Can we love our enemies? It’s hard on its own. Through God’s word, His Holy Spirit, and prayer, He gives us the grace to love our enemies.
The love that God calls us to is an extraordinary love. He first showed us when He sent His Son to come into the world and die for us. He did not die for those who were righteous or who loved Him, He died for sinners who were His enemies.
now He calls us to a new kind of love. Not the love of the world that loves only those who love them, but who loves even their enemies who hate them, abuse them, or curse them.
In our own strength we do not have such love, but God’s word guides us and He enables us to love our enemies.
22 Bible verses about loving your enemies
1. Matthew 5:43-48 – Love your enemies
“Have you heard that it was said: “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven.
He makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. If you love those who love you, what reward will you receive? Even tax collectors don’t do that.
And if you greet only your own people, why do you do more than others? Do even the pagans do this? So be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
2. Proverbs 25:21-22 – Give to your enemy in need
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will repay you.
3. Luke 6:27-36 – Do good to those who hate you
But I say to you who are listening, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn the other too.
If someone takes your coat, don’t keep your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if someone takes what is yours, don’t ask for it back. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
“If you love those who love you, what honor do you have? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do kindness to those who are kind to you, what honor do you give yourself? Even sinners do it. And if you lend to those you expect to repay, what kind of loan is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting anything in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. be merciful, as your Father is merciful.
4. Matthew 7:12 – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
So in all things do unto men as you would have them do unto you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
5. Luke 6:28 – Bless those who curse you
Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
6. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 – Without love, we are nothing
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but have not love, I am only a sounding gong or a sounding cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can understand all mysteries and knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give all that I have to the poor, and give my body to tribulation, that I may boast, but have not love, I shall gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. He is not jealous, does not brag, is not proud. It does not disrespect others, it is not selfish, it does not get angry easily, it does not record mistakes.
Love does not rejoice in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always endures.
Love never goes away. But where there are prophecies, they will cease. where there are tongues, they should calm down. where there is knowledge, it will pass.
7. Matthew 5:8-12 – Blessed are the peacemakers
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you, persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.
8. Romans 12:9-11 – Love without hypocrisy
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor evil. cling to the good. Be devoted to each other with brotherly love. honorably prefer each other. keeping up with diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.
9. Job 31:29-30 – Do not sin by rejoicing over your enemy
“Did I rejoice in the destruction of my enemy, or did I rejoice when evil befell him?” “No, I did not allow my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse.
10. Proverbs 24:17-20 – Do not rejoice when your enemy falls
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls. when they stumble, don’t let your heart rejoice, otherwise the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his anger away from them.
Do not grieve for evildoers and do not envy the wicked, for the evildoer has no hope for the future, and the lamp of the wicked will go out.
11. 1 John 4:7 – Love one another
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and he that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
12. Proverbs 20:22 – Do not repay evil
Do not say, “I will repay the evil.” wait on the Lord and He will save you.
13. Romans 12:14-21 – Do not take revenge
Bless those who persecute you. bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice. mourn with those who mourn; Live in harmony with each other. Do not be proud, but be ready to communicate with people of low status. Don’t be arrogant.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in everyone’s eyes. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live peacefully with everyone.
Do not take revenge, dear friends, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “Vengeance is mine. I will repay, says the Lord. The opposite.
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him. if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. By doing so, you will pile burning coals on his head.” Do not overcome evil, but overcome evil with good.
14. Proverbs 16:7 – Peace with your enemies
When the Lord is pleased with someone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.
15. Romans 13:8-10 – Love one another
Let no debt remain but the debt of loving one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” “Thou shalt not kill,” “Thou shalt not steal,” “Thou shalt not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are summed up in this one commandment; “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.
16. Romans 5:10 – God loved us when we were his enemies
Because if before we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him by the death of his Son, how much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
17. 1 Corinthians 4:12 – Bless when you are cursed
We work hard with our hands. When we are cursed, we bless. when we are persecuted, we endure.
18. 1 Peter 2:23 – Jesus entrusted himself to him who judges righteously
When they hurled their curses at him, he did not answer. when he was hurt, he did not make any threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to the righteous judge.
19. Mark 11:25 – Forgive those against whom you have anything
And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
20. Ephesians 4:32 – Forgive one another as God forgave you
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
21. Exodus 23:4-5 – Do good to your enemy
If you meet your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering, be sure to return it. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you lying under its load, do not leave it there. make sure you help them with that.
22. Romans 13:10 – Do no harm to your neighbor
Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.
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