Mountain View College

8709 Valencia City, Philippines

Life Teachings of Jesus – TTH 1:30-3:00
Group #2 – Reporter #6
Topic – Love Your Enemies (Matthew 5:43-45) & The Two Debtors (Luke 7:36-50)

Love Your Enemies is the natural product of pride in self. It was as if

(Matthew 5:43-45)
Love - Greek word agapao, whose wealth of
meaning in English word “love” inadequately
reflects. The Greeks had three words to convey
the ideas we seek to express our love. Philein,
in general describes affectionate, sentimental
loved based on the emotions and feelings. Eran,
denotes passionate, sensual love that operates
essentially physically plane. Whereas Philein
tends to make us love only those who do love
us, Agapan extends love even those who do not
love us. Agapan is selfless, whereas Eran is
purely selfless, and even Philein may, at times,
be marred by selfishness. The agape of the
New Testament is love in its highest and trust
form, the love than which there is no greater -
love that impels a man to sacrifice himself for
others (John 15:13). It implies reverence for
God and respect for ones fellow men. It is a
divine principle of thought and action that
modifies the character, govern the impulses,
control the passions, and ennobles the
affections.
Thy Neighbor - To the Jews a “neighbor” was a
fellow Israelite, either by birth or by
conversation to Judaism. Even the half breed
Samaritans were excluded and considered
strangers. Christian love seeks the good of all
men, whatever their race or creed. Neighbor”
literally means a “near-dweller”. (Luke 10:29-
37)
Hate thine enemies – This is not a part of the
quotation form Leviticus 19:18, but doubtless a
popular maxim. Hatred or contempt for others
Jesus said, “The law says to love your neighbor; I
say, love even your enemies” because God does
so and because we are sons of God.
Love your enemies – Agapan, denotes the love
of respect in contrast with philein, which
describes the love of emotion, such as exist
between members of the family. Philein is
spontaneous, emotional, and is nowhere
commanded in the New Testament. Agapan on
the other hand, can be and is commanded, for it
is under the control of thy will. (Matthew 5:43)
Bless - Important textual evidence may be cited
for omitting the second and third clauses pf this
declaration, as well the words “despitefully use
you”. According to these ancient witnesses
Christ simply said, “Love your enemies, pray for
them that persecute you”. (Luke 6:27-28)
Jesus gave several reason for this admonition.
1. This love is a mark of maturity, providing that
we are sons of the Father and not just little
children. 2. It is Godlike. The father share His
good things with those who oppose Him.
Matthew 5:45 suggest that our love creates a
climate of blessings that makes it easy to win
our enemies and make them our friends. Love is
like sunshine and rain that the Father sends so
graciously. 3. It is a testimony to others. God
expect us to live on a much higher plane than
the lost people of the world who return good
for good and evil for evil. As Christians, we must
return good for evil as an investment of love.

THE TWO DEBTORS
(LUKE 7:36-50)
Bible commentary:
Desired
Jesus had cured Simon of the leprosy (Matt.
26:6), and he, desiring to express his gratitude,
prepared a feast and invited Jesus as the guest
of honor. This feast took place in Bethany.
Lazarus was included as the guest of honor
along with Jesus (DA 557). Jesus graciously
accepted the hospitality of Pharisee and
publican alike (Luke 5:29; 19:5)
SAT DOWN TO MEAT
Literally, “reclined at the table” (Mark 2:15)
A Woman
Mary of Bethany- known as Mary Magdalene
Alabaster
A comparatively soft rock that can be carved
into cups, boxes, vases, or flasks. Ancient
ointment flasks were usually carved from light-
gray translucent limestone.
Ointment
“Olive oil” the common ointment of the
Palestine to which spice or other aromatic
ingredients were added.
Mary’s “ointment” was the “very costly”
spikenard (Mark 14:3), (John 12:3), probably
extracted from the fragrant roots of the
‘Nardostachys jatamansi’.
Nardostachys jatamansi- a plant that grows high
in the Himalaya Mountains, and in ancient
times was used as a source of perfume and
medicine.
- 300 Roman denarii, its value (mark
14:5). Its equivalent to 300 working
days’ wages for laborer of the time
(Matt. 20:2).
Valuable gift, suitable for the monarchs of
earth, represented great personal sacrifice on
the part of Mary.
Stood at his feet
Mary anoint the feet of Jesus without being
noticed until the aromatic scent of the
perfumed ointment filled the room.
To wash
Literally, “to wet,” or “to moisten.”
With tears
Mary did not planned to shed tears of joy and
thankfulness on Jesus’ feet. But as she knelt to
apply the ointment, her tears probably came in
spite of an attempt to hold them back, and fell
on His feet before she could apply the
ointment.
Hairs of her head
It was commonly thought a disgrace for a
woman to let down her hair in public. But,
probably unprepared for this apparently
unforeseen need for a towel, she reached for
her hair.
Kissed
According to the Greek, she kissed repeatedly.
Kiss is a common form of greeting (Matt.
26:49). To embrace another’s feet and to kiss
them was an entirely appropriate and
respectable demonstration of high regard.
(Matt. 28:9)
Anointed Them
Matt. 6:17. That is, after the burst of emotion.
Spake within himself
Simon passed silent judgment on Jesus for
permitting the act of gratitude without
remonstrating with the woman.
A prophet
According to the Greek, Simon at this point had
reached the conclusion that Jesus was not a
prophet, or He would have known better what
kind of woman Mary really was.
What manner
Mary had left Bethany to save herself and her
family embarrassment.
Jesus answering said
That is, answering Simon’s unspoken thought or
question.
A Certain Creditor
That is, “a certain professional lender of money
at interest.”
The Two Debtors- a parable that is concerned
with gratitude for the blessing of the salvation.
- Based on the fundamental principle
that one’s appreciation for blessings
received is in direct proportion to one’s
sense of need in respect to those
blessings.
Five hundred pence
That is, 500 Roman denarii, or about $56.56.
Fifty denarii would be about $5.66.
Nothing to pay
The size of the debt made no difference in the
ability of the two debtors to pay.
Frankly
Meaning “to do a favor” or “to give graciously”
by Gr. Charizomai
Other words “forgave”
Most
Literally, “more.”
I suppose
To whom they were addressed were reluctant,
in other instances ready, to acknowledge the
lesson so clearly set forth. (Matt. 21:31, 41, 45;
Luke 10:36, 37)
He forgave most
Simon pronounced judgment upon himself.
Tactfully the Savior led the proud Pharisees to
realize that his sin, his seduction of Mary, was
greater that hers, as 500 denarii was greater than
50.
He turned to the woman
Jesus meant His statement both as a rebuke to
Simon and as an expression of gratitude to
Mary for her thoughtful kindness.
Thou gavest me no water
According to the Greek in each case-the water,
the kiss, and the oil-the word itself stands first
for emphasis, as “water thou gavest me not,”
Simon and Mary- not so much one of a duty
omitted and a duty performed, as a favor
neglected and favor bestowed. Simon was
hospitable, but he might have done even more
than he did. Mary’s act of gratitude was
performed, not as an obligation of a heart, but
as he expression of a heart that overflowed
with love and devotion.
Hath. . . ceased
“To be intermittent” by Gr. Dialeipo. It denotes
repeated rather than continuous action.
Oil
Usually “olive oil”
Forgiven
The love Mary now felt in her heart for Christ
was the result of forgiveness already granted
her prior to this occasion. Simon felt but little
love for Christ, because his sins were as yet
forgiven, because, like Nicodemus, he had not
considered himself a sinner in need of divine
forgiveness.
Are forgiven
Literally, “have been forgiven.” Mary had
already received forgiveness for her sins.
Within themselves
Or, “among themselves.”
Faith hath saved
Man’s faith must ever rise to claim the blessings
of forgiveness, for ‘without faith it is impossible
to please him”. (Heb. 11:6)
Conclusion:
The woman recognized Jesus as being
supremely important. By anointing His feet;
she was looking up from her lowly position.
She was seeking His acceptance –knowing
that her very best was less than His least.
From the perspective of the story of two
debtors, the woman knew the enormity of
her debt and so she loved Jesus greatly.
We should all recognize ourselves –our
flesh– has not changed even after salvation.
It will not improve. Although our actions
might appear better as Christians, our inner
thoughts and attitudes –that's where our
flesh is– remains unchanged and destined
for death. And its war with our spirit wages
on. The point of this is that we can grow in
our love for Him –that personal
relationship– by knowing the enormity of
the debt He canceled for us.
Reference: SDA Bible Commentary Volume 5
pp. 340-341
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