Be Perfect: Loving Your Enemies in a World of Retaliation | Matthew 5:38–48
August 3, 2026 · 54m
Jesus’ command to “love your enemies” and “be perfect as your Father is perfect” can feel impossible—especially in a world shaped by revenge, outrage, and violence. In this message, Pastor Chad Bohi walks through Matthew 5:38–48 and shows how Jesus offers a radically different way to be human.
We explore:
The Old Testament “eye for an eye” law and why it was actually a mercy
What it means to turn the other cheek, give your coat, and go the second mile
How followers of Jesus are called to break the cycle of retaliation
The tension between the Sermon on the Mount and Romans 13 (civil authority, police, military, just war)
The ultimate kingdom vision where weapons become plowshares (Isaiah 2, Micah 4)
Anchored in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, this teaching calls us to grow up (telios) into the likeness of our Father—people who trust God to vindicate, refuse to recycle revenge, and overcome evil with good.
Scripture References:
Matthew 5:38–48; Genesis 4–6; Deuteronomy 24; Romans 12–13; Isaiah 2; Micah 4; 1 Peter 2:21–25; Colossians 1; John 17
Chapters (Suggested):
0:00 – Story: 20-year-old Chad vs. the Christian pacifist
4:55 – “Eye for an eye”: the law of retaliation explained
10:30 – Turn the other cheek: breaking the cycle of revenge
18:30 – Give your coat also: exposing false visions of flourishing
23:30 – Go the second mile: enemy love under empire
28:40 – Love your enemies, pray for your persecutors
33:30 – “Be perfect” (telios): growing into maturity, not performance
38:30 – Private disciple vs. public officer; Romans 13 tension
43:00 – Just war, Bonhoeffer, and a fallen world
45:30 – The peaceable kingdom: swords into plowshares
47:24 – Jesus’ example: entrusted to the One who judges justly
49:36 – Response and prayer
To CONNECT with our church, submit a PRAYER REQUEST, download FREE encouraging material, GIVE to this ministry or FOLLOW US on social media, click the link below!
https://linktr.ee/radiantcentralcoast
We explore:
The Old Testament “eye for an eye” law and why it was actually a mercy
What it means to turn the other cheek, give your coat, and go the second mile
How followers of Jesus are called to break the cycle of retaliation
The tension between the Sermon on the Mount and Romans 13 (civil authority, police, military, just war)
The ultimate kingdom vision where weapons become plowshares (Isaiah 2, Micah 4)
Anchored in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, this teaching calls us to grow up (telios) into the likeness of our Father—people who trust God to vindicate, refuse to recycle revenge, and overcome evil with good.
Scripture References:
Matthew 5:38–48; Genesis 4–6; Deuteronomy 24; Romans 12–13; Isaiah 2; Micah 4; 1 Peter 2:21–25; Colossians 1; John 17
Chapters (Suggested):
0:00 – Story: 20-year-old Chad vs. the Christian pacifist
4:55 – “Eye for an eye”: the law of retaliation explained
10:30 – Turn the other cheek: breaking the cycle of revenge
18:30 – Give your coat also: exposing false visions of flourishing
23:30 – Go the second mile: enemy love under empire
28:40 – Love your enemies, pray for your persecutors
33:30 – “Be perfect” (telios): growing into maturity, not performance
38:30 – Private disciple vs. public officer; Romans 13 tension
43:00 – Just war, Bonhoeffer, and a fallen world
45:30 – The peaceable kingdom: swords into plowshares
47:24 – Jesus’ example: entrusted to the One who judges justly
49:36 – Response and prayer
To CONNECT with our church, submit a PRAYER REQUEST, download FREE encouraging material, GIVE to this ministry or FOLLOW US on social media, click the link below!
https://linktr.ee/radiantcentralcoast
