Scripture Passages
back to the letter
Matthew 5:22 &
44-45
Luke 6:27-35
Romans 12:20
1 Thessalonians 5:15
1 Peter 3:8-9
Leviticus 19:18
Galatians 5:19-23 & 6:1
Ephesians 4:1-3
2 Timothy 2:24-26
Titus 3:1-5
Luke 23:34
Acts 7:59-60
Exodus 20:13
Matthew 5:22
I'm telling you that anyone who is so
much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a
brother 'idiot!' and you just might find yourself hauled into court.
Thoughtlessly yell 'stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire.
The simple moral fact is that words kill.
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Matthew 5:44-45
I'm challenging that. I'm telling you
to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When
someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, [45] for
then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is
what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to
everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty.
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Luke 6:27-35
"To you who are ready for the truth, I
say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.
[28] When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for
that person. [29] If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If
someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. [30]
If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the
servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
[31] "Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want
people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! [32] If you
only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners
do that. [33] If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal?
Garden-variety sinners do that. [34] If you only give for what you hope to get
out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.
[35] "I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return.
You'll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our
Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst.
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Romans 12:20
Our Scriptures tell us that if you see
your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a
drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness.
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1 Thessalonians. 5:15
And be careful that when you get on
each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each
other, and always do your best to bring it out.
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1 Peter 3:8-9
Summing up: Be agreeable, be
sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. [9] That goes for all of
you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead,
bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing.
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Leviticus 19:18
"Never seek revenge or bear a grudge
against anyone, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
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Galatians 5:19-23
It is obvious what kind of life
develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless,
cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and
joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid
loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a
brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided
lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing
everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies
of community. I could go on.
This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom
this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom. But what happens when we live
God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears
in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity.
We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the
heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We
find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in
life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in
bringing this about; it only gets in the way.
Galatians 6:1
Live creatively, friends. If someone
falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for
yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out.
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Ephesians 4:1-3
In light of all this, here's what I
want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you
to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel.
I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone
strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. [2] And mark that you do this
with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring
yourselves out for each other in acts of love, [3] alert at noticing differences
and quick at mending fences.
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2 Timothy
2:24-26
God's servant must not be
argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, [25] working
firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when
God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, [26]
enabling them to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held
captive, forced to run his errands.
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Titus 3:1-5
Remind the people to respect the
government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand. [2] No
insults, no fights. God's people should be bighearted and courteous.
[3] It wasn't so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of
sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our
shoulder, hated and hating back. [4] But when God, our kind and loving Savior
God, stepped in, [5] he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had
nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people,
washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit.
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Luke 23:34
Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them;
they don't know what they're doing."
Dividing up his clothes, they threw dice for them.
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Acts 7:59-60
As the rocks rained down, Stephen
prayed, "Master Jesus, take my life." [60] Then he knelt down, praying loud
enough for everyone to hear, "Master, don't blame them for this sin"—his last
words. Then he died.
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Exodus 20:13
Thou shalt not kill.
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