Bible Verses about Loving your Enemies

It’s natural to feel angry or upset when someone treats you badly, but God doesn’t want us to be resentful toward others. We are to love other people, even our enemies, just as God loved us even when we were hostile toward Him (Ephesians 2:1-5).

God’s love is revolutionary. Through love and forgiveness enemies are reconciled, and broken relationships are mended.

These Bible verses about loving our enemies teach us to bless those who curse us and to pray for those who persecute us. God promises to bless those who endure hardship and persecution. 

We can learn to love our enemies by observing how Jesus loved us, even while we were sinners and opposed to the righteousness of God. Through patience and perseverance, we can demonstrate God’s love to those who mean us harm.

How to Love Your Enemies

Matthew 5:43-48

You have heard that it was said, “You shall 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 who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Luke 6:27-28

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.

Luke 6:35

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 is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

Exodus 23:4-5

If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.

Proverbs 24:17

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles.

Proverbs 25:21-22

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread 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 reward you.

Matthew 5:38-42

You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, “Do not resist the one who is evil.”

But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 

Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Bless your Enemies

Romans 12:14

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Romans 12:17-20

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. 

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. 

To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

1 Corinthians 4:12-13

When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat.

1 Peter 3:9

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

Psalm 35:11-14

Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know. They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft.

But I, when they were sick— I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest. I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; as one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning.

Live at Peace with Everyone

Proverbs 16:7

When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Proverbs 20:22

Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

1 Thessalonians 5:15

See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

1 Timothy 2:1-2

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Biblical Examples of Loving Your Enemies

Genesis 50:15-21

When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 

So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died, ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” 

Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 

But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” 

Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Luke 23:34

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Acts 7:59-60

And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Romans 5:8

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Blessings for the Persecuted

Matthew 8:12

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

2 Corinthians 12:10

For the sake of Christ, then I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Christian Quotes about Loving Your Enemies

“Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies – or else? The chain reaction of evil – hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars – must be broken, or else we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

“You never so touch the ocean of God’s love as when you forgive and love your enemies.” - Corrie Ten Boom

“Assuredly there is but one way in which to achieve what is not merely difficult but utterly against human nature: to love those who hate us, to repay their evil deeds with benefits, to return blessings for reproaches. It is that we remember not to consider men’s evil intentions but to look upon the image of God in them, which cancels and effaces their transgressions, and with its beauty and dignity allures us to love and embrace them.” - John Calvin