Loving your enemies feels impossible when they’ve hurt you deeply. They’ve betrayed you, slandered you, undermined you, or caused real damage to your life. Every instinct screams to retaliate, to protect yourself, to make them pay for what they’ve done.
The anger is justified, the hurt is real, and the idea of loving them feels like weakness or denial. You want justice, vindication, maybe even revenge.
Loving them? That’s asking too much.
But Jesus doesn’t suggest loving your enemies. He commands it. Not because what they did is okay, not because you have to trust them again, but because hatred destroys you more than it ever hurts them.
These verses reveal that loving your enemies is the most radical, counter-cultural, supernatural thing you can do. It breaks cycles of revenge, reflects God’s character, and frees you from the prison of bitterness. This isn’t natural love. It’s choosing their good even when they’ve chosen your harm. It’s releasing them to God and refusing to let their evil make you evil, too.
Bible Verses About Loving Your Enemies
1. Matthew 5:43-45 – Love Your Enemies and Pray for Those Who Persecute You
You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
New International Version (NIV)
2. Luke 6:27-28 – Do Good to Those Who Hate You
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
New International Version (NIV)
3. Romans 12:20-21 – If Your Enemy Is Hungry, Feed Him
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
New International Version (NIV)
4. Proverbs 25:21-22 – Give Him Food to Eat
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.
New International Version (NIV)
5. Luke 6:35-36 – Love Your Enemies, Do Good
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
New International Version (NIV)
6. Matthew 5:38-39 – Do Not Resist an Evil Person
You have heard that it was said, “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.” But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.
New International Version (NIV)
7. Romans 12:14 – Bless Those Who Persecute You
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
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8. 1 Peter 3:9 – Do Not Repay Evil With Evil
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
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9. Leviticus 19:18 – Do Not Seek Revenge
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
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10. Proverbs 24:17-18 – Do Not Gloat When Your Enemy Falls
Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.
New International Version (NIV)
11. Matthew 5:46-47 – If You Love Those Who Love You
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
New International Version (NIV)
12. Romans 12:19 – Do Not Take Revenge
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.
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13. Proverbs 20:22 – Wait for the Lord, and He Will Avenge You
Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.
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14. Luke 23:34 – Father, Forgive Them
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
New International Version (NIV)
15. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 – Nobody Pays Back Wrong for Wrong
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
New International Version (NIV)
16. Exodus 23:4-5 – Help Your Enemy
If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it.
New International Version (NIV)
17. Romans 5:8 – While We Were Still Sinners
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
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18. Colossians 3:13 – Forgive as the Lord Forgave You
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
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19. Matthew 18:21-22 – How Many Times Shall I Forgive?
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
New International Version (NIV)
20. 2 Samuel 16:10-12 – Perhaps the Lord Will See My Distress
But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?'” David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”
New International Version (NIV)
21. Proverbs 16:7 – He Makes Even His Enemies Live at Peace
When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.
New International Version (NIV)
22. Romans 12:17-18 – Live at Peace With Everyone
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
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23. Job 31:29-30 – I Have Not Rejoiced at My Enemy’s Misfortune
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.
New International Version (NIV)
24. Acts 7:60 – Lord, Do Not Hold This Sin Against Them
Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
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25. Matthew 6:14-15 – If You Forgive Others
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
New International Version (NIV)
26. 1 Corinthians 4:12-13 – When We Are Cursed, We Bless
We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.
New International Version (NIV)
27. Proverbs 24:29 – Do Not Say, “I’ll Do to Them as They Have Done”
Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me; I’ll pay them back for what they did.”
New International Version (NIV)
28. James 3:9-10 – We Bless Our Lord and Father, and With It We Curse
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
New International Version (NIV)
29. 1 Samuel 24:12 – May the Lord Judge Between You and Me
May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.
New International Version (NIV)
30. Ephesians 4:31-32 – Get Rid of All Bitterness
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
New International Version (NIV)
31. Hebrews 10:30 – The Lord Will Judge His People
For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
New International Version (NIV)
32. Romans 14:10 – We Will All Stand Before God’s Judgment Seat
You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
New International Version (NIV)
33. 1 Peter 2:23 – He Entrusted Himself to Him Who Judges Justly
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
New International Version (NIV)
34. Matthew 5:9 – Blessed Are the Peacemakers
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
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35. Genesis 50:20 – You Intended to Harm Me, but God Intended It for Good
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
New International Version (NIV)
Our Thoughts On What the Bible Says About Loving Your Enemies
Loving your enemies is the most counterintuitive command in Scripture. Everything in you wants to strike back, defend yourself, make them hurt the way they hurt you. But Jesus modeled something different.
He died for people who hated Him, prayed for those who crucified Him, and commanded His followers to do the same. This isn’t about being a doormat or pretending the harm didn’t happen. It’s about refusing to let their evil turn you evil.
What’s radical is that loving your enemies isn’t primarily for their benefit. It’s for yours. Hatred and revenge poison you from the inside out. They give your enemies continued power over your emotions, your peace, and your character. When you love your enemies, pray for them, and do good to them, you’re breaking free from the prison of bitterness.
You’re trusting God to handle justice instead of taking it into your own hands. You’re reflecting the same grace God showed you when you were His enemy. This kind of love is impossible in your own strength, but it’s exactly what the Spirit produces in people who are truly surrendered to God.
Say This Prayer
Heavenly Father, loving my enemies feels impossible right now. They’ve hurt me deeply, and every part of me wants justice, vindication, maybe even revenge. But You’re calling me to something different, something supernatural. Help me to love them the way You’ve loved me.
Give me the strength to pray for those who’ve persecuted me, to bless those who’ve cursed me, and to do good to those who’ve hurt me. Soften my heart toward them without making me naive or requiring me to trust them again. Help me to release them to Your judgment instead of seeking my own revenge.
Break the power of bitterness, hatred, and unforgiveness in my life. Don’t let their evil turn me evil. Keep my heart right even when they’re wrong. Help me to overcome evil with good, to repay insults with blessings, and to trust that You will handle what I can’t.
Show me what it looks like to love them practically without compromising my boundaries or safety. Use this situation to make me more like Jesus, who loved His enemies all the way to the cross.
In Jesus’ Forgiving Name, Amen.