--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...Love your enemies and pray for those…" description: "\"“...Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...”\" — Jesus Christ" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/jesus-christ-14516_enemies_love-your-enemies-and-pray-for-those-who_3045766.jpg" --- # ...Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you... ![“...Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...” quote by Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/jesus-christ-14516_enemies_love-your-enemies-and-pray-for-those-who_3045766.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/jesus-christ-14516_enemies_love-your-enemies-and-pray-for-those-who_3045766.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/jesus-christ-14516_enemies_love-your-enemies-and-pray-for-those-who_3045766.jpg) > ““...Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...”” [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love those who oppose you and wish them well, embodying radical compassion. **In simple terms:** Love enemies and pray for persecutors. Key Takeaway Practice compassion toward adversaries. Themes compassion forgiveness spirituality Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual ethical When to use this quote - personal conflict - social justice - interpersonal relationships Key Concepts Christian ethics radical love Questions to Reflect On - How can you show kindness to a hostile person? - What does forgiveness achieve? A Different Perspective Hard to love those who cause harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Enemies Pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies-pray-554751/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-enemies/) [Love quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-quotes/) [Love your enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-your-enemies/) [Love-quotes-and-sayings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-quotes-and-sayings/) [Persecute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecute/) [Pray Persecute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray-persecute-2054334/) ## Related quotes > [But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/but-i-say-to-you-love-your-enemies-and-pray-for-those-who-persecute/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Then I read this: “You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mosab-hassan-yousef/then-i-read-this-you-have-heard-that-it-was-said-love-your-neighbor/) [Mosab Hassan Yousef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mosab-hassan-yousef/) > [You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyanendra/you-have-heard-that-it-was-said-love-your-neighbor-and-hate-your/) [Gyanendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyanendra/) > [There is no Muslim version of 'love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you' or 'if anyone strikes you on the right cheek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spencer/there-is-no-muslim-version-of-love-your-enemies-pray-for-those-who/) [Robert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spencer/) > [“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who harass you so that you will be acting as children of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/but-i-say-to-you-love-your-enemies-and-pray-for-those-who-harass-you/) [Guideposts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guideposts/) > [If somebody says, you know, to love your enemies, you could say, 'Well I'm going to love them to death.' We've done that sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dominic-crossan/if-somebody-says-you-know-to-love-your-enemies-you-could-say-well-i-m/) [John Dominic Crossan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dominic-crossan/) > [But I say to you, the Lord says, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who persecute you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/but-i-say-to-you-the-lord-says-love-your-enemies-do-good-to-those-who/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [“Life is short so live to the fullest. Laugh as much as you can and always forgive someone that hurts you because the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-lynn/life-is-short-so-live-to-the-fullest-laugh-as-much-as-you-can-and/) [Renee Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-lynn/) > [“brings some blessings to unbelieving people. Jesus tells us, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:44), and since there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-a-grudem/brings-some-blessings-to-unbelieving-people-jesus-tells-us-love-your/) [Wayne A. Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-a-grudem/) > [The Law found more than it lost when Christ said, ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/the-law-found-more-than-it-lost-when-christ-said-love-your-enemies/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [It takes quite a spine to turn the other cheek. It takes phenomenal fortitude to love your enemy. It takes firm resolve to pray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/it-takes-quite-a-spine-to-turn-the-other-cheek-it-takes-phenomenal/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [I do believe that we are to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute you. I believe that there is power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-do-believe-that-we-are-to-love-our-enemies-and-do-good-to-those-who/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [A mans enemy is an alcohol. But, God said LOVE your enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xiang16/a-mans-enemy-is-an-alcohol-but-god-said-love-your-enemies/) [Xiang16](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xiang16/) > [Memo to extreme partisans: If you can't bring yourselves to love your enemies, can you at least learn to hate your friends?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/memo-to-extreme-partisans-if-you-can-t-bring-yourselves-to-love-your/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [“Love your enemies, they are prospects.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/love-your-enemies-they-are-prospects/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) ## More by Jesus Christ > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [No one can come to me unless the Father draws him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/no-one-can-come-to-me-unless-the-father-draws-him/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/in-the-world-ye-shall-have-tribulation-but-be-of-good-cheer-i-have/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Father, glorify thy name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/father-glorify-thy-name/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [All the commandments: You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and so on, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/all-the-commandments-you-shall-not-commit-adultery-you-shall-not-kill/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/for-everyone-who-exalts-himself-will-be-humbled-and-everyone-who/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/behold-i-stand-at-the-door-and-knock-if-anyone-hears-my-voice-and/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/blessed-are-the-merciful-for-they-will-be-shown-mercy/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/and-behold-i-come-quickly-and-my-reward-is-with-me-to-give-every-man-2/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/for-if-you-love-those-who-love-you-what-reward-have-you-do-not-even/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [“Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/let-him-who-is-without-sin-cast-the-first-stone/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [“Everything's a dildo if you're brave enough”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/everything-s-a-dildo-if-you-re-brave-enough/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence. Love others as well as you love yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/love-the-lord-your-god-with-all-your-passion-and-prayer-and/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/blessed-are-the-meek-for-they-will-inherit-the-earth/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [“No Jesus, No life. Know Jesus, Know Life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/no-jesus-no-life-know-jesus-know-life/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) [Explore all 46 Jesus Christ quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) ## More Enemies quotes > [“Never let your Enemies become your Advocates.” by A. K. Hasan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-k-hasan/never-let-your-enemies-become-your-advocates-by-a-k-hasan/) [A.K. Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-k-hasan/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [“If it takes night to make day, pain to know pleasure, black to make white, then doesn't it stand to reason that the depth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-snyder/if-it-takes-night-to-make-day-pain-to-know-pleasure-black-to-make/) [Michael Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-snyder/) > [“Enemies Teach. Friends Preach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/enemies-teach-friends-preach/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) > [Your greatest weapon is your enemies mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddha/your-greatest-weapon-is-your-enemies-mind/) [Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddha/) > [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Sometimes even paranoids have enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delmore-schwartz/sometimes-even-paranoids-have-enemies/) [Delmore Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delmore-schwartz/) > [When a husband brings his wife flowers for no reason, there's a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-mcgee/when-a-husband-brings-his-wife-flowers-for-no-reason-there-s-a-reason/) [Molly McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-mcgee/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“Anyone who is portraying Israel as a friend is a servant of Israel. I warn some sides against turning enemies into friends and friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayed-hassan-nasrallah/anyone-who-is-portraying-israel-as-a-friend-is-a-servant-of-israel-i/) [Sayed Hassan Nasrallah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayed-hassan-nasrallah/) > [No accurate thinker will judge another person by that which the other person's enemies say about him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/no-accurate-thinker-will-judge-another-person-by-that-which-the-other/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Whoever will not love his enemies cannot know the Lord and the sweetness of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silouan-the-athonite/whoever-will-not-love-his-enemies-cannot-know-the-lord-and-the/) [Silouan the Athonite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silouan-the-athonite/) > [I play basketball hard-nosed and if you're not on my team, during that 48 minutes we're enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/i-play-basketball-hard-nosed-and-if-you-re-not-on-my-team-during-that/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [“Enemies are people who's story you haven't heard, or who's face you haven't seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-butter/enemies-are-people-who-s-story-you-haven-t-heard-or-who-s-face-you/) [Irene Butter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-butter/) > [A sweet thing, perspective - a chance to see your enemies so small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/a-sweet-thing-perspective-a-chance-to-see-your-enemies-so-small/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) [Browse all 1,888 Enemies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jesus Christ" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/love-your-enemies-and-pray-for-those-who-persecute-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enemies" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/love-your-enemies-and-pray-for-those-who-persecute-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/jesus-christ-14516_enemies_love-your-enemies-and-pray-for-those-who_3045766.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/jesus-christ-14516_enemies_love-your-enemies-and-pray-for-those-who_3045766.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/jesus-christ-14516_enemies_love-your-enemies-and-pray-for-those-who_3045766.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“...Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...” — Jesus Christ", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jesus Christ", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“...Love your enemies and pray for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/love-your-enemies-and-pray-for-those-who-persecute-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/love-your-enemies-and-pray-for-those-who-persecute-you/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```