What does the Bible say

What Does the Bible Say About Loving Your Enemies?

One of the most radical teachings in the Bible is Jesus' command to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us. This is not weakness but the very character of God, who sends sun and rain on the just and unjust alike. It is how the children of God are recognised, and it is impossible without his help.

What Scripture says

Here are real verses on loving Your Enemies, each in the King James Version, with a word on what it means.

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;Matthew 5:44 (KJV)

Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, and pray for them that persecute you.

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,Luke 6:27 (KJV)

Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you.

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.Romans 12:20 (KJV)

If your enemy hungers, feed him; in so doing you heap coals of fire on his head.

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.Romans 12:21 (KJV)

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:Proverbs 25:21 (KJV)

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread; if thirsty, give him water.

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 5:45 (KJV)

Loving enemies makes us children of our Father, who is kind to the ungrateful.

What this means for you today

Loving an enemy does not mean approving of what they did or pretending you were not hurt. It means refusing to repay evil with evil, and choosing, with God's help, to seek their good and pray for them.

This is genuinely hard, and Jesus never pretends otherwise. It is not natural strength but supernatural grace, and it often begins with the simple, honest act of praying for someone you would rather resent.

The deepest answer is Jesus

Jesus loved his enemies all the way to the cross, praying for the very people who crucified him, and he gives his Spirit so we can begin to do the same.

Every one of these Scriptures points beyond itself to a Person. The deepest answer the Bible gives to any human need is not a rule or a technique but Jesus Christ, who came, lived, died, and rose again so that you could be forgiven and brought home to God. He said, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Whatever you are carrying, you do not have to carry it alone, and you do not have to make yourself clean first. You can come to him today, just as you are.

This is the good news the whole Bible is telling. We were made for God, we have all turned from him and gone our own way, and none of us can fix that on our own. But God did not leave us there. Out of love he sent his Son to take our place, bearing our wrong on the cross and rising again to open the way back to the Father. Everyone who turns to Jesus and trusts him is forgiven, given new life, and welcomed as a beloved child of God, held by a love that will never let go. That is why the Bible's answer to every topic on this page finally leads here. You can respond right now, in your own words, simply telling God you need him and asking Jesus to be your Saviour and Lord. He hears the honest prayer of anyone who comes.

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