A devotional on loving your enemies faces one of Jesus’ hardest commands. In Matthew 5:44 (ESV), he says, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. This love is not natural. It is supernatural, flowing from the God who loved us while we were still his enemies.
Key Verse
“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” (Matthew 5:44, ESV)
Radical Words
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus contrasts common teaching with his own. People had been taught to love neighbors and hate enemies. Jesus goes further: love your enemies. This was shocking in a world of rivalry, occupation, and revenge, and it is still shocking today.
Jesus does not say enemies are not real. He acknowledges that some people will oppose and persecute us.
What Enemy Love Is
Loving enemies does not mean pretending they did nothing wrong, approving of evil, or staying in harmful situations. It means wanting their good, refusing revenge, treating them with dignity, and praying for them. Love is an action and choice, not merely a feeling.
Sometimes love includes firm boundaries and seeking justice through proper means.
Pray for Them
Jesus gives a concrete practice: pray for those who persecute you. It is hard to keep hating someone you are sincerely praying for. Prayer changes our hearts and invites God to work in theirs. Jesus himself prayed for those who crucified him, asking the Father to forgive them.
Like Your Father
Jesus explains that God sends sun and rain on both the evil and the good. When we love enemies, we reflect our Father’s generous heart. Anyone can love people who love them back. Enemy love shows the family resemblance of God’s children.
Remember, we were once God’s enemies, and he loved us first through the cross.
Start Small
Begin by naming one person who has hurt you or opposes you. Pray for them by name, even if your prayer starts with honest pain. If the hurt involves abuse, seek safety and support first; loving an enemy never requires remaining in danger.
Loving enemies does not mean pretending harm did not happen or staying in danger. It means refusing to let hatred rule your heart. If someone has abused you, seek safety and help first. Love can include praying for them from a safe distance.
Today, Try This
Write the name of someone you find hard to love, and pray for God’s blessing on them every day this week.
Reflection Question
Who is God asking you to love and pray for, even though it is hard?
Prayer
Father, you loved me when I was your enemy. Help me love those who oppose me and pray for those who hurt me. Free me from bitterness and revenge. Give me wisdom for boundaries and grace to want their good. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Matthew 5:44 mean?
In Matthew 5:44 (ESV), Jesus commands his followers to love their enemies and pray for persecutors. This reflects God’s own generous love and marks believers as his children.
Does loving your enemies mean letting them hurt you?
No. Loving enemies means desiring their good, refusing revenge, and praying for them. It does not require staying in abusive or dangerous situations. Boundaries and justice can be expressions of love.
How can I pray for someone who hurt me?
Start honestly, telling God how you feel. Then ask him to bless them, bring them to repentance and faith, and heal your heart. Praying regularly for them can gradually soften bitterness.
Keep Reading
- Explore more: Sermon on the Mount study
- Read more daily devotionals
- The narrow way: what the narrow gate means (Matthew 7:13-14)
- Related: Devotional on Honoring Your Parents (devotional)
- Related: Devotional on Betrayal (devotional)
- Related: Turn the Other Cheek Meaning
- Related: Devotional on Bitterness
- Related: Devotional on Forgiving Others: Ephesians 4:32