In the teachings of Jesus, believers are called to love and pray for those who persecute them, showing kindness and compassion towards all people. As seen in Luke 6:27-36, this command to love one's enemies is rooted in God's own character, who causes the sun to shine on both the evil and the good. The book of Matthew also emphasizes this principle, with Jesus instructing His followers to love their enemies in Matthew 5:44. The apostle Paul further develops this idea in Romans 12, encouraging believers to bless those who persecute them and to overcome evil with good, as stated in Romans 12:14 and Romans 12:19-21. By living out this radical love, Christians reflect the heart of their heavenly Father.
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But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” On 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.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. And 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. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be restrained; where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?