Matthew 5:33-48
Love Your Enemies
Read the passage
33Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’
34But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
35or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
37Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.
38You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’
39But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;
40if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well;
41and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’
44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45that 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.
46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?
47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?
48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Jesus calls His disciples to truthful speech. They must not use heaven, earth, Jerusalem or their own heads as guarantees for their oaths. These things belong to God; they cannot make even one hair white or black. Their yes and no should be dependable without elaborate promises to make an uncertain word sound firm.
He next addresses retaliation. After recalling eye for eye and tooth for tooth, He tells them to turn the other cheek when struck, give the cloak as well when sued for a tunic, and go two miles when compelled to go one. He calls them to give to the person who asks and not turn away the one seeking a loan. This generosity costs more than being pleasant when nobody asks much of us.
These commands do not make cruelty good or require families to hide violence. They confront our desire to repay an injury with another injury and keep every advantage for ourselves. Jesus’ disciples must not let another person’s hostility dictate their response.
Then He tells them to love enemies and pray for persecutors. The reason is the character of their Father, who gives sun and rain to evil and good people alike. Loving only those who love us and greeting only our own brothers does not distinguish us from ordinary self-interest.
Jesus ends with the command to be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect. The Father’s goodness, rather than our enemies’ behavior, sets the standard. We cannot reduce His call to selective kindness toward people who make kindness easy. His children are to reflect His generosity even where there is no promise of affection in return.
How We Know
Leviticus 19 forbids false oaths, revenge and grudges, and commands love for a neighbor. It does not add a command to hate an enemy. Luke 6:27–36 also records Jesus teaching love for enemies, prayer for those who mistreat us and generosity without expected repayment. Both Gospel passages ground that costly mercy in the Father’s kindness.
Questions
1 What does Jesus require of our yes and no?
AnswerThey should be truthful and dependable. We should not need elaborate oaths by things belonging to God to make our ordinary speech trustworthy.
2 What examples does Jesus give against retaliation?
AnswerHe speaks of turning the other cheek, giving a cloak as well as a tunic, and going a second mile when compelled to go one.
3 Why must disciples love beyond those who love them?
AnswerTheir Father gives sun and rain to both evil and good people. His generous character calls His children beyond kindness that expects repayment.
4 What can we pray for someone who persecutes us?
AnswerWe can ask God to turn them from evil and bring them to know Him. Such prayer seeks their good without calling their harmful actions good.
What This Means for Us
Jesus' command is more demanding than politeness. He asks for a heart that does not reserve basic goodwill for people who can repay it. Yet love of an enemy is not surrender to an enemy. A Christian can seek justice, establish distance, and call for accountability while refusing to become cruel.
Truthful speech is part of this love. We do not need dramatic vows to make ourselves credible, and we should not use “forgiveness” to pressure someone else into silence. Mercy tells the truth about what happened and then asks what response will prevent more harm.
Choose one act that breaks the cycle of retaliation. It may be a calm answer, a prayer, a boundary, or a fair process instead of revenge. If the conflict is dangerous, choose safety and qualified support first.
Prayer
Father, you give sun and rain to the good and the evil. Teach our household to speak truthfully, refuse revenge, and pray for enemies without excusing harm. Give us mercy with courage, wisdom, and protection for the vulnerable. Amen.