Matthew 5:4348

1
Matthew 543-48
For if you love those who love you, what reward
do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do
the same?
If you greet only your brothers, what more are
you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles
do the same?
Therefore you are to be perfect (complete), as
your heavenly Father is perfect.
2
Importance of Love
(1) sums up the whole Old Testament Law (Mt
2239) (2) sums up the Christians
responsibilities (Rom 139) (3) the goal of
Pauls instruction (1 Tim 15) (4) the
distinguishing mark of the Christian (Jn
1335) (5) the crowning virtue of all other
virtues (2 Pet 15-7 Col 312-14) (6)
without it a Christian is nothing (1 Cor
131-3) (7) even greater than faith and hope (1
Cor 1313) (8) is easily lost, without even
knowing it (Rev 21-7)
3
Gods Definition of Love
Love suffers long
thinks no evil
is kind is not jealous does not brag is not
arrogant does not behave rudely does not seek its
own is not provoked
not rejoice in iniquity rejoices in the
truth bears all things believes all things hopes
all things endures all things
4
All Verbs!
LOVEIS ABOUTWHAT WE DO!
5
Outline Love Suffers Long
Definition of words NT emphasis How Gods
longsuffering setsthe example for us Types of
provocations we face How to suffer long Practical
applications
6
Love Suffers Longmacrothumeo (verb)
Macro long Thumos passion,
heat Long-tempered
Thayers a) to persevere patiently and
bravely in enduring misfortunes and
troubles b) to be patient in bearing the
offenses and injuries of others b1) to be
mild and slow in avenging b2) to be
longsuffering, slow to anger, slow to
punish
7
Love Is Longsuffering
W. E. Vine Longsuffering (makrothumia) is that
quality of self-restraint in the face of
provocation which does not hastily retaliate or
promptly punish it is the opposite of anger, is
associated with mercy, and is used of
God. Patience (hupomeno) is the quality that
does not surrender to circumstances or succumb
under trial it is associated with hope, and is
not used of God.
8
Love Suffers Long
John MacArthur It is the ability to be wronged
and wronged again, and have the power to
retaliate, but never even think of it.
9
Love Suffers Long
Matthew 1826So the servant fell on his knees,
imploring him, Lord, have patience with me, and
I will pay you everything. Matthew 1835So my
heavenly Father will also do to every one of you,
if you do not forgive your brother from your
heart.
10
God Calls UsTo Let HimCreate In UsA Spirit
That WillSuffer Long
11
Galatians 522
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control
12
Colossians 39-12
you have put off the old man with his deeds, and
have put on the new man who is renewed in
knowledge according to the image of Him who
created him
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,
put on tender mercies, kindness, humility,
meekness, longsuffering bearing with one
another, and forgiving one another
13
Ephesians 41-3
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech
you to walk worthy of the calling with which you
were called, with all humility and meekness,
with longsuffering, forbearing one another in
love endeavoring to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace.
14
Longsufferingis a primarycharacteristicofAlmig
hty God
15
Exodus 345-7
Now the Lord descended in the cloud and stood
with him there, and proclaimed the name of
the Lord. And the Lord passed before him and
proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and
gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in
goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands,
forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by
no means clearing the guilty
16
Romans 922
What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to
make His power known, endured with much
longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for
destruction?
17
2 Peter 39
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as
some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward
us, not willing that any should perish but that
all should come to repentance.
18
1 Timothy 116
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all
acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for
this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first
Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a
pattern to those who are going to believe on Him
for everlasting life.
19
Jesus chose Paulas an apostleto show how
muchHe is willingto sufferwith people.
20
Romans 24
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness,
forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that
the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 
21
Longsufferingis a primarycharacteristicofJesus
Christ
22
How Do People Provoke Us?

• Irritation injury
• acts rudely
• publicly embarrasses
• is unfair / unreasonable
• is fraudulent or deceitful
• doesnt keep promises
• is lazy at work
• asks unfair prices
• neglects to pay debts

• Injury to good name
• speaks evil behind back
• spreads false reports
• greatly misrepresents
• exaggerates faults
• judges motives
• puts evil constructions on words and actions

23
How Do People Provoke Us?

• Haughty proud
• lords it over
• disrespects authority
• Selfish - has no regard for good of neighbor
• Self-willed must have things his own way
• Envious malicious
• hates it when another has honor prosperity

• pleased when others are cast down in adversity
• acts in ill-will to those with honor prosperity
• Revengeful
• deliberately returns evil for evil
• holds a grudge
• acts hatefully at every opportunity

24
What is theproper responseto provocationby one
whosuffers long?
25
Bear with injuries no revenge.

• Dont do anything, either in speech or behavior,
  which shows a bitter or ugly spirit against the
  one who has provoked or injured us.
• No passionate, rash, or hasty expressions, or
  exasperated appearance, or air of violence in
  talk or behavior.

26
Maintain our inward calm stay at peace.

• When the injuries we suffer are allowed to
  disturb our calmness of mind, and put us into an
  excitement and tumult, then we cease to bear
  these injuries in the true spirit of
  longsuffering. Jonathan Edwards

27
Take the wrong forget our rights.

• 1 Cor 67 Actually, then, it is already a
  defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one
  another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not
  rather be defrauded?

28
Objections and Answers

• Objection 1. Some may be ready to say, that the
  injuries they receive from men are intolerable
• that the one who has injured them has been so
  unreasonable in what he has said or done, and it
  is so unjust and injurious and unjustifiable, and
  the like, that it is more than flesh and blood
  can bear
• that they are treated with so much injustice that
  it is enough to provoke a stone, or that they are
  treated with such contempt, that they are
  actually trampled on, and they cannot but resent
  it.

29
But in answer to this objection, I would ask
a few questions
30
Objections and Answers

• First, do you think the injuries you have
  received from your fellowman are more than you
  have offered to God?
• Has your enemy been more base, more unreasonable,
  more ungrateful, than you have to the High and
  Holy One?
• Have his offenses been more heinous or
  aggravated, or more in number, than yours have
  been against your Creator, Benefactor, and
  Redeemer?
• Have they been more provoking and exasperating
  than your sinful conduct has been to him who is
  the author of all our mercies, and to whom you
  are under the highest obligations?

31
Objections and Answers

• Second, do you not hope that, as God hitherto
  has, so he will STILL bear with you in all this,
  and that notwithstanding all, he will exercise
  toward you his infinite love and favor?
• Do you not hope that God will have mercy upon
  you, and that Christ will embrace you in his
  dying love, though you have been such an
  injurious enemy, and that, through his grace, he
  will blot out your transgressions and all your
  offenses against him, and make you eternally his
  child, and an heir of his kingdom?

32
Objections and Answers

• Third, when you think of such long-suffering on
  Gods part, do you not approve of it, and think
  well of it, and that it is not only worthy and
  excellent, but exceeding glorious?
• And do you not approve of it, that Christ should
  have died for you, and that God, through him,
  should offer you pardon and salvation?
• Or do you disapprove of this?
• And would you have liked God better, if he had
  not borne with you, but had long since cut you
  off in his wrath?

33
Objections and Answers

• Fourth, if such a course be excellent and worthy
  to be approved of in God, why is it not so in
  yourself?
• Why should you not imitate it?
• Is God too kind in forgiving injuries?
• Is it less heinous to offend the Lord of heaven
  and earth, than for a man to offend you?
• Is it well for you to be forgiven, and that you
  should pray to God for pardon, and yet that you
  should not extend it to your fellowmen that have
  injured you?

34
Objections and Answers

• Fifth, would you be willing, for all the future,
  that God should no longer bear with the injuries
  you may offer him, and the offenses you commit
  against him?
• Are you willing to go and ask God to deal with
  yourself for the future, as in holding this
  objection, you think of dealing with your
  fellowmen?

35
Objections and Answers

• Sixth, did Christ turn again upon those who
  injured and insulted and trod on him, when he was
  here below, and was he not injured far more
  grievously than ever you have been?
• And have not you more truly trodden under foot
  the Son of God, than you were ever trodden on by
  others?
• And is it a more provoking thing for men to tread
  on and injure you, than for you to tread on and
  injure Christ?
• These questions may sufficiently answer your
  objection.

36
Objections and Answers

• Objection 2. But you may still further say, that
  those who have injured you, persist in it, and do
  not at all repent, but go on doing it still.
• But what opportunity could there be for
  long-suffering, if injury were not persisted in
  long?
• If injuries are continued, it may be for the very
  purpose, in providence, of trying whether you
  will exercise long-suffering and meekness.
• And did not God bear with you long, when you
  persisted in offending him? When you have been
  obstinate, and self-willed, and persevering in
  your injuries against him, has he ceased to
  exercise his long-suffering toward you?

37
Objections and Answers

• Objection 3. But you may object again, that your
  enemies will be encouraged to go on with their
  injuries, excusing yourself by saying, that if
  you bear injury, you will only be injured the
  more.
• But you do not know this, for you have not an
  insight into the future, nor into the hearts of
  men.
• And, beside, God will undertake for you, if you
  obey his commands, and he is more able to put a
  stop to the wrath of man than you are.

38
Objections and Answers

• He has said, Vengeance is mine I will repay,
  saith the Lord (Rom. 1219). He interposed
  wonderfully for David, as he has for very many of
  his saints and if you do but obey him, he will
  take part with you against all that rise up
  against you.
• And in the observation and experience of men, it
  is generally found that a meek and long-suffering
  spirit puts an end to injuries, while a
  revengeful spirit does but provoke them.

39
Cherish, then, the spirit of long-suffering,
meekness, and forbearance, and you shall possess
your soul in patience and happiness, and none
shall be permitted to harm you more than God in
wisdom and kindness may permit.
- Jonathan Edwards
40
Applications In The Home
We see frailties and weaknesses and errors in
family members repeatedly.
Its easy for repetitive behaviors to get under
our skin. Its been long enough! They ought to
know better! Ive seen this kind of behavior too
long and IVE HAD IT!
41
Sarcastic remarks
Hateful comments
Arguing
Yelling
What happened toself-restraint in theface of
provocation?
42
1 Timothy 41-2
Preach the word be ready in season and out of
season reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great
patience and instruction
43
Applications In The Church
Suffer long with personalities of others Suffer
long with weaknesses of others Suffer long with
poor judgment of others Suffer long with poor
handling of matters Suffer long with impositions
put upon you Suffer long with everything in
everybody (while restoring those caught in sin!)
44
Ephesians 41-3
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech
you to walk worthy of the calling with which you
were called, with all humility and meekness,
with longsuffering, forbearing one another in
love endeavoring to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace.
45
Because We Love God
We Will Be Grateful To God For Suffering Long
With Us We Will Imitate God We Will Humbly
Accept The Injuries We Suffer We Will Put Our
Injuries In Gods Hands
46
If I Do NotSuffer Long
I Am Nothing