14 Thought-Provoking Bible Verses About Loving Your Enemies

Last Updated: 15 February 2020

There are many people who, due to their behaviors, don’t deserve our affection and compassion. You know who they are: that bully in the classroom, that abusive co-worker, that pesky neighbor, the murderers and the thieves.

Our hearts scream against their bad attitude. We get the urge to avoid them, or seek revenge. However, the Bible exhorts us to do the contrary.

Here’s our collection of the most thought-provoking Bible verses about loving your enemies.

Matthew 5:44-45

I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.

Romans 12:17-19

Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”

Proverbs 25:21-22

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

Romans 12:21

Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:14

Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse.

Luke 6:29

To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from him who takes away your cloak, don’t withhold your coat also.

Luke 6:35-36

Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most-High; for he is kind toward the un-thankful and evil. Therefore, be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful.

Proverbs 24:17-18

Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.

Obadiah 1:12-13

Don’t look down on your brother in the day of his disaster, and don’t rejoice over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction. Don’t speak proudly in the day of distress. Don’t enter into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity. Don’t look down on their affliction in the day of their calamity, neither seize their wealth on the day of their calamity.

Isaiah 43:18

Don’t remember the former things, and don’t consider the things of old.

1 Peter 3:8-9

All of you be like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous, not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult; but instead blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

Psalm 37:1

Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.

Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.

Exodus 23:5

If you see the donkey of him who hates you fallen down under his burden, don’t leave him. You shall surely help him with it.