Selah · Answered from Scripture
What does the Bible say about loving your enemies?
Ask your own question — Selah →What Scripture says
But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,
Matthew 5:44
“But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
Luke 6:27
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.
Luke 6:35
Verses quoted from the World English Bible (public domain).
A reflection
The Bible emphasizes the radical call to love one's enemies, as seen in passages like Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:27, where believers are instructed not only to love but also to bless and do good to those who oppose them. This love mirrors God's kindness toward the ungrateful and the evil, suggesting that true discipleship involves embodying such grace (Luke 6:35). The teachings encourage actions that promote reconciliation rather than retaliation, aiming for a higher moral standard than simply loving those who love us (Matthew 5:46).
This reflection was written by AI from the verses above. The verses are quoted verbatim; the AI never writes Scripture.
Where traditions read it
- Catholic
- The Church teaches that loving one's enemies is a requirement of faith, breaking the natural inclination to harbor resentment and leading to a life reflective of God's perfect love.
- Orthodox
- Orthodox teachings emphasize not just a command against hate, but an active love demonstrated through good deeds toward one's enemies.
- Protestant
- Many Protestants interpret these passages as a call to follow Christ's example, showing that loving one's enemies is central to the Christian ethos of reconciliation and grace.
Ask your own question
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