM
Please also note Luke’s word here:
Notice that Jesus' actual words, "you have heard it said," are replaced with the formula "behold it is written." Now, whenever Jesus used the words "It is written," in Matthew, He is always referring to the words of Scripture. So, by carelessly altering Jesus' words, the Book of Mormon actually creates a false situation where Jesus does accuse the Old Testament of containing the command to hate your enemy. The fault here, however, is not with Jesus or the Old Testament. The fault is with the Book of Mormon and its author. In reality, the Old Testament and the New both teach that we are to love even our enemies. Jesus was consistent with and upheld all that had been revealed before His earthly coming
WHAT DOES THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACH ABOUT YOUR ENEMIES
Posted : 20 Nov, 2019 04:38 AM
****Very important to note here as well****.
Remember that Jesus prefaces this whole section of His sermon by saying:
"For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven," (Matthew 5:20).
And also:
"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven," (Matthew 5:17-19).
****So, when Jesus challenges what the people have heard****, "love your neighbor and hate your enemy," ******He is not twisting the Old Testament to attack it**** He is defending the actual teaching of the Old Testament against this popular misrepresentation of its intent!
WHAT DOES THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACH ABOUT YOUR ENEMIES
Posted : 20 Nov, 2019 04:44 AM
I plead with readers to make a diligent effort to reread Luke’s article above to understand Jesus’ words ***in context***.
False teachers can be very convincing whenever they yank and twist particular Bible verses out of context and make them ***appear*** to support whatever false teaching they want to promote
WHAT DOES THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACH ABOUT YOUR ENEMIES
Posted : 20 Nov, 2019 06:16 AM
**EXTREMELY LYING SATANIC QUOTE BY LITTLEDAVID:
"The Old Testament never teaches to hate our enemies any more than the New Testament does."
Actually you can easily find over 70 verses in the Old Testament to **HATE AND KILL YOUR ENEMIES**. Whereas you can find over 40 verses which commands us to love and pray and feed our enemies and you can not even find one verse which commands us to hate or kill your enemies!!
And so the Old Testament teaches us to hate and kill your enemies **OVER 70 TIMES**. Whereas the New Testament teaches us to hate and kill your enemies **ZERO TIMES**
AND SO LITTLE DAVID HAS LIED OVER 70 TIMES**
In the OT God ordered Israel to **KILLTHEIR ENEMIES** many times and God helped them do it. However in the NT Jesus commands in Luke 6:27-29: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also."
Matthew 5:43,44: Jesus says, "You have heard that is was said, {in the OT} 'Love your neighbor and **HATE YOUR ENEMY**.' But I tell you. love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven!!"
Whereas in the OT in Leviticus 26:7,8: God said to Israel, "You will **PURSUE YOUR ENEMIES**, and they will fall by the **SWORD** before you. Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and **YOUR ENEMIES WILL FALL BY THE SWORD** before you!"
Numbers 25:16,17" The Lord said to Moses, "Treat the Midianites as **ENEMIES AND KILL THEM*"!"
Numbers 32:20,21: Moses said to them, "if you will do this--if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for battle and if all of you who are armed cross over the Jordan before the Lord until He has **DRIVEN OUT HIS ENEMIES** out before Him!!"
Deuteronomy 6:18,19: Do what is right and good in the Lord's sight, that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land the Lord has promised on oath to your ancestors, **THRUSTING OUT ALL YOUR ENEMIES BEFORE YOU**, as the Lord said!
Deuteronomy 23:14: For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your **ENEMIES**to you!
Deuteronomy 28:7 The Lord will grant that your **ENEMIES** who go up against you will be defeated before you!
Deuteronomy 30:7: The Lord your God will put all these **CURSES ON YOUR ENEMIES**who hate and persecute you!
Another OT command in Exodus 21:23-25 "If there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, **EYE FOR EYE, TOOTH FOR TOOTH**, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise."
This was also changed by these NT commands by Jesus:
Matthew 5:38,39: Jesus commands, "You have heard that it was said {In Exodus 21:23-25 above}, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek turn to him the other also!"
Luke 6:27-29: Jesus commands, "LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you. do not demand it back!"
Luke 6:27-30: Jesus says, "Love your enemies, do good to those that hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if someone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back!"
Luke 6:33-36: Love your enemies, do good to them and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your **REWARD** will be great and you will be children of the Most High because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as you Father is merciful!"
Matthew 18:21,22: Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister {or wife} who sins against me? Up to 7 times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you not 7 times but 77 times!" {Also can be translated 70 times 7 times!}
I Peter 3:9: Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called that you may **INHERIT A BLESSING**!
Matthew 5:9: Jesus the **PRINCE OF PEACE** says, "Blessed are the **PEACEMAKERS**, for they will be called the **CHILDREN OF GOD**!"
2 Corinthians 10:3-5: For though we live in the world, **WE DO NOT MAKE WAR AS THE WORLD DOES**! The weapons we fight with **ARE NOT THE WEAPONS OF THE WORLD**. On the contrary, they have **DIVINE POWER** to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God!
Ephesians 6:17: Take the helmet of salvation and the **SWORD** OF THE SPIRIT** which is the **WORD OF GOD**!!
**THE ONLY SWORD BORN AGAIN CHRISTIANS MAY USE IS THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT WHICH IS THE **WORD OF GOD**!!
2 Corinthians 10:3,4: "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are *NOT* the weapons of the world."
**HOW DO WE FIGHT THE **GOSPEL OF PEACE**??
Ephesians 6:14-17: Stand firm then, with belt of Truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the **GOSPEL OF PEACE**. in addition to all this, take up the shield of Faith, with which you can extinguish all the arrows of the Evil One. Take the helmet of Salvation and the **SWORD OF THE SPIRIT**, which is the **WORD OF GOD**!!
I Peter 2:20-23: If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, THAT YOU SHOULD FOLLOW IN HIS STEPSt .... When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead He entrusted Himself to Him who judges Justly!
I Peter 3:8,9,11: Finally, all of you, be like minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. **DO NOT REPAY EVIL FOR EVIL** or insult with insult. On the contrary, **REPAY EVIL WITH BLESSING**, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For... "They must turn from evil and do good; they **MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT**!"
Romans 14:17-19: For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, **PEACE** and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God an receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do **WHAT LEADS TO PEACE**!
Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort **TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH EVERYONE**!
Matthew 5:43-45: Jesus says, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' {As per the OT}. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven!"
Matthew 6:14,15: Jesus says, "If you forgive other people who sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, you Father will not forgive your sins!"
John 18:36: Jesus says, "My Kingdom is not of this world. If it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest. But now My Kingdom is from another place!"
Luke 23:33,34: When they came to the place of the Skull, they crucified Him there... Jesus said, "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing!"
Romans 12:19-21: Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty give him something to drink. In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but **OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD**!
I Peter 4:8-10: Above all, **LOVE** each other deeply, because **LOVE** covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms!
Colossians 3:12-15: As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on **LOVE**, which binds them all together in perfect unity! Let the **PEACE OF CHRIST** rule in your hearts. since of members of one body, you were **CALLED TO PEACE**!
Isaiah 9:6,7: For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and **PRINCE OF PEACE**. Of the greatness of His government and **PEACE** there will be no end!!
Matthew 28:18-20: Jesus says, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me! Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.... Teaching them to **OBEY EVERYTHING** I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age!"
WHAT DOES THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACH ABOUT YOUR ENEMIES
Posted : 20 Nov, 2019 07:27 AM
Is normative for a false prophetic to accuse those exposing his false doctrines of lying. I’m not surprised.
Jesus was also accused of deceiving the people by false teachers. If I’m being accused of lying when I teach the truth I’m in good company with Jesus.
I once posted something untrue about prophetic. I did that by mistake. But I made every effort to make things right by posting my error on several threads. But prophetic has lied continually and not only about me. Anyone who cares to review his posts can attest to this fact.
WHAT DOES THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACH ABOUT YOUR ENEMIES
Posted : 20 Nov, 2019 07:33 AM
Interestingly prophetic never quotes from the Old Testament about God teaching Israel to “hate their enemies”. Instead, he ignorantly quotes Jesus who is teaching ***against*** those who “say say” the law teaches hatred of Israel’s enemies.
This is a SERIOUS error because it pits Jesus against the law, something Jesus emphatically denies.
WHAT DOES THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACH ABOUT YOUR ENEMIES
Posted : 20 Nov, 2019 07:53 AM
What “prophetic” doesn’t understand, Israel was commanded by God to destroy only certain peoples who chose to be Israel’s enemies but not ALL Israel's enemies were to be destroyed. Some of Israel’s enemies where evil people and demon worshipers who sacrificed their own children to demonic idols!! Some of these evil people mercilessly attacked Israel simply because Israel asked to peaceably cross their land to get the land God had promised to Israel.
God determined each group that was ready for destruction. In fact, Israel was told not to destroy certain peoples because God, in his great patience, said the inherent evil of certain communities had not reached the point of destruction. Some of Israel’s enemies were destroyed for the sake of national defense.
I’m willing to bet that Richard, the wanna be “prophetic” is unfamiliar with all these verses.
WHAT DOES THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACH ABOUT YOUR ENEMIES
Posted : 20 Nov, 2019 08:11 AM
Another Satanic lie by Little David:
"Interestingly prophetic never quotes from the Old Testament about God teaching Israel to “hate their enemies”.
Actually I said that there are over 70 quotes in the Old Testament where Israel hated and killed their enemies and about 20 times God commanded Israel to **KILL THEIR ENEMIES"
I then quoted **SEVEN** verses that show that Israel was commanded to kill or defeat their enemies as follows:
Whereas in the OT in Leviticus 26:7,8: God said to Israel, "You will **PURSUE YOUR ENEMIES**, and they will fall by the **SWORD** before you. Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and **YOUR ENEMIES WILL FALL BY THE SWORD** before you!"
Numbers 25:16,17" The Lord said to Moses, "Treat the Midianites as **ENEMIES AND KILL THEM*"!"
Numbers 32:20,21: Moses said to them, "if you will do this--if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for battle and if all of you who are armed cross over the Jordan before the Lord until He has **DRIVEN OUT HIS ENEMIES** out before Him!!"
Deuteronomy 6:18,19: Do what is right and good in the Lord's sight, that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land the Lord has promised on oath to your ancestors, **THRUSTING OUT ALL YOUR ENEMIES BEFORE YOU**, as the Lord said!
Deuteronomy 23:14: For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your **ENEMIES**to you!
Deuteronomy 28:7 The Lord will grant that your **ENEMIES** who go up against you will be defeated before you!
Deuteronomy 30:7: The Lord your God will put all these **CURSES ON YOUR ENEMIES**who hate and persecute you!
This was part of my total post as follows:
**EXTREMELY LYING SATANIC QUOTE BY LITTLEDAVID:
"The Old Testament never teaches to hate our enemies any more than the New Testament does."
Actually you can easily find over 70 verses in the Old Testament to **HATE AND KILL YOUR ENEMIES**. Whereas you can find over 40 verses which commands us to love and pray and feed our enemies and you can not even find one verse which commands us to hate or kill your enemies!!
And so the Old Testament teaches us to hate and kill your enemies **OVER 70 TIMES**. Whereas the New Testament teaches us to hate and kill your enemies **ZERO TIMES**
AND SO LITTLE DAVID HAS LIED OVER 70 TIMES**
In the OT God ordered Israel to **KILLTHEIR ENEMIES** many times and God helped them do it. However in the NT Jesus commands in Luke 6:27-29: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also."
Matthew 5:43,44: Jesus says, "You have heard that is was said, {in the OT} 'Love your neighbor and **HATE YOUR ENEMY**.' But I tell you. love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven!!"
Whereas in the OT in Leviticus 26:7,8: God said to Israel, "You will **PURSUE YOUR ENEMIES**, and they will fall by the **SWORD** before you. Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and **YOUR ENEMIES WILL FALL BY THE SWORD** before you!"
Numbers 25:16,17" The Lord said to Moses, "Treat the Midianites as **ENEMIES AND KILL THEM*"!"
Numbers 32:20,21: Moses said to them, "if you will do this--if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for battle and if all of you who are armed cross over the Jordan before the Lord until He has **DRIVEN OUT HIS ENEMIES** out before Him!!"
Deuteronomy 6:18,19: Do what is right and good in the Lord's sight, that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land the Lord has promised on oath to your ancestors, **THRUSTING OUT ALL YOUR ENEMIES BEFORE YOU**, as the Lord said!
Deuteronomy 23:14: For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your **ENEMIES**to you!
Deuteronomy 28:7 The Lord will grant that your **ENEMIES** who go up against you will be defeated before you!
Deuteronomy 30:7: The Lord your God will put all these **CURSES ON YOUR ENEMIES**who hate and persecute you!
Another OT command in Exodus 21:23-25 "If there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, **EYE FOR EYE, TOOTH FOR TOOTH**, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise."
This was also changed by these NT commands by Jesus:
Matthew 5:38,39: Jesus commands, "You have heard that it was said {In Exodus 21:23-25 above}, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek turn to him the other also!"
Luke 6:27-29: Jesus commands, "LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you. do not demand it back!"
Luke 6:27-30: Jesus says, "Love your enemies, do good to those that hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if someone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back!"
Luke 6:33-36: Love your enemies, do good to them and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your **REWARD** will be great and you will be children of the Most High because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as you Father is merciful!"
Matthew 18:21,22: Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister {or wife} who sins against me? Up to 7 times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you not 7 times but 77 times!" {Also can be translated 70 times 7 times!}
I Peter 3:9: Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called that you may **INHERIT A BLESSING**!
Matthew 5:9: Jesus the **PRINCE OF PEACE** says, "Blessed are the **PEACEMAKERS**, for they will be called the **CHILDREN OF GOD**!"
2 Corinthians 10:3-5: For though we live in the world, **WE DO NOT MAKE WAR AS THE WORLD DOES**! The weapons we fight with **ARE NOT THE WEAPONS OF THE WORLD**. On the contrary, they have **DIVINE POWER** to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God!
Ephesians 6:17: Take the helmet of salvation and the **SWORD** OF THE SPIRIT** which is the **WORD OF GOD**!!
**THE ONLY SWORD BORN AGAIN CHRISTIANS MAY USE IS THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT WHICH IS THE **WORD OF GOD**!!
2 Corinthians 10:3,4: "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are *NOT* the weapons of the world."
**HOW DO WE FIGHT THE **GOSPEL OF PEACE**??
Ephesians 6:14-17: Stand firm then, with belt of Truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the **GOSPEL OF PEACE**. in addition to all this, take up the shield of Faith, with which you can extinguish all the arrows of the Evil One. Take the helmet of Salvation and the **SWORD OF THE SPIRIT**, which is the **WORD OF GOD**!!
I Peter 2:20-23: If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, THAT YOU SHOULD FOLLOW IN HIS STEPSt .... When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead He entrusted Himself to Him who judges Justly!
I Peter 3:8,9,11: Finally, all of you, be like minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. **DO NOT REPAY EVIL FOR EVIL** or insult with insult. On the contrary, **REPAY EVIL WITH BLESSING**, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For... "They must turn from evil and do good; they **MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT**!"
Romans 14:17-19: For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, **PEACE** and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God an receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do **WHAT LEADS TO PEACE**!
Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort **TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH EVERYONE**!
Matthew 5:43-45: Jesus says, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' {As per the OT}. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven!"
Matthew 6:14,15: Jesus says, "If you forgive other people who sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, you Father will not forgive your sins!"
John 18:36: Jesus says, "My Kingdom is not of this world. If it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest. But now My Kingdom is from another place!"
Luke 23:33,34: When they came to the place of the Skull, they crucified Him there... Jesus said, "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing!"
Romans 12:19-21: Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty give him something to drink. In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but **OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD**!
I Peter 4:8-10: Above all, **LOVE** each other deeply, because **LOVE** covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms!
Colossians 3:12-15: As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on **LOVE**, which binds them all together in perfect unity! Let the **PEACE OF CHRIST** rule in your hearts. since of members of one body, you were **CALLED TO PEACE**!
Isaiah 9:6,7: For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and **PRINCE OF PEACE**. Of the greatness of His government and **PEACE** there will be no end!!
Matthew 28:18-20: Jesus says, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me! Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.... Teaching them to **OBEY EVERYTHING** I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age!"
