Love of Enemies in Matthew's Gospel An Exegesis of Matthew 5:43-48, And the Golden Rule in 7:12 a Challenge to Christian Life in Enwan (Nigeria)

Abstract

The experience of hatred and lack of understanding, especially among Catholic Christians, between Catholics and other Christian denominations, between Enwan people and Alculcu people of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria, has motivated the writer of this Long Essay to choose the theme, "love of enemies" (Mt 5:43-48) as his theme. Christ, in Matthew, gives us the imperative to love our enemies. In St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Enwan', Christians who come together to pray and celebrate the Eucharist do not live as brothers and sisters. What only binds them together is common prayer, after which most of them return home to live as enemies. This situation is even worse when it comes to Catholics and other Christians in the village. It is as if Catholics have a different Christ from the others. There is no inter- Christian unity. So you wonder if Christ is divided (just as Paul wondered in 1 Cor 1:12-13). Above all, Enwan as a village has been struggling for a piece of land with her neighbouring village, Alcuku, and there has been genocide since the year 2004. Lives of innocent people are taken without any human sympathy. The worst of such experiences happened between 7th and 17 th August 2005. During this period the writer of this Long Essay happened to be in the village. It was horrible. A state of emergency was eventually declared over the land. Until this moment there is news that the clash is not yet over. T he question now is, can the two villages ever come to terms and coexist peacefully and in unity any more? The objective of this work is thus to remind all Christians and people of Enwan (where the writer comes from) that God created only one Adam to show us that we all have a common descent. Its purpose is thus to help them realise that loving those who hate and persecute us is what makes Christianity a unique religion.