When dealing with people who show no respect for God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or the Bible and harbor hate toward those who represent Christ, we can look at how Jesus Himself responded to His enemies. His words always balance truth, love, and righteous conviction. Here are some examples of how Jesus might respond based on His teachings and actions:
1. Speaking Truth with Authority and Compassion:
Scripture-Based Response: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”* — Luke 23:34 (ESV)
Comment: Jesus’ response on the cross exemplifies how He treated those who rejected and hated Him—with a heart of compassion and forgiveness. His desire was not to condemn but to offer the opportunity for repentance and reconciliation.
2. Calling Out Hypocrisy and Spiritual Blindness:
Scripture-Based Response: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. — Matthew 23:25 (ESV)
Comment: Jesus didn’t avoid confronting the hypocrisy of the religious leaders who opposed Him. He exposed their spiritual blindness not out of hate but to jolt them into self-reflection and change.
3. Offering an Invitation to Truth:
Scripture-Based Response: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. — Matthew 11:28 (ESV)
Comment: Even when people reject Christ, He extends an open invitation to come to Him and find rest for their weary souls. This reflects His deep love for those lost in their hostility and brokenness.
4. Responding with Silence or Wisdom:
Scripture-Based Response: But Jesus remained silent. — Matthew 26:63 (ESV)
Comment: There are moments when responding to hateful words is unnecessary. Jesus chose silence when standing before Pilate and during His trial, demonstrating that sometimes silence can be more potent than words.
5. Answering Questions to Challenge Thought:
Scripture-Based Response: Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? — Luke 6:46 (ESV)
Comment: Jesus often responded with questions that challenged people’s assumptions and revealed their true intentions. When dealing with enemies, He prompted them to think deeper and consider their actions and beliefs.
6. Pointing to the Heart of the Matter:
Scripture-Based Response: You are of your father, the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him.”* — John 8:44 (ESV)
Comment: While this might sound harsh, Jesus spoke bluntly to those completely closed off to the truth, identifying the source of their hostility as rooted in deception and lies. He aimed to illuminate the spiritual battle they were unwittingly part of.
7. Offering Hope Despite Hostility:
Scripture-Based Response: I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”* — John 14:6 (ESV)
Comment: Even when faced with opposition, Jesus didn’t waver in offering hope and the path to salvation. He spoke with certainty about who He is and what He provides, showing His mission was to bring life to those who would listen and believe.
Closing Thoughts:
Jesus’ responses to His enemies were marked by unwavering truth, deep compassion, and righteous conviction. He balanced confrontation with the invitation to repentance and Salvation. His example shows us that while we are called to stand firm in our faith, we must also respond in a way that points back to God’s love, even those who hate us. As followers of Christ, we can learn to speak the truth boldly, love unconditionally, and act with wisdom and grace, knowing that God’s Spirit equips us to do so.
Comments