What Does God Say About Loving Your Enemies?

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Matthew 5:43-45

Jesus quotes the version everyone finds reasonable, love your neighbour and hate your enemy, and then overrules it. His argument is family resemblance. Your Father sends sun and rain on the just and the unjust without checking who deserves it. Loving your enemy is how you look like Him.

“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”

Luke 6:27-28

Four verbs: love, do good, bless, pray. None of them are feelings. Jesus does not command warmth toward the person who hurt you; He commands actions, and actions are possible even when the feelings refuse. Start with the last verb. Praying for someone is the one you can do tonight.

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Romans 12:19-21

Avenge not, because vengeance is already assigned. Paul is not saying the wrong does not matter. He is saying the case has been transferred to a higher court, and the Judge is more thorough than you. Your job shrinks to two things: feed your enemy if he is hungry, and refuse to let his evil turn you into him.

“If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.”

Proverbs 25:21-22

This is where Paul got it. The proverb is older than the gospel and just as concrete: bread and water for the person who wronged you. And the LORD shall reward thee. God notices this particular obedience. It may be the costliest one He asks, and He does not pretend otherwise.

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

Luke 23:34

Jesus prayed this while the soldiers were dividing His clothes, not after. Forgiveness did not wait for the crucifixion to end or for the men to apologize. If you are waiting to feel ready, this verse quietly removes the excuse: He forgave in the middle of the injury. That is the pattern, and He supplies the strength for it.

“Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”

1 Peter 3:9

Rendering is payment language, giving back exactly what is owed. Insult for insult always feels like justice in the moment. Peter says break the cycle at your link in the chain and hand back a blessing instead. The reason is your inheritance: blessing is what you are in line to receive. You give what you are getting.