Matthew 5:43-45 – Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 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; That 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.
God has never commanded that we harbor animosity toward or loathe others. Love for one’s neighbor is taught in Leviticus 19:18, but there is no verse that would have instructed believers to hate their enemies.
Jesus made it clear during His earthly ministry that the second-greatest of all God’s commandments was to love one’s neighbor (Matthew 22:36–39). Through the parable of the good Samaritan, He also went far beyond the societal standard in defining what a “neighbor” is (Luke 22:36–37). While it is sometimes difficult to love others, Jesus demonstrated that showing love with compassion, when done through God’s love, can make a powerful difference in the lives of others.
Jesus’ teaching on love and humility, which is a component of the Sermon on the Mount, is continued in Matthew 5:43–48. Jesus expands the concept of love to encompass one’s adversaries after instructing followers not to seek retribution for insults. People naturally object to the idea of tolerating persecution without protest. We instinctively tremble at the thought of showing those who hate and oppress us active love—in our deeds, not necessarily in our emotions. Even though it is easier to love those who love you, God’s standards are higher.
