But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Matthew 5:44
A few years after Jesus spoke these words, He would display just how to love our enemies, that though we, being his enemy, rebellious in sin, he would still go to that cross and pay the price FOR us!
And most stunning of all, He would pray for his enemies, for us, on that cross!
So while not 'overt' in pointing to the cross, it is a powerful pointer for those willing to pause and ask themselves what on Earth this new teacher meant.
To what extent should I love my enemies?
What limits, what conditions apply? Oh, the questions we have in this regard.
Tertullian, one of the early Church fathers of the second century, coined the term, "the blood of the martyrs is seed for the church." But let us not focus on those martyrs, rather on the fact that they really did comprehend Jesus' words here in this verse.
To what extent? All the way!
Only the cross, only an awestruck and joyful surrender to the power of grace found there, will enable a believer to take up his or her cross in this way.