One of the most challenging scriptures that Jesus ever spoke is found in Matthew 5:44: “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” At first glance, it seems almost impossible. How can we love those who intentionally harm us or wish us ill? It’s counterintuitive and goes against everything our human nature demands in moments of conflict or betrayal. Yet, Jesus calls us to something higher, something more profound, something radically different from the world's approach.
As followers of Christ, we are called to embody love, not just to those who love us back, but even to those who hurt us. This command is not just a lofty ideal but a clear directive from our Savior.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus presents a new kind of righteousness, one that surpasses the mere following of laws and enters the realm of the heart. When He says to “love your enemies,” He’s asking us to break away from our human instinct for retaliation. Most people in Jesus’ day, just like today, believed in the principle of an eye for an eye, as found in Leviticus 24:19-20. That is, if someone wronged you, you had every right to wrong them back.
But Jesus introduces a higher ethic: “If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” Matthew 5:39. He doesn’t just tell us not to retaliate; He takes it further by asking us to bless those who oppose us, to love those who hurt us. This concept of “agape” love unconditional, sacrificial love becomes the central theme of His teachings.
To love someone who has wronged you requires letting go of your right to be angry or seek revenge. It involves forgiving the unforgivable, releasing the bitterness you might feel, and allowing love to soften your heart.
Here are a few reasons why this is so difficult:
1. Our natural tendency is toward self-defense. When someone hurts us, our first reaction is often to protect ourselves, put up walls, and keep that person at a distance. But Jesus asks us to go against this natural reaction.
2. We fear vulnerability. To love someone who has harmed us means opening ourselves up to the possibility of being hurt again. It feels risky to love freely, especially when there’s no guarantee that the other person will change.
3. We feel justified in our anger. When we’ve been wronged, anger can feel like a defense mechanism. It’s a way of holding onto power in a situation where we might otherwise feel powerless. But anger often leads to bitterness, which eats away at our hearts over time.
4. It requires humility. Loving your enemy requires humbling yourself enough to recognize that you’re not always in control. It requires you to put your trust in God, trusting that He sees and knows all things.
Jesus’ command to love our enemies is more than just a nice saying; it’s something He modeled with His life. On the cross, in His greatest moment of suffering, He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34. Here was Jesus, in the midst of unimaginable pain, praying for the very people who put Him on the cross. If anyone had the right to be angry, it was Jesus. Yet, even in His darkest moment, He chose love and forgiveness.
Jesus' life serves as the ultimate example of what it means to love unconditionally. He didn’t just preach love from a distance; He lived it out by laying down His life for all of us sinners, enemies of God in our sin. As Paul writes in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
This act of love is the foundation of our faith. If we are to follow Christ fully, we too must love in the way He loved even when it’s difficult, even when it doesn’t make sense.
Loving your enemies doesn’t mean allowing someone to continually harm or abuse you. It’s important to set healthy boundaries where needed. But loving your enemies involves a change in heart and attitude. Here are a few practical ways to live out Jesus' command:
1. Pray for them. One of the simplest ways to begin loving your enemies is to pray for them. Ask God to bless them, to open their hearts to His love, and to bring healing where there is brokenness. Over time, prayer has a way of softening your own heart, making it easier to let go of anger and bitterness.
“Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:28.
2. Forgive them. Forgiveness doesn’t mean condoning what someone did, but it does mean releasing the hold that the offense has on your heart. Forgiveness is more for your sake than theirs it’s about finding freedom in your own soul.
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13.
3. Speak kindly about them. Avoid the temptation to badmouth or gossip about your enemies. Speak kindly, or at the very least, remain silent. Words have power, and choosing to speak life rather than death over someone can begin to shift your perspective.
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21.
4. Show kindness. Sometimes, actions speak louder than words. Find tangible ways to bless those who’ve wronged you. This could be as simple as a kind gesture or offering help when they’re in need. Your actions may be the only glimpse of Jesus that someone ever sees.
“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” Proverbs 25:21-22.
Loving your enemies is not easy, and it doesn’t mean you’ll always see immediate results. Sometimes, the person may not change. Sometimes, they may never apologize or acknowledge the harm they’ve done. But loving your enemies is not about them it’s about your relationship with God.
In choosing to love and forgive, you’re entrusting the situation to God, knowing that He is the ultimate judge and that He sees the full picture. You’re letting go of the need to get even and instead choosing to trust that God will work everything out for good.
As Paul writes in Romans 12:19, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord.”
Loving your enemies is one of the most difficult commands Jesus gives us, but it’s also one of the most transformative. It shifts our focus from bitterness and revenge to love and grace, reflecting the heart of God. It’s a call to rise above our natural instincts and love with a love that can only come from the Holy Spirit. When we love our enemies, we are living out the gospel in its fullest form the same gospel that saved us while we were still enemies of God.
Who is God calling you to love today? How can you begin to pray for them and take steps toward forgiveness and grace?
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