Matthew 5:44
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; 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 means blessing those who curse you, doing good to those who hate you, and praying for those who mistreat and persecute you, going far beyond merely refusing revenge. It forbids all malice, resentment, retaliation and unkindness, and requires active mercy, courteous benevolence and practical care for all within your influence, not only for those who treat you well. Such conduct reflects the heavenly Father who is kind to the unthankful and evil and sends sun and rain on evil and good alike, and doing it makes you His child and moves toward being perfect even as He is perfect. Jesus Himself lived this by never returning evil or insult under persecution and by giving His life to save sinners while they were yet enemies of God. This love tears away the wall of partition between neighbor and enemy, friend and stranger, and nation and nation, and by answering hostility with kindness it breaks down enmity and wins the injurer from evil ways.
Sermon Setting and Authority
The command to love enemies was spoken in the Sermon on the Mount, given especially to the disciples but within hearing of the gathered multitude, including people from many regions who needed to be reached in ignorance and error. That sermon sets out the principles of the kingdom of divine grace rather than earthly glory or political deliverance, revealing Christ's character and the conditions for entering His kingdom. In it He lays out in figures the plan for revealing the divine likeness, to be studied and acted upon and written on the tablets of the soul, showing how to glorify God in body and spirit through union with Him, with the heart filled with His grace and moved by His love to suffer with sufferers, rejoice with rejoicers, feel tenderness for every soul in weakness, sorrow or distress, and reach forth a helping hand to the needy.
It was spoken in plain simple language that even the unlearned can understand and a child can study without being misled, with authority as words of eternal life. It stands apart from repeated human sayings and rabbinical tradition, as truth found in Scripture leading to wisdom from God. The verse defines the law's far-reaching claims and true scope, showing it in its proper light beyond a cold code of commands and human traditions. It shows the spirit of the law instead of a cold rigid code of exactions, commanding forgiving love that gives evidence of higher motives than even publicans and sinners show.
It corrects the portrayal of God as a stern judge by revealing Him as compassionate, merciful and loving, in opposition to self-righteous doctrines and practices. It requires the spirit of the law in the heart, because the state of the heart regulates life and character, and instruction fails unless new converts are impressed with this inward heart-governing principle. It reaches into every part of life and demands perfect obedience, so that obedience would replace oppression and injustice with love, harmony and joy, and it sets the holy standard of loving God wholly and neighbor as God requires.
The chapter's plain instructions must be read, believed and practiced, for living by them develops Christlike character, engraves divine principles in the heart, and guides toward faithfulness to truth even in danger, loss or worldly pressure. Its lesson is to be cherished and obeyed as divine specification, shaping a life that shows Christ's character and bears witness to God, and shown in daily life, for living it makes a deeper and more lasting impression than preaching it. Its sayings must be heard and done to do the Father's will and enter the kingdom, and whoever hears and does them is like a wise man who built his house upon a rock, so that when rain descends and floods come and winds blow and beat upon that house, it does not fall. Mere saying Lord, Lord, with prophesying in His name, casting out devils and doing many wonderful works without doing these sayings leaves one unknown and rejected as a worker of iniquity. Conduct contrary to it brings condemnation, as when accusation, faultfinding and speaking evil oppose love and Christian fellowship, and it calls workers to serve without selfishness, trusting God when work faces opposition.
Command to Love Enemies
The verse commands love that reaches even to enemies, requiring blessing for those who curse, good done to those who hate, and prayer for those who mistreat and persecute. This is a stronger demand than merely refusing revenge, and it stands directly against any teaching that an enemy should be hated. Love and kindness of this kind are to seek to win wrongdoers away from evil ways rather than answering hatred, abuse and persecution with retaliation.
Harm done is to remain unresented and unavenged, with malice and revenge put away from the heart. Believers must not answer with the words or actions of their enemies, but must use every opportunity to do them good. Even when feeling righteous indignation at another's actions they must not respond with malevolence, suspicion, hatred or bitterness. No provocation excuses harboring unkindness or malice, even toward fellow believers, and unkindness, retaliation and strife growing from misapprehension are forbidden, with divisive words that separate friends to be earnestly labored against. Patience and forbearance are required instead of treating others as they were treated.
What is required is active kindness, mercy, courteous benevolence and forbearance toward all who come within influence, not only toward those who treat well or agree. This means unfailing deeds of mercy and a pure, refined, Christlike spirit in word and act. Humanity is to be a cultivated, active, energetic spirit in the heart, not forced, but ever watchful for opportunities to help where help is needed. Disagreement, even over questionable views, does not justify pushing, ridiculing, misrepresenting, crowding, pushing aside or condemning, but calls for courtesy and forbearance. Compassion and practical care forbid harming another's property, feelings, health or good name, and require treating others with the love and care one would wish for oneself.
The love required must not be prescribed within certain limits or confined to special favorites, but must have a broader channel. It embraces the very ones who displease and who seem faulty, defective and most in need of love, including opposers and those who do not seem deserving. In association with one another this means laying aside contempt and icy coldness, showing conciliation and deference, meeting the wishes of others where possible, and letting soft, melting rays break up coldness. It acts out compassion toward the erring and reaches a helping hand to the needy, with respect and sympathy extended not to a few only but to all who are needy.
The verse does not forbid all anger, for indignation arising from moral sensitivity at God's dishonor, Christ insulted, truth falsified and the oppression of the innocent is not sin. Anger at supposed provocation, resentment, bitterness and animosity that open the heart to disharmony must be banished, and reviling revilers in return is forbidden. Instead of reviling, those who oppose truth are to be prayed for silently, asking that the opposer's heart be touched.
The verse means forgiving rather than taking revenge, and showing tender sympathy to sinners who need pardon. The believer pardoned because of Christ's sacrifice as sin-pardoning Saviour and daily dependent on grace is filled with gratitude that leaves no place for pride and deals a death blow to a cold, revengeful, unforgiving spirit toward one overtaken in fault. Seeing God's goodness and mercy leads to repentance and desire for the same spirit, giving clear discernment to see good in others, to love those needing tender pitying forgiveness, and to want the same work done for associates. Looking to Jesus and seeing His mercy, compassion and forgiving love in prayer breaks the heart, changes mind and thoughts and feelings, and takes away even violent revengeful hatred that wants to kill and cannot be overcome by trying hard, making a new man with peace, happiness and love for God. Love to fellow men in this way acknowledges a debt owed to the Redeemer that can never be discharged.
Reflecting the Heavenly Father
Loving enemies by blessing those who curse, doing good to those who hate, and praying for those who mistreat and persecute reflects the heavenly Father, who is kind even to the unthankful and evil. He gives sun and rain to evil and good, just and unjust, and withholds not blessings, sunshine, rain and worldly prosperity even from the rebellious and idolatrous. His eternal love has rested on humanity from the beginning, shown in care in beautiful things, flowers and birds, and in still greater love for one formed in His image. Such conduct shows mercy like the Father's and bears the divine image by a heart shaped by grace and the Holy Spirit, expressed through pure sanctified love by divinity indwelling and co-working.
Doing this makes believers children of the Father in heaven, sons and daughters of God. It marks them as God's fellow workers distinct from the world, showing to the world the power to become sons of God and to love as Christ loved, and bringing the approbation of the Head of the church. Those who live this way have their names registered in the Lamb's Book of Life as sons and daughters of God and are recognized by the church as children of God. Loving enemies in this way is what makes a peacemaker a child of God.
Loving only those who love and greeting only brethren brings no reward and is no more than even the publicans do. It is mere ordinary reciprocity, while the verse calls for higher motives and benevolence superior to that of the worldling. Those moved by this forgiving love give evidence of higher motives than even publicans and sinners.
The command is a phase of Christian perfection expressed in action, with words, spirit and deeds imitating God. Full obedience is being perfect even as the Father in heaven is perfect, makes a peacemaker a child of God, and fits men for companionship with sinless beings in the kingdom of heaven. Obeying it rather than keeping far from enemies or acting according to personal inclination carries out the principles Christ gave by giving His life while humans were yet enemies of God.
The mercy and forbearance commanded reveal the Father as long-suffering, merciful, gracious, slow to anger and full of goodness and truth. The kindness, mercy and love commanded are a transcript of what God is like, taught by Christ exactly as received from the Father in harmony with divine government. Loving enemies is thus a principle of God's own character and government, reflected in Christ's teaching and example.
This love is consistent with God's justice toward the wicked. He surrounds them with tokens of love, knowledge of His law and offers of mercy, bears long with perversity, and would make even the wicked happy if He could in accordance with law, justice and character. He desires willing love from intelligent appreciation of His wisdom, justice and benevolence rather than forced slavish obedience, drawing creatures by admiration of His attributes and not forcing will or judgment. Yet when sinners despise love, void law, reject mercy, dishonor the Giver while receiving His gifts, and hate God because He abhors sin, justice must at last visit them for the good of the universe and even their own good, fully consistent with mercy, long-suffering and benevolence.
Christ's Living Example
Jesus Himself lived out the command by never retaliating under reproach, false accusation and persecution, answering hatred, abuse and persecution with kindness rather than revenge. Though leaders sought a pretext to kill Him, He answered with love, respected the law, and gave evidence of His power to deliver, never returning evil or insult for hostility but blessing those who opposed and hated Him. His example shows that hatred never breaks down an enemy's malice, while love and kindness beget love and kindness in return and win wrongdoers away from evil ways. Keeping His teaching means mercy and courteous benevolence to all within influence, not only to those who treat well, with unfailing deeds of mercy and a benevolence superior to that of the world. It is the greatest battle against self, requiring yielding self, surrendering all to God's will, being clothed with humility, and possessing a love pure, peaceable, easily entreated, full of gentleness and good fruits.
He loved enemies by giving His life to save them while they were yet enemies of God. Because human beings were of such value that He gave Himself to a shameful death to save a fallen race, the command is binding on every soul who receives Him, meaning to treat fellow beings as He would treat them and to reveal in dealings with one another the love He revealed toward sinners at enmity with God. Malice and revenge must therefore be removed from the heart, so that harm done remains unresented and unavenged, and even an enemy is loved because God loved him while he was an enemy, shown by blessing those who curse and praying for those who mistreat and persecute. Doing this carries out His principles and makes believers children of the Father in heaven, who makes His sun rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the just and unjust, showing power to become sons of God and to love as He loved. It is one phase of Christian perfection, calling for perfection even as the Father in heaven is perfect, while loving only those who love and greeting only brethren brings no reward and is no more than even the publicans do.
His enemy-love expresses His meek, lowly, patient, kind and tender character, and reveals the goodness and purity of His motives. He is pure and unselfish, holy and undefiled, condescending, just and true, ever in entire submission to the Father's will, with goodness, mercy and truth as His attributes, just the opposite of what humans are. His love reigns supreme toward His enemies, and all who follow Him keep themselves in subjection to the laws of His kingdom by letting that same love reign in their hearts. This calls followers to be like Him in the self-sacrificing love He showed in laying aside His royal robe and kingly crown and becoming poor so that through His poverty they might be made rich, a demand requiring more than many are willing to give. Only when fully awake to personal sinfulness can a person appreciate His power to help, and the penitent humble soul who sees the contrast between self and this enemy-loving Saviour realizes unpreparedness to close life's work and shudders at personal imperfection compared with the character required to see God.
He lived it by unlimited confidence in His Heavenly Father and unreserved perfect obedience and submission, coming not to be ministered unto but to minister and not to do His own will but the will of Him that sent Him. Submitting in all things to Him who judges righteously and doing nothing of Himself, He became poor and of no reputation, enduring hunger, thirst, weariness in labor, having nowhere to lay His head, and often making the earth His bed in the damp cold night. His followers must cheerfully endure privation and suffering as He did without murmuring and drink of His cup and be baptized with His baptism, and if they do they will share with Him in His glory in His heavenly kingdom, if not they will have no part with Him. As pilgrims seeking a heavenly country in a polluted world full of iniquity, they guard against a sour, hard, censorious spirit, refuse to dwell on the disagreeable side of life or give expression to disgust, and do not make it their work to criticize or correct the supposed errors of others. They look away from sin and evil to Jesus, open the door of the heart to the love of God, which expands the soul and creates new capacity, and he who loves God loves his brother also.
David also showed the teaching in example: while suffering injury and insult he did not return evil or railing, harbor revenge, or become unkind. Instead he remained generous, sympathetic, and resigned to God, showing the fruits of true repentance.
Impartial Love for All
The command to love enemies teaches a love for the whole human family that tears down the wall of partition built by selfishness and pride and prejudice of nationality. It lifts men out of the narrow circle that selfishness prescribes and sweeps away the Jewish distinction between who is neighbor to be loved and who is enemy to be hated. Every person who needs sympathy and assistance and love is to be regarded as neighbor.
It makes no difference between neighbors and strangers, or between friends and enemies. It abolishes all territorial lines and artificial distinctions of society, with no caste and no aristocracy, and makes every needy soul a neighbor and the world the field. Anyone who needs light and truth belongs in that field of service, and every needy person is to be regarded as a brother, with prejudice between friends and enemies rejected. This commits followers to a world-wide mission that manifests the mercy and goodness of the Father, a teaching unlike anything heard from priest or rabbi. They are to show Christ's love to fallen humanity and devote their lives to serving the purpose for which He gave His life.
It establishes a religion with no caste, in which Jew and Gentile, free and bond are linked in a common brotherhood and stand equal before God. This impartial love is not governed by questions of policy but responds to any soul thirsting for the waters of life. Enemies are to receive love and truth the same as neighbors, for Christ abolished the distinction between neighbor and enemy with regard to those who need light and truth. Piety must therefore be diffusive and go outward to all.
This love crosses national and other human divisions and embraces all people. Christ Himself showed no distinction between friends and enemies, and His care reached every soul. His followers are therefore to bless those who curse them, do good to those who hate them, and pray for those who mistreat and persecute them, loving and serving even those who oppose them. The same love governs how believers treat one another, including the people who work with them. They are to speak and act kindly, show the kindness and sweetness of disposition that Christ showed, and help fellow workers grow in Christian character. Christ educated His workers in this outward-going work by sending the Twelve out two and two and then sending the Seventy before Him to proclaim the kingdom of God through Judea, following His own working and suffering and dying that the world might be saved.
Power and Daily Practice
Hatred never breaks down an enemy's malice, but love and kindness beget love and kindness in return. Answering hatred, abuse and persecution with kindness breaks down enmity and seeks to win injurers away from evil ways. Returning malice for malice or injury for injury only satisfies selfish impulses and makes enemies more bitter, while answering hostility with kindness reflects Christ's Spirit and brings blessing. Such mercy and courteous benevolence is to be shown to everyone, not only to those who treat well, reflecting God's generous care for both good and evil.
Obeying this costs something and puts life under Christ's discipline and authority, requiring prayerful determined work on the Lord's side. It means resisting evil when provoked yet refusing to resent evil actions or to abuse the evildoer, even those controlled by satanic agencies. Such obedience does inestimable good and prevents much evil, because even persecutors' hearts can still be reached by God as Paul's was before his conversion. It is to be obeyed fully exactly as commanded without reasoning that the unprincipled will take advantage, leaving results to God. This love breaks down strong hatred, brings genuine love into hearts, convicts evildoers of sinfulness, and converts many souls to break away from Satan's tyranny to stand under Christ's banner, bringing far more conversions than are now seen.
Praying for those in error and opposition rather than reviling or retaliating fosters Christlike tenderness learned from being with Jesus. The opposer is precious to God, purchased by Christ's blood and belonging to Him as property, as valuable to God as one's own soul, and must be dealt with wisely, considerately and tenderly. Praying silently for those who oppose truth, asking the Lord to touch the heart of the opposer who is ruining his own soul, manifests the Spirit of Christ. Such prayer frequently softens and subdues the opponent's heart and convinces souls of Christ's Spirit.
Love for enemies must be a living, acting, controlling influence that sanctifies the affections and brings actions into conformity with Christ's will. It is to be exercised not to a few only but to all who are needy, acting out Christ's compassion toward the erring and reaching a helping hand even to those who do not seem deserving. Answering those who mistreat with kindness and consideration rather than retaliation or rebuke can make wrongdoers recognize their own conduct more deeply while showing genuine concern for their souls. This obedience determines the record in the books of heaven, and it cannot be done suddenly by merely professing to keep God's commandments without practicing them from the heart.
The lesson is to be cherished and obeyed as divine specification, studied every day and shown in daily life. Living these teachings makes a deeper and more lasting impression than preaching them. God's grace is needed to soften and subdue a retaliatory nature, and the love required is pure and sanctified through the indwelling and co-working of divinity. Receiving Christ's teaching with humility belongs to a soul-saving message that leads to conversion and the removal of rebuke for past wrongs. Shaped by grace and the Holy Spirit, the heart suffers with sufferers, rejoices with rejoicers, and helps the needy.
Strength and nobility include restraining passion and forgiving enemies even when sensitive to abuse. Being ruled by passion is weakness, not strength, while self-control marks true greatness. The command forbids impatience, fretfulness, sourness, fractiousness of spirit and unkindness to husband, wife, children or parents as departure from God's commandments. Those who live this way need to be converted or they will never see the kingdom of heaven, needing the forgiving spirit of Jesus, pardon through the merits of Christ's blood that sins may be blotted out, and transformation of character by His grace to fit them for the heavenly family.
In church and work relations believers are to resist the unkindness and retaliation that spread strife and to represent Christ in words, attitude and actions. Accusation, faultfinding and speaking evil of fellow believers oppose Christlike character and undermine unity, and conduct contrary to this brings condemnation. Disagreement even over questionable views does not justify pushing, ridiculing, misrepresenting, crowding, condemning or treating another harshly, but calls for Christlike courtesy, calm gracious response without repeating false statements, and earnest labor through Christ's grace to break up divisive words that separate friends. No provocation excuses harboring unkindness or malice toward fellow believers, for grace must remove bitterness at its root and Christ's love must show in words and actions daily. Yet loving enemies does not mean covering faults or staying silent while their course ruins them, but warning and reproving for their good as Christ reproved sin, with peace coming from doing God's will not from compromising truth.