Enemies

Enemies are those who oppose or hate a person or God's people. Jesus taught his followers to love their enemies, do good to them and pray for them, and taking revenge is forbidden.

Love your enemies

• Matthew 5:43-48
  ⁴³Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴But 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;But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
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• Luke 6:27-36
  ²⁷But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.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. ³⁰Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back. ³¹And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.Do to others as you would have them do to you. ³²For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. ³³And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. ³⁴And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.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. ³⁵But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.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. ³⁶Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
  Show context · Read Luke 6 →

Do good to your enemy

• Exodus 23:4-5
  ⁴If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him. ⁵If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.If you see the donkey of one who hates you fallen under its load, do not leave it there; you must help him with it.
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• Proverbs 25:21-22
  ²¹If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. ²²For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
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• Romans 12:20-21
  ²⁰Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.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.” ²¹Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
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Do not repay evil

• Romans 12:17-19
  ¹⁷Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. ¹⁸If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.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.”
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• 1 Peter 3:9
  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.Do 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.
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• Proverbs 24:17-18
  ¹⁷Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles, ¹⁸Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.or the LORD will see and disapprove, and turn His wrath away from him.
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Examples of forgiving enemies

• Luke 23:34
  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
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• Acts 7:60
  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.Falling 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.
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• 1 Samuel 24:10
  Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed.Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’
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• 1 Peter 2:23
  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
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God and our enemies

• Romans 5:10
  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!
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• Psalm 23:5
  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
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• Proverbs 16:7
  When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 16 →

See also

• Revenge
• Forgiveness
• Persecution
• Neighbors

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.