If you want to overcome your enemies, you need to learn to love them. There are many ways you can go about this. In the beginning, you might react with anger, bitterness, or guilt feelings. In time, you may begin to break under the weight of your love. But, you must remember that love is the only way to achieve your goals. Hate is destructive and tearful, so we must avoid it at all costs.
The term “enemies” is ambiguous. It can refer to all adversaries, but the Gospel of Matthew specifically refers to persecutors. In the context of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, the Christian community had just experienced persecution by Nero, and the Jewish community was undergoing Roman persecution. However, the early church thought that this teaching was the most important of all. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says that we should not hate our enemies. This love is based on the fact that God’s Word can transform our lives.
Here are 10 powerful bible verses about love your enemies from the Scriptures KJV version sorted by relevance.
- 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. — Matthew 5:44
- Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. — 1 John 4:7
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
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.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. — Romans 12:14-21
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee. — Romans 25:21-22
- But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. — Luke 6:35
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked:
For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out. — Proverbs 24:17-20
- Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. — Luke 6:28
Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. — John 13:34-35
- If I have rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune or gloated over the trouble that came to him—I have not allowed my mouth to sin by invoking a curse against their life. — Job 31:29-30
- “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. — Matthew 5:43-48