Love for Enemies^(A)

²⁷ “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,^{(B) 28} bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.^{(C) 29} If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. ³⁰ Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.^{(D) 31} Do to others as you would have them do to you.^(E)

³² “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?^(F) Even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?^(G) Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. ³⁵ But love your enemies, do good to them,^(H) and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children^(I) of the Most High,^(J) because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶ Be merciful,^(K) just as your Father^(L) is merciful.

⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves^(A) of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander,^(B) and filthy language from your lips.^{(C) 9} Do not lie to each other,^(D) since you have taken off your old self^(E) with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self,^(F) which is being renewed^(G) in knowledge in the image of its Creator.^{(H) 11} Here there is no Gentile or Jew,^(I) circumcised or uncircumcised,^(J) barbarian, Scythian, slave or free,^(K) but Christ is all,^(L) and is in all.

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves^(M) with compassion, kindness, humility,^(N) gentleness and patience.^{(O) 13} Bear with each other^(P) and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.^{(Q) 14} And over all these virtues put on love,^(R) which binds them all together in perfect unity.^(S)

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ^(T) rule in your hearts, since as members of one body^(U) you were called to peace.^(V) And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ^(W) dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom^(X) through psalms,^(Y) hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.^{(Z) 17} And whatever you do,^(AA) whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks^(AB) to God the Father through him.