If you read the first five books of the Bible, you would understand that the Jews were well versed in the law. But did you ever notice that the Old Testament law didn't teach the Israelites about love, grace, or forgiveness for their enemies?

You won't find principles of loving your enemies taught under the law - you'll find retribution and judgement. You see, under the law, the principle was, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" ( Exod. 21:24). Even when you read the psalms of David, you see him praying against his enemies. He was trying to get the Lord to hate them as he hated them.
That's why in teaching about the God-kind of love, Jesus started out by saying, "You have heard it said that you should love your neighbour and hate your enemy"(v. 43). "But I say unto you, Love your enemies. . ."

Jesus knew none of us could be perfect as God is perfect. But Jesus was saying that we are to grow up and be perfect or mature in the God-kind of love. Notice that Jesus isn't giving us a suggestion in this Scripture. He directed and instructed us to mature in the God-kind of love!

In order to be mature in God's love, who are we going to have to love? Just those who love us? No, Jesus said that to be mature in God's love, we'll have to love even our enemies! Our enemies!

Then Jesus defined our enemies and told us exactly who they are. He said, " . . . bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you"(v. 44).
Therefore, our enemies are people who curse us, hate us, use us, and persecuted us for the gospel's sake. Well, according to Jesus, what are we to do to our enemies? Are we to retaliate and get even with them? No, we are to love them, bless them, do good to them, and pray for them.

The thought here is that if we will do these things for those who hate us, we will mature in the God-kind of love. Then we will be acting like our Heavenly Father.

Ok

Chiechezonam:

If you read the first five books of the Bible, you would understand that the Jews were well versed in the law. But did you ever notice that the Old Testament law didn't teach the Israelites about love, grace, or forgiveness for their enemies?

You won't find principles of loving your enemies taught under the law - you'll find retribution and judgement. You see, under the law, the principle was, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" ( Exod. 21:24). Even when you read the psalms of David, you see him praying against his enemies. He was trying to get the Lord to hate them as he hated them.
That's why in teaching about the God-kind of love, Jesus started out by saying, "You have heard it said that you should love your neighbour and hate your enemy"(v. 43). "But I say unto you, Love your enemies. . ."

Jesus knew none of us could be perfect as God is perfect. But Jesus was saying that we are to grow up and be perfect or mature in the God-kind of love. Notice that Jesus isn't giving us a suggestion in this Scripture. He directed and instructed us to mature in the God-kind of love!

In order to be mature in God's love, who are we going to have to love? Just those who love us? No, Jesus said that to be mature in God's love, we'll have to love even our enemies! Our enemies!

Then Jesus defined our enemies and told us exactly who they are. He said, " . . . bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you"(v. 44).
Therefore, our enemies are people who curse us, hate us, use us, and persecuted us for the gospel's sake. Well, according to Jesus, what are we to do to our enemies? Are we to retaliate and get even with them? No, we are to love them, bless them, do good to them, and pray for them.

The thought here is that if we will do these things for those who hate us, we will mature in the God-kind of love. Then we will be acting like our Heavenly Father.

The bolded is not entirely correct, love was also taught in the old testament according to this verse:

Leviticus 19:18
18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.