Can You Love Your Enemies?

​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

Meditate.

      

Archway looking out to the Sea of Galilee

Church of the Beatitudes - Israel 

      Jesus is still teaching this crowd of followers who are sitting around Him on the hillside above the Sea of Galilee, hanging on His every word and learning from His teachings as He is bringing the words of the Torah to life—to their life and emphasizing how to treat even those they don’t like—their enemies and those who have persecuted them. Persecuted—treated poorly, harassed, beaten, or even killed.

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18 (Underlined for emphasis.) 

Love your neighbor as yourself…love your enemies. Jesus teaches more than just being kind to our enemies. 

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Luke 6:35. 

Who are our enemies? Those who are doing battle/fighting with the United States…but closer to home, those who just have different goals and ideals than we have. They may be of another religion—wanting to persecute the Christians. Yes. I’d agree that they would be my “enemy” but we can even see enemies as subversive groups who would want to change the American way of life…and seek a communist agenda for our nation. Pray for those who would persecute you. That was Jesus’ advice—good for His followers then and good for us now. Pray.  

     Jesus is telling us to love even our enemies…love—do good for them—lend or provide them food, clothing, shelter and expect nothing in return. Treat them with respect and pray for them. How will you respond to Him today?

Prayer ~ Dear Jesus, there are people with whom I don’t feel comfortable and it’s hard to love an enemy. But because You’ve directed us to “love your enemies” I will do what I can to show them grace, compassion, and to do good things for them. I pray that they would come to know You as their Lord and Savior. That is more important than anything in life. Thank you for hearing my prayers.

Verse of Salvation ~ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Cry out, "Save us, O God of our salvation! Gather and rescue us from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you." 1 Chronicles 16:34-35

© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

Partial reuse of September 10, 2014, Banquet With The King blog.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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