Love Your Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor^[a](A) and hate your enemy. ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies^[b] and pray for those who^[c] persecute you,^{(B) 45} so that you may be^[d] children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.^{(C) 46} For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary?^[e](D) Don’t even the Gentiles^[f] do the same?

Love Your Enemies

²⁷ “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.^{(A) 29} If anyone hits you on the cheek,^(B) offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. ³⁰ Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back. ³¹ Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them.^{(C) 32} If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.^{(D) 33} If you do what is 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 to receive, what credit is that to you?^(E) Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. ³⁵ But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High.^(F) For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. ³⁶ Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.^(G)

The Justified Are Reconciled

⁶ For while we were still helpless, at the right time,^(A) Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. ⁸ But God proves^(B) his own love for us^(C) in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood,^(D) will we be saved through him from wrath.^{(E) 10} For if, while we were enemies,^(F) we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.^{(G) 11} And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.^(H)

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you;^(A) bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice;^(B) weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another.^(C) Do not be proud;^(D) instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.^{(E) 17} Do not repay anyone evil for evil.^(F) Give careful thought to do what is honorable^(G) in everyone’s eyes. ¹⁸ If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.^{(H) 19} Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay,^[a](I) says the Lord. ²⁰ But

²¹ Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.