Loving Our Enemies as a Divine Reflection
Jesus' command to "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" [1] stands as one of the most radical ethical teachings in Scripture. This precept, however, was not entirely without precedent in the Hebrew Bible. Proverbs instructs care for an enemy's basic needs—"If they be hungry and thirsty," provide for them [5]—and Exodus commands assistance even to an enemy's stray ox [9]. Yet the ancient world commonly taught people to love family and friends while hating enemies [4], making Jesus' teaching a decisive break from prevailing moral norms.
The rationale for this love appears in the continuation of Matthew 5:44: believers are to love enemies "that you may be children of your Father in heaven" [1]. The command functions as a divine reflection—imitating God's character makes visible one's identity as his child. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown clarify that the love Jesus requires is not personal affection but "benignant, compassionate outgoings of desire for another's good" [8], a moral disposition rather than emotional warmth. Adam Clarke describes this as "the most sublime precept ever delivered to man," one that "a false religion durst not give" because "without supernatural influence, it must be for ever impracticable" [6].
This teaching presupposes a prior reconciliation. Paul writes that "when we were enemies" to God—hostile to his being, purposes, and people—Christ died for us [10]. The enmity was mutual: humanity stood opposed to God, and God's wrath rested on sinners. Reconciliation, as Easton's defines it, is "a change wrought in both parties who have been at enmity" [2]. The apostle beseeches the Corinthians to "be reconciled to God," to lay aside their enmity [2]. Having received this reconciliation, believers extend analogous mercy to human enemies.
The practical outworking appears in Torrey's catalog: pray for enemies, assist them, overcome them by kindness, refrain from cursing them, and show affectionate concern for their welfare [3]. Matthew Henry notes that God "can turn foes into friends when he pleases" and "will do it for us when we please him" [7]—the one reconciled to God finds divine aid in reconciling with others. The ethic finds its supreme commentary in Christ himself, who prayed for his executioners [3, 8].
Sources
- Matthew “But 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, -- Matthew 5:44”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Reconcilation — A change from enmity to friendship. It is mutual, i.e., it is a change wrought in both parties who have been at enmity. (1.) In Col. 1:21, 22, the word there used refers to a change wrought in the personal character of the sinner who ceases to be an enemy to God by wicked works, and yields up to him his full confidence and love. In 2 Cor. 5:20 the apostle beseeches the Corinthians to be "reconciled to God", i.e., to lay aside their enmity. (2.) Rom. 5:10 refers not to any change in our disposition toward God, but to God himself, as the party reconcile”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Enemies — Christ prayed for his -- Lu 23:34. The lives of, to be spared -- 1Sa 24:10; 2Sa 16:10,11. The goods of, to be taken care of -- Ex 23:4,5. Should be Loved. -- Mt 5:44. Prayed for. -- Ac 7:60. Assisted. -- Pr 25:21; Ro 12:20. Overcome by kindness. -- 1Sa 26:21. Rejoice not at the misfortunes of -- Job 31:29. Rejoice not at the failings of -- Pr 24:17. Desire not the death of -- 1Ki 3:11. Curse them not -- Job 31:30. Be affectionately concerned for -- Ps 35:13. The friendship of, deceitful -- 2Sa 20:9,10; Pr 26:26; 27:6; Mt 26:48,49. God defends against -- Ps ”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 6:27: 6:27 love your enemies! People were commonly taught in the ancient world to love their family and friends and hate their enemies. Jesus announced a radical new ethic of loving even one’s enemies and overcoming evil through self-sacrificial love for others, not through violence and hatred (cp. Rom 12:14-21).”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 25:21: By this it appears that, however the scribes and Pharisees had corrupted the law, not only the commandment of loving our brethren, but even that of loving our enemies, was not only a new, but also an old commandment, an Old Testament commandment, though our Saviour has given it to us with the new enforcement of his own great example in loving us when we were enemies. Observe, 1. How we must express our love to our enemies by the real offices of kindness, even those that are expensive to ourselves and most acceptable to them: "If they be hungry and thirsty, inst”
- Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 6:35: Love ye your enemies - This is the most sublime precept ever delivered to man: a false religion durst not give a precept of this nature, because, with out supernatural influence, it must be for ever impracticable. In these words of our blessed Lord we see the tenderness, sincerity, extent, disinterestedness, pattern, and issue of the love of God dwelling in man: a religion which has for its foundation the union of God and man in the same person, and the death of this august being for his enemies; which consists on earth in a reconciliation of the Creator with his crea”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 16:7: Note, 1. God can turn foes into friends when he pleases. He that has all hearts in his hand has access to men's spirits and power over them, working insensibly, but irresistibly upon them, can make a man's enemies to be at peace with him, can change their minds, or force them into a feigned submission. He can slay all enemies, and bring those together that were at the greatest distance from each other. 2. He will do it for us when we please him. If we make it our care to be reconciled to God, and to keep ourselves in his love, he will incline those that have bee”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 5:44: But I say unto you, Love your enemies--The word here used denotes moral love, as distinguished from the other word, which expresses personal affection. Usually, the former denotes "complacency in the character" of the person loved; but here it denotes the benignant, compassionate outgoings of desire for another's good. bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you--The best commentary on these matchless counsels is the bright example of Him who gave them. (See Pe1 2:21-24; a”
- Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 23:4: If thou meet thine enemy's ox - going astray - From the humane and heavenly maxim in this and the following verse, our blessed Lord has formed the following precept: "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;" Mat 5:44. A precept so plain, wise, benevolent, and useful, can receive no other comment than that which its influence on the heart of a kind and merciful man produces in his life.”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 5:10: For if when we were enemies,.... For the further illustration of the love of God expressed to sinners, by the death of his Son, the state and condition God's elect were in when Christ died for them is taken notice of; they "were enemies"; to God, to his being, perfections, purposes, and providences; to Christ, to his person, offices, grace, and righteousness; to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit, and his divine operations and influences; to the people of God, and to the Gospel and ordinances of Christ; which enmity is deeply rooted in their minds, is causeless, and”