Bible Verses About Loving Your Enemies
Scripture on the hardest command — blessing those who curse, and overcoming evil with good.
The command to love our enemies is among the most demanding in Scripture — and the most Christlike. It refuses revenge and returns good for evil. These verses are for the hard, freeing work of loving those who have wronged us.
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;
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you... pray for them.
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.
If thine enemy hunger, feed him... thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
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.
Do good to them which hate you... pray for them which despitefully use you.
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Avenge not yourselves... Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
Not rendering evil for evil... but contrariwise blessing.
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
If ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?
Loving an enemy does not excuse the wrong; it refuses to be ruled by it. Hand the vengeance to God, return good for evil, and pray for them — it is the way you were loved first.
