Matthew 5:44
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;
KJV
ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν καὶ προσεύχεσθε ὑπὲρ τῶν διωκόντων ὑμᾶς,
Greek NT
Ego autem dico vobis : diligite inimicos vestros, benefacite his qui oderunt vos, et orate pro persequentibus et calumniantibus vos :
Vulgate
but I say unto you, Love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;
ASV
But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:
Douay-Rheims
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In the original Greek
11 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.
Textual variants
2 variant units attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.
- ὑμῶν — SBLGNT
- ὑμῶν — Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
- + εὐλογεῖτε τοὺς καταρωμένους ὑμᾶς καλῶς ποιεῖτε τοῖς μισοῦσιν ὑμᾶς — Robinson-Pierpont
- τῶν — SBLGNT
- τῶν — Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
- + ἐπηρεαζόντων ὑμᾶς καὶ — Robinson-Pierpont
Themes
Historic Christian voices
24 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.
§1825Christ died out of love for us, while we were still "enemies."100 The Lord asks us to love as he does, even our enemies, to make ourselves the neighbor of those farthest away, and to love children and the poor as Christ himself.101 The Apostle Paul has given an incomparable depiction of charity: "charity is patient and kind, charity is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogan…
§1933This same duty extends to those who think or act differently from us. the teaching of Christ goes so far as to require the forgiveness of offenses. He extends the commandment of love, which is that of the New Law, to all enemies.39 Liberation in the spirit of the Gospel is incompatible with hatred of one's enemy as a person, but not with hatred of the evil that he does as an en…
§1968The Law of the Gospel fulfills the commandments of the Law. the Lord's Sermon on the Mount, far from abolishing or devaluing the moral prescriptions of the Old Law, releases their hidden potential and has new demands arise from them: it reveals their entire divine and human truth. It does not add new external precepts, but proceeds to reform the heart, the root of human acts, w…
Continuation of the foregoing argument. Proofs from the writings of St. Paul, and from the words of Our Lord, that Christ and Jesus cannot be considered as distinct beings; neither can it be alleged that the Son of God became man merely in appearance, but that He did so truly and actually. 1. As it has been clearly demonstrated that the Word, who existed in the beginning with G…
2. But for what reason does He command this one to tell him of his fault, and not another? Because this man he would endure more quietly, this, who has been wronged, who has been pained, who has been despitefully used. For one does not bear in the same way being told by another of one's fault concerning him that has been insulted, as by the insulted person himself, especially w…
1. A grievous thing, beloved, a grievous thing it is to come to the depths of wickedness; for then the soul becomes hard to be restored. Wherefore we should use every exertion not to be taken at all; since it is easier not to fall in, than having fallen to recover one's self. Observe, for instance, when Judas had thrown himself into sin, how great assistance he enjoyed, yet not…
Source. Translated by J. Walker, J. Sheppard and H. Browne, and revised by George B. Stevens. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 11. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210219.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Adven…
1. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He has consecrated for us. Having shown the difference of the High Priest, and of the sacrifices, and of the tabernacle, and of the Covenant, and of the promise, and that the difference is great, since those are temporal, but these eternal, those near to vanish…
§96And first of all let us imitate the breadth of His love. For the Church, the Bride of Christ, is one; and yet so vast is the love of the divine Spouse that it embraces in His Bride the whole human race without exception. Our Savior shed His Blood precisely in order that He might reconcile men to God through the Cross, and might constrain them to unite in one body, however widel…
Wherefore, girding up your loins, serve the Lord in fear and truth, as those who have forsaken the vain, empty talk and error of the multitude, and believed in Him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and gave Him glory. In whom, though now ye see Him not, ye believe, and believing, rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
There are two ways, one of life and one of death; but a great difference between the two ways. The way of life, then, is this: First, thou shalt love God who made thee; second, thy neighbour as thyself; and all things whatsoever thou wouldst should not occur to thee, thou also do not to another. And of these sayings the teaching is this: Bless those who curse you, and pray for …
Chapter 1 Having, in the three preceding books, fully stated what occurred to us by way of answer to the treatise of Celsus, we now, reverend Ambrosius, with prayer to God through Christ, offer this fourth book as a reply to what follows. And we pray that words may be given us, as it is written in the book of Jeremiah that the Lord said to the prophet: Behold, I have put My wor…
Containing a general view of the subjects treated in Holy Scripture Chapter 1.— The Interpretation of Scripture Depends on the Discovery and Enunciation of the Meaning, and is to Be Undertaken in Dependence on God's Aid. 1. There are two things on which all interpretation of Scripture depends: the mode of ascertaining the proper meaning, and the mode of making known the meaning…
Is charity friendship? Is it something created in the soul? Is it a virtue? Is it a special virtue? Is it one virtue? Is it the greatest of the virtues? Is any true virtue possible without it? Is it the form of the virtues? Article 1. Whether charity is friendship? Objection 1. It would seem that charity is not friendship. For nothing is so appropriate to friendship as to dwell…
Is prayer an act of the appetitive or of the cognitive power? Is it fitting to pray to God? Is prayer an act of religion? Should we pray to God alone? Should we ask for something definite when we pray? Should we ask for temporal things when we pray? Should we pray for others? Should we pray for our enemies? The seven petitions of the Lord's Prayer Is prayer proper to the ration…
Abba Macarius said, "If you remember an evil that someone has done to you, pray for him and say, 'O God, help my brother and me through the prayers of the saints.' By calling on his brother and including him in your prayer, you move your soul to compassion."
Q. What is God's will for you in the sixth commandment? A. I am not to belittle, insult, hate, or kill my neighbor — not by my thoughts, my words, my look or gesture, and certainly not by actual deeds — and I am not to be party to this in others; rather, I am to put away all desire for revenge. I am not to harm or recklessly endanger myself either. Prevention of murder is also …
Q. Is it enough then that we do not kill our neighbor in any such way? A. No. By condemning envy, hatred, and anger God tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves, to be patient, peace-loving, gentle, merciful, and friendly to them, to protect them from harm as much as we can, and to do good even to our enemies.
Cross-references
- 1Cor 4:12 — And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
- 1Cor 4:12 — And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
- 1Cor 13:4 — Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
- 1Kgs 13:6 — And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king
- 1Pet 2:23 — Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
- 1Pet 3:9 — Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
- 1Pet 3:9 — Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
- 1Sam 15:11 — It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
- 1Sam 24:6 — And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.
- 1Sam 24:7 — So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
- 1Sam 24:17 — And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
- 1Thess 5:15 — See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
- 2Chr 28:9 — But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, h
- 2Kgs 6:22 — And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go
- 2Sam 1:12 — And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
- 2Sam 2:6 — And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.
- 2Sam 9:3 — And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.
- Acts 7:60 — And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
- Acts 7:60 — And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
- Acts 16:28 — But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
- Col 3:13 — Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
- Deut 22:4 — Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.
- Exod 23:4 — If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
- Exod 23:4 — If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
- Gen 50:21 — Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
- Jas 3:9 — Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
- John 15:8 — Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
- Luke 6:27 — But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
- Luke 6:28 — Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
- Luke 6:34 — And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
- Luke 6:35 — But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the ev
- Luke 17:4 — And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
- Luke 23:34 — Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
- Luke 23:34 — Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
- Matt 18:33 — Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
- Prov 19:11 — The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
- Prov 25:21 — If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
- Prov 25:21 — If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
- Ps 7:4 — If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)
- Ps 35:13 — But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.