NOTES for Mat 5:43-48

The Lord, speaking about love for enemies, knows how difficult this is for a person. Perhaps that is exactly why Jesus leaves such a commandment.

We often see enemies in people who are not enemies at all. And what would happen in that case if the Lord had not left us this commandment? Considering ourselves fully entitled to hate our enemies, we would hate these people who do not wish us harm at all...

But, naturally, the commandment to love one's neighbor and enemy was given to us not only to prevent such situations. Peace on earth, despite everything, is possible only through the pacification of the heart of every person living on this earth. And if there is malice and hatred in the heart, even if it is "justified," there is no peace in such a heart... And only love that "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Cor. 13:7) can forgive everything, including, sadly, the inevitable causing of pain.