"But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
— Matthew 5:44 (NIV)
Matthew 5:44 is the "love your enemies" verse, one of the hardest and best-known commands Jesus gave. This page gives the verse, what the key words mean, where it sits in the Sermon on the Mount, and a plain reading. For more on the theme, see Bible verses about loving your enemies, Love and enemies, and Bible verses about enemies.
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The verse
The King James reads: "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."
The KJV follows manuscripts that include the longer list, which also appears in Luke 6:27-28. "Love" is agapaō (G25), the love that chooses another person's good. "Enemies" is echthros (G2190), someone hostile or hateful. "Bless" is eulogeō (G2127), to speak well of, and "curse" is kataraomai (G2672). "Pray" is proseuchomai (G4336), and "persecute" is diōkō (G1377), to pursue or harass.
Where it sits in Matthew 5
Jesus is teaching the Sermon on the Mount, contrasting what people had heard with what he says. The verse before is, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy'" (Matthew 5:43). The command to love your neighbor is in Leviticus 19:18; "hate your enemy" was a popular add-on, not a line of Scripture.
He gives the reason right after: "that you may be children 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" (Matthew 5:45). Then he presses the point: "If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?" (Matthew 5:46).
What the verse is saying
Jesus widens love past the people who are easy to love. Loving an enemy is not a warm feeling toward them; it is choosing their good. The first practical step he names is prayer. You may not be able to feel kindly toward someone yet, but you can pray for them.
The reason is God's own character. God sends sun and rain on everyone, and his children are meant to look like him. Paul teaches the same thing in Romans 12:14, "Bless those who persecute you," and in Romans 12:21, "overcome evil with good." Jesus lived it on the cross: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).
Questions people ask
What does Matthew 5:44 say?
In the NIV it says, "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." The KJV says, "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."
Why is the KJV of Matthew 5:44 longer?
The KJV was translated from Greek manuscripts that include "bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you." Many modern translations follow older manuscripts that have the shorter verse. The longer wording also appears in Luke 6:27-28.
What does it mean to love your enemies?
It means choosing their good rather than their harm: praying for them, refusing revenge, and doing good where you can. It does not mean pretending they did nothing wrong or staying somewhere unsafe.
How do you pray for someone who hurt you?
Start simply and honestly, by name. Ask God to bless them, to change what needs changing in them and in you, and to help you forgive. Jesus' prayer in Luke 23:34 is a short model.
What verses go with Matthew 5:44?
Romans 12:21 (overcome evil with good), Matthew 5:9 (blessed are the peacemakers), and Romans 12:18 (live at peace with everyone) are close companions.
