Love Your Enemies mathew 5:44 - Thu, Apr 24, 2025
“Love Your Enemies” Meaning
General Meaning:
The phrase “love your enemies” comes from Jesus’ teachings, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:44):
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
It means:
- Responding with compassion, even when someone harms you.
- Breaking cycles of revenge or bitterness.
- Seeing the humanity in people, even those who oppose or mistreat you.
- Choosing forgiveness over resentment.
Why It Matters:
- It’s a call to rise above our natural impulses, such as hatred or anger.
- It helps disarm conflict and often leads to unexpected reconciliation.
- It reflects a higher moral and spiritual maturity.
Example: Adolf Hitler and “Love Your Enemies”
What it Doesn’t Mean:
- It doesn’t excuse or justify the evil actions of someone like Hitler.
- It doesn’t mean forgetting or minimizing the atrocities of the Holocaust.
- It doesn’t mean failing to seek justice or accountability for wrongdoing.
What it Could Mean:
Loving a figure like Hitler isn’t about accepting his evil acts, but more about choosing how you respond emotionally or spiritually, regardless of the harm caused.
Possible Responses:
- Survivors’ Forgiveness: Holocaust survivors who chose to forgive not for the sake of the wrongdoer, but for their own healing.
- Corrie ten Boom’s Example: A Christian survivor who forgave a Nazi guard years after the war, not excusing his actions, but choosing to move past hatred.
Corrie ten Boom
a Christian woman who survived a Nazi concentration camp, once forgave one of her former guards many years after the war. He had become a Christian and approached her for forgiveness.
At first, Corrie didn’t want to forgive. She admitted she couldn’t do it on her own. But by faith, she chose to forgive him — not to excuse his cruelty, but to release the hatred in her heart. She later said:
“Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.”
Her story shows that loving your enemies isn’t about saying what they did was okay — it’s about choosing to move past hatred for the sake of your own healing and peace.
Deeper Idea:
- “Love your enemies” challenges us to resist dehumanizing others. By showing compassion, we break the cycle of hatred.
- It’s a call to be better than our worst instincts—choosing peace instead of hatred.
Modern Example: Bullies
What it Doesn’t Mean with Bullies:
- It doesn’t mean tolerating harmful behavior.
- It doesn’t mean ignoring the pain caused by bullies.
- It doesn’t mean failing to stand up for yourself or others.
What it Could Mean:
Loving a bully is about choosing how you respond to their hostility, without escalating the situation or allowing their negativity to control you.
Examples:
- Responding with Empathy: Recognizing that bullies often act out of their own insecurities or pain, even though it doesn’t justify their actions.
- Setting Boundaries with Kindness: Standing up for yourself calmly and confidently, without retaliation.
- Forgiveness for Your Own Well-Being: Letting go of hatred or grudges to free yourself from emotional burdens.
- Taking the High Road: Not stooping to their level, but choosing peace and strength instead of engaging in conflict.
Example:
Imagine a bully constantly making cruel jokes at school or work. Instead of responding with anger, you might respond with calmness, maybe even asking them if everything’s okay in their life, or standing up for yourself without reacting negatively.
Why It’s Tough But Important:
- It’s incredibly hard to love someone who is actively harming you, but choosing not to mirror their negativity helps break the cycle and protect your inner peace.
- Forgiveness doesn’t excuse their actions, but it keeps you from being consumed by resentment.
How to Frame It:
For bullies or anyone who has hurt you:
“I forgive you not because what you did was okay, but because holding on to anger only hurts me. I understand that you might be struggling, and I don’t want to carry this burden anymore.”
This is about taking back control of your emotional well-being, and choosing peace over prolonged conflict.
Final Thought:
Loving your enemies, whether it’s a bully or someone who’s hurt you deeply, is a powerful choice. It doesn’t mean accepting harmful behavior, but it’s about choosing peace, forgiveness, and emotional freedom over hatred and resentment.