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how does jesus' teaching on loving enemies relate to jeremiah's instruction to the exiles?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Jeremiah 29:7 and Matthew 5:43-44

Jeremiah 29:7: Seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to Yahweh for it; for in its peace you will have peace. Matthew 5:43-44: You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you.

Jeremiah's words come from a letter sent to Jewish exiles in Babylon in the 6th century BCE, advising them on how to live in a foreign land. Jesus' teaching is part of his Sermon on the Mount, delivered to his disciples in 1st century CE Galilee, outlining the nature of God's kingdom.

What does seeking the good of those who are not your 'own' look like in your life or community?

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Read alongside it

  • Romans 12:14-21

    Paul echoes Jesus' teaching on responding to evil with good, and blessing persecutors.

  • Luke 6:27-36

    Luke's account of Jesus' Sermon on the Plain includes similar commands to love enemies and pray for those who mistreat.

  • Proverbs 25:21-22

    This wisdom literature advises feeding and giving water to one's enemy, anticipating later teachings.

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