The following sermon is by John MacArthur, pastor, author, and Bible teacher with Grace

to You.

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And now unleashing God's truth one verse at a time.

Here's Grace to You, Bible teacher John MacArthur.

To wrap up this long, long year of very special, unique messages, there is one more that I need to discharge before the Lord from my heart to yours.

And it is drawn out of a text that I want you to turn to now.

It's Matthew chapter 5 verses 43 to 48.

Matthew 5, 43 to 48.

I'm going to read these words to you and then introduce the direction of this text for us, and then we'll dig into it.

Our Lord speaks and says, you have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be sons of your father who is in heaven.

For he causes his son to rise on the evil and the good, the sins reign on the righteous and the unrighteous.

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 as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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