“ENMITY” (GAL 5:20)

INTRODUCTION:

1. I have heard different ideas about checks.

2. Some think it is best to have pretty checks – the fancy printing and scenic pictures are pleasurable to

look at – the nicer the check the better.

3. On the other hand, I know people who like plain checks – no pictures; no fancy printing; just a plain

background – the plainer the better.

4. A few have said to me:

5. “When I write out a check, it is to pay a bill.

6. Writing a check costs me money.

7. Thus, because writing a check is usually an unpleasant experience, I have no interest in beautiful

pictures and fancy printing.”

8. Checks should look ugly because writing them is unpleasant.

I. PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT TASTES WHEN IT COMES TO CHECKS.

A. This past week I came across another perspective on checks.

B. There was a man who lived in California who had to make regular alimony payments by check.

C. This man took a picture down to his bank and said, “I want this picture on my checks.”

D. The picture showed him kissing his new wife.

E. Every time the ex-wife received an alimony payment, she came face to face with her ex-

husband, his new wife, and the two of them kissing.

F. In Gal. 5 the ASV has the word “enmities”.

G. This word is probably not a term that we use.

H. The KJV uses the word “hatred”.

I. The KJV translation is much clearer.

J. The word that Paul used means hatred.

K. The level of hatred is so strong that we can say:

(1) Imagine what love and friendship are;

(2) Imagine what is meant by care and consideration;

(3) Imagine every good quality we can think of;

(4) Then imagine the very opposite of all these things.

(5) This is hatred.

L. If someone “hates” us in the sense of Gal. 5:20, we should expect to be harmed.

M. If we are “hated” in the sense of Gal. 5:20, we are in danger.

N. This word describes hostility, an adversary, an enemy.

O. In the OT this word was used more than 450 times.

P. Quite often it described the enemies in a military conflict.

Q. In war, we know what the word “enemy” means.

(1) Enemies attack each other.

(2) Enemies kill each other.

(3) Enemies destroy, disrupt, and ruin what their opponents have.

R. Since Christianity is a system of peace and love, we would expect to find that hate is wrong.

S. Being someone’s enemy would be contrary to the ways of God.

T. These conclusions are correct.

U. Gal. 5 classes “hate” as a “work of the flesh”.

II. WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS WORD, GAL. 5 ONLY HINTS AT WHAT THE REST OF THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE TERM USED BY PAUL.

A. Gal. 5 gets us started but there is more to learn.

B. One of the things that we learn about this word is in Lk. 23:12.

C. Luke tells us about 2 people – Pilate and Herod.

(1) Pilate was the Roman governor.

(2) He was corrupt, cruel and coarse.

(3) He was known to execute people without proper legal proceedings.

(4) He was a tyrant who was unpredictable.

(5) This man was finally removed from his post in AD 36.

(6) Herod was the Jewish ruler of Galilee.

(7) Herod was a builder.

(8) There were several differences between Pilate and Herod.

(9) Maybe the differences between the two created hatred.

(10) Maybe the hatred was related to jealousy or something else.

(11) All we know is that these 2 men hated each other. READ Verse 12.

(12) The word “hate” is the same as the one used in Gal. 5:20.

D. For a time these 2 men were not only unfriendly with each other, they “hated” each other.

E. These 2 were on opposite sides of the fence.

F. They were adversaries and opponents.

G. Each may have expected the other to try to injure him.

H. What we see in Lk. 23 is still visible in the world.

(1) We know people who hate someone.

(2) We can name people who would say about a person:

(3) “He is my enemy.

(4) I would like to hurt or kill him.

(5) If I could get away with destroying him, I would.

(6) I would like to see that person die a painful death.”

I. This is an old sin but it continues to live in the lives of many today.

J. Hate is in hearts for many reasons.

K. Hate varies in intensity.

L. For Christians, Paul says, “Let it go.”

M. “This is a work of the flesh and it is to be left alone.”

III. HOW CAN WE DO THAT? HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO AVOID HATING SOMEONE, OR IF WE CURRENTLY HATE SOMEONE, TO GET PAST IT? BEFORE I SHOW HOW THIS CAN BE DONE I WISH TO BRING FORTH SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE THIS WORD IS USED IN THE NT.

A. Gal. 4:16 is my next reference.

B. You might think that Christians would not hate someone; or if they do, they would hate

someone in the world.

C. Surely a Christian would never hate another Christian.

D. Let’s look at what Paul wrote. READ.

(1) Paul said, “Have I become your enemy?”

(2) Christians in this congregation were angry with Paul.

(3) Their anger was so severe that Paul used this word “enemy”.

(4) This is the same word that is in Gal. 5:20.

(5) Though “enmity” (hatred) is a work of the flesh, and this is in the very next chapter of this book, in Gal. 4 Paul asked, “Are you guilty of this sin? Do you hate me?”

(6) There have been brethren who have hated each other.

(7) Christians have looked upon a fellow believer as an enemy.

(8) Sometimes the basis for this hatred is silly.

(9) Look at the reason in Gal. 4.

(10) People were upset with Paul because he was honest with them.

(11) Because Paul told the truth to these people they became hostile.

(12) A few years back I was at the Freed Hardeman University lectures.

(13) I had a conversation with a man about Russia.

(14) When I said who I had worked with on my trips, the brother became angry.

(15) He said that fellow I had worked with was a horrible man and leveled all kinds of

wild accusations.

(16) What he said made me curious so I did a little snooping.

(17) A few questions shed some additional light on the matter.

(18) The man who was so upset had wanted to go to Russia – he had talked to the same man

who helped me go.

(19) The man who was upset said he would go for 2 weeks – the man who helped me

wanted him to go for 4 weeks.

(20) When the man said, “I will not be gone that long.”

(21) The man who helped me said, “What’s the matter – can’t you leave your wife and family for that long?”

(22) This remark made the potential mission worker angry.

(23) The anger, which seemed to turn to hate, led this fellow to bad mouth a brother.

(24) In this case the hostility was based upon embarrassment.

E. We can point our finger at people in the world.

F. It is not hard to find people who hate someone.

G. Sometimes a finger needs to be pointed at members of the church.

H. There can be times when we need to point a finger at ourselves.

I. Hatred and enmity can be in our lives.

J. People hate each other.

K. Hate does not stop with individuals.

(1) Phil. 3:18 says that some were “enemies of the cross.”

(2) “Enemies” is the same word that is used in Gal. 5:20.

(3) Some hate the cross of Christ.

(4) Some of these are the atheists and unbelievers.

(5) Others hate being obedient to the gospel.

(6) Some want to run the show in the way that they choose.

(7) Jesus said that He is “The Way”.

(8) When people decide to do things as they want, they become an enemy of the cross.

(9) Jesus said, “If ye love me ye will keep my commandments.”

(10) If people do not keep the Lord’s commandments; if we do not do things in the way the

Bible teaches, we do not love the Lord.

(11) If the truth be told, we love ourselves and despise Jesus.

(12) This attitude makes us an enemy of the cross.

(13) This attitude essentially says we hate Jesus Christ.

L. Another passage where this word is used by Paul is found in 2 Thes. 3:15.

M. Paul said, “count him not as an enemy.”

N. This statement was made to the church.

O. The implication is that the church has enemies.

P. There are people who hate the institution that Christ built.

(1) As we are the church of the Bible – the church of Christ – I have met people who hate us.

(2) I have read books by people who hate the church.

(3) Just as some are enemies of the cross, some are enemies of the church.

CONCLUSION:

1. We cannot stop hate – hate is a choice.

2. We know that hate is a choice because of Lk. 23.

3. Herod and Pilate hated each other. One day they became “friends”.

4. For a time, these men chose to hate. They later chose to become friends.

5. Hate and love are both choices:

Preachers

People with good marriage – “I love my mate” – choice.

“I hate my mate” – choice.

6. Most of us remember Booker T. Washington.

7. One day Mr. Washington was walking down a street.

8. He was elbowed into the gutter by a passing pedestrian.

9. The man with Mr. Washington was outraged. He said, “How can you tolerate such an insult?”

10. Mr. Washington said, “I defy any man to make me hate.”

11. Hatred is a choice and it is a bad choice.

12 This emotion destroys people emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

13. When we become a Christian there are some things that we give up.

14. Sometimes people think we have to give up the “good stuff”.

15. Gal. 5 says that we give up the “bad stuff”. We renounce things that ruin men and women.

16. If any Christian here is guilty of hate, tonight is the time to let it go.

17. Forgive the person(s); repent of the sin; go on your way rejoicing.

18. If there are those here who have not become a Christian and feelings of hate or other things are

gnawing at you, there is a solution. You can become a Christian.