Few teachings of Scripture challenge the human heart more than how God commands His people to treat their enemies. The natural response to hostility is retaliation, bitterness, or avoidance. Yet the Bible presents a radically different ethic, one rooted in the character of God Himself. Scripture does not deny the reality of enemies, injustice, or harm. Instead, it reveals how God calls His people to respond in a way that reflects His holiness, mercy, and redemptive purpose.

God Acknowledges the Reality of Enemies

The Bible never pretends that enemies do not exist. David spoke often of adversaries, persecution, and betrayal (Psalm 3:1; Psalm 41:9). Jesus Himself was rejected, slandered, and crucified by His enemies (John 15:18–20). Having enemies is not a sign of spiritual failure. It is often a result of standing for truth in a fallen world.

However, Scripture makes clear that how we respond to enemies reveals the condition of our hearts. “If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink” (Proverbs 25:21). This principle is not optional or cultural. It is divine instruction.

Jesus Commands Love for Enemies

The clearest biblical teaching on this subject comes from Jesus Himself. “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” (Matthew 5:44). This command overturns natural instinct. Christian love is not based on worthiness, but on obedience to God.

Jesus grounded this command in the character of God. “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:45). Loving enemies reflects God’s own mercy, since He shows kindness even to the unthankful and evil (Luke 6:35). According to Scripture, loving enemies is evidence of genuine sonship, not spiritual weakness.

We Are Forbidden to Seek Revenge

The Bible consistently forbids personal vengeance. “Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee” (Proverbs 20:22). Paul repeats this teaching in the New Testament. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

This does not mean justice is unimportant. Scripture teaches that God Himself is the righteous Judge (Genesis 18:25). It means that believers are not permitted to take judgment into their own hands. Trusting God with justice is an act of faith, acknowledging that He sees all and will judge rightly.

Prayer Is Central to How We Treat Enemies

Jesus explicitly commands believers to pray for those who oppose them (Matthew 5:44). Prayer does not excuse wrongdoing, but it guards the heart from hatred and pride. Stephen modeled this spirit when he was being stoned. “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge” (Acts 7:60). His prayer mirrored the prayer of Christ on the cross. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

Prayer for enemies aligns the believer’s heart with God’s desire for repentance rather than destruction. “The Lord is… not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Overcoming Evil With Good

Scripture does not teach passive surrender to evil. It teaches spiritual victory through righteousness. “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Responding with kindness, truth, and integrity exposes the emptiness of hatred and places the matter in God’s hands.

Paul reinforces this by quoting Proverbs. “If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink” (Romans 12:20). Such actions are not manipulative or self-righteous. They are acts of obedience that reflect God’s grace.

Forgiveness Is Required, Not Optional

The Bible connects forgiveness toward enemies with our own spiritual health. Jesus warned, “If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:15). Forgiveness does not deny pain or ignore injustice. It means releasing the right to personal revenge and entrusting the matter to God.

Paul instructs believers, “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). The standard for forgiveness is not human fairness, but God’s forgiveness in Christ.

Loving Enemies Reflects the Gospel

Ultimately, the biblical command to love enemies flows from the gospel itself. “For when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Romans 5:10). Every believer was once an enemy of God, yet was met with mercy, not destruction. The cross is God’s answer to hostility.

When Christians love their enemies, they testify to the transforming power of grace. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us” (1 John 4:10). Our treatment of enemies becomes a living demonstration of the gospel we profess.

According to the Bible, treating enemies rightly is not about natural strength or emotional denial. It is about obedience to God, trust in His justice, and conformity to Christ. Scripture commands believers to love, pray for, forgive, and do good to their enemies, while leaving vengeance in God’s hands.

This calling is impossible apart from grace. Yet through the Spirit of God, believers are enabled to reflect Christ even in the face of opposition. “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

To treat your enemy according to the Bible is to walk the path of Christ Himself, who conquered hatred with love, sin with righteousness, and death with life.