As we read and study the 49 scriptures that are Jesus’s commandments, let’s ask God to help us observe these words, apply them, and faithfully follow them throughout our lifetimes. The command we will focus on today is “Love Your Enemies.”
Verse of the Day
“But I tell you, love your enemies. Pray for those who treat you badly. If you do this, you will be children who are truly like your Father in heaven. He lets the sun rise for all people, whether they are good or bad. He sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong. If you love only those who love you, why should you get a reward for that? Even the tax collectors do that.”
Matthew 5:44–46 ERV
Lesson of the Day
Jesus commands us to love our enemies. The word Jesus uses for love here is “agapao,” and it’s not a feeling; it’s a choice to want what’s best for someone and act on it, whether you feel like it or not. That’s the key that makes this command possible, because He’s not asking you to feel warm and fuzzy toward the person who hurt you. He’s asking you to choose their good, and that’s something you can do even when your heart’s still aching.
The whole point comes in verse 45: He makes the sun rise on the evil and the good. He sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous—no favorites. God’s mercy doesn’t check a person’s record first, and He’s telling us to be like that.
Then verse 46 hits the real motivation: If you only love people who love you back, what reward is that? Even tax collectors do that. The people listening would’ve hated tax collectors; they were the worst. So Jesus is basically saying, “That’s not a flex. That’s the bare minimum.” The thing that makes you recognizable as His kid is loving the person who doesn’t deserve it.
There’s no escape hatch. He says “enemies,” plural, and doesn’t list exceptions. But the promise tucked in there is that this love does something to you: it frees you from carrying the bitterness. It keeps the sun rising on your own heart even when someone’s trying to block it out.
Encouragement
This command is even harder than the “Go the second mile” command. I don’t have to say that enemies are the last ones that you want to forgive, because we all know it’s true. I’ve had a lot of experience loving my enemies. If you recall, I set out to study Jesus’s commands because it is important to me to make sure that I am obeying Him. Okay, tears again. However, this doesn’t feel as bad. I’ll explain after I share my stories.
During the worst days in my marriage, I was the closest that I’d ever been, at the time, to God/Jesus. When life is a living hell, we must get as close as we can to God/Jesus.
During these times, I felt like I was in a war. My husband and I were separated but still living in the same house, sleeping in the same bed, and barely speaking to one another. The closer I got to the Lord, the further apart we got.
My husband started publicly insulting me while I was having Bible study, and he tore down the scriptures I had posted on our bathroom wall. He was doing things like this. I was hurt and embarrassed, but the closer I grew to God, the more God helped me respond with love. I continued to cook for my husband, prayed for him, and believed God would turn things around. As I chose to follow Jesus’ commands, my husband and I eventually came together and our relationship improved.
During that same season, my daughter-in-law also insulted me while I was helping her and caring for her children. Even through the hurt, I continued showing her love. Today, she and I have a great relationship.
I know all of this seems terrible, but I chose to love my enemies and God blessed all of us. If you show love to your enemies, you will ultimately heap coals of fire on their heads.
This means that kindness makes your enemy feel the shame and heat of their own wrongdoing. It’s a way of shaming them into repentance without you ever having to attack. Your kindness becomes the fire. That’s exactly the heart of going the second mile and loving your enemies: you respond to evil with good, and it does something in their heart that revenge never could.
There was also an incident in my classroom when I was teaching seventh grade. I had replaced a teacher who had transferred to the high school. There was one student who wasn’t happy about me taking over. He cussed at me several times, trying to get me to send him to the office. I didn’t. I saw in his face that he was shocked. As I said nice things to him and didn’t respond to his behavior, he eventually felt bad. He turned out to be my best student.
Well, looking back at all of those times, I would do it all the same, because all of our relationships are better for it. Let me make it clear: I wasn’t just being nice while holding grudges in my heart. I was genuinely showing love even while being attacked. I learned to trust God, and I believed that they would eventually change. You know what? I changed, too. It didn’t matter what they said or did because I believed God would fight my battles. I had the joy of the Lord and the peace that surpassed understanding. Love your enemies and watch God bless you.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, when You give a command, You are looking out for everyone, be they good or bad. You give us a chance to be better, and You give us a chance to experience agape love. If You can love everyone even after they’ve treated You badly, then we can, too. Thank You for being love. Because of You, we know what real love is. Real love is sacrifice. When we love our enemies, we are exuding sacrifice.
Father, continue to teach us and to be with us through all of our trials and tribulations. Correct us when we need correction, guide us to Your Word for instruction, and help us to understand and learn how to live as Jesus lived. We worship Your holy name because You deserve all praise, honor, and glory. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, amen.