Matthew 5:44
BSB · Public Domain (CC0)“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
'Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you' is one of Jesus' most radical commands. It calls his followers to respond to hostility not with revenge but with active love and prayer — reflecting the God who is kind even to the ungrateful.
Read the full meaning“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)“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;”
King James Version · Public Domain“but I say unto you, Love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;”
American Standard Version · Public Domain“but I--I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those cursing you, do good to those hating you, and pray for those accusing you falsely, and persecuting you,”
Young's Literal Translation · Public DomainOther passages that echo Matthew 5:44 — 17 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 23:4If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.
- 2 Kings 6:22“Do not kill them,” he replied. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and then return to their master.”
- 2 Chronicles 28:9But a prophet of the LORD named Oded was there, and he went out to meet the army that returned to Samaria. “Look,” he said to them, “because of His wrath against Judah, the LORD, the God of your fathers, has delivered them into your hand. But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reaches up to heaven.
- Psalms 7:4if I have rewarded my ally with evil, if I have plundered my foe without cause,
- Psalms 35:13Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered.
- Proverbs 25:21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
- Luke 6:27But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
- Luke 6:34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.
- Luke 23:34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
- Acts 7:60Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
- Acts 16:28But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!”
- Romans 12:14Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.
- Romans 12:20On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
- 1 Corinthians 4:12We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
- 1 Corinthians 13:4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
- 1 Peter 2:23When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
- 1 Peter 3:9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).