---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ye have heard that it hath been said…"
description: "\"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/jesus-11875_love-your-enemies_ye-have-heard-that-it-hath-been-said-tho_3048364.jpg"
---

#  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy…

![“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 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;” quote by Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/jesus-11875_love-your-enemies_ye-have-heard-that-it-hath-been-said-tho_3048364.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/jesus-11875_love-your-enemies_ye-have-heard-that-it-hath-been-said-tho_3048364.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/jesus-11875_love-your-enemies_ye-have-heard-that-it-hath-been-said-tho_3048364.jpg)

> “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 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;”

[Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, and pray for persecutors, embodying radical compassion.

**In simple terms:** Love even those who harm you.

Key Takeaway

Practice unconditional compassion.

Themes

love forgiveness compassion

Mood

hopeful determined

Type

ethical inspirational

When to use this quote

- conflict resolution
- personal growth
- social justice

Key Concepts

radical love ethical teaching

Questions to Reflect On

- Who can you forgive today?
- How does love change conflict?

A Different Perspective

Challenging to love hostile individuals.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Enemies Bless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies-bless-1774291/) [Enemy Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-say-1643419/) [Love Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-enemies/) [Love Thy Neighbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-thy-neighbour/) [Love your enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-your-enemies/) [Said Thou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-thou-286896/) [Thou Shalt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thou-shalt/)

## Related quotes

> [Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/love-your-enemies-bless-them-that-curse-you-do-good-to-them-that-hate-2/)

[Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/)

> [“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/my-favorite-qoutes/love-your-enemies-bless-them-that-curse-you-do-good-to-them-that-hate/)

[My Favorite Qoutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/my-favorite-qoutes/)

> [ “\[Martin Luther King, Jr.\] concluded the learned discourse that came to be known as the 'loving your enemies' sermon this way: 'So this morning,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/martin-luther-king-jr-concluded-the-learned-discourse-that-came-to-be/)

[Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/)

> [Was not Jesus an extremist in love? - "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/was-not-jesus-an-extremist-in-love-love-your-enemies-bless-them-that/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-schacht/but-i-say-unto-you-love-your-enemies-bless-them-that-curse-you-do/)

[Darlene Schacht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-schacht/)

> [Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/thou-shalt-love-the-lord-thy-god-with-all-thy-heart-and-with-all-thy-2/)

[Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/)

> [Love your enemies... it's not always an easy tenet to live by... and I have more often than not been inclined to wish my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lea-salonga/love-your-enemies-it-s-not-always-an-easy-tenet-to-live-by-and-i-have/)

[Lea Salonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lea-salonga/)

> [“When you're taught to love everyone, to love your enemies, what value does that put on love?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/when-you-re-taught-to-love-everyone-to-love-your-enemies-what-value/)

[Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/)

> [“Love your enemies, for they will tell you your faults ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/love-your-enemies-for-they-will-tell-you-your-faults/)

[Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/)

> [Love your enemies and drive them nuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-dave-gardner/love-your-enemies-and-drive-them-nuts/)

[Brother Dave Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-dave-gardner/)

> [There's another reason why you should love your enemies, and that is because hate distorts the personality of the hater. We usually think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/there-s-another-reason-why-you-should-love-your-enemies-and-that-is/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [Love your enemies. They'll go crazy trying to figure out what you're up to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-your-enemies-they-ll-go-crazy-trying-to-figure-out-what-you-re/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [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

> [Rom 12:1: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of Gods mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to Godthis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/rom-12-1-therefore-i-urge-you-brothers-in-view-of-gods-mercy-to-offer/)

[Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/)

> [For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/for-even-the-son-of-man-came-not-to-be-ministered-unto-but-to/)

[Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/)

> [Matthew 21:21 Jesus replied, I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/matthew-21-21-jesus-replied-i-tell-you-the-truth-if-you-have-faith/)

[Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/)

> [But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/but-seek-ye-first-the-kingdom-of-god-and-his-righteousness-and-all/)

[Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/)

> [Everybody tells me; to move on, to let her go, but what they never say is how? how to move on? how to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/everybody-tells-me-to-move-on-to-let-her-go-but-what-they-never-say/)

[Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/)

> [You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/you-must-love-the-lord-your-god-with-all-your-heart-all-your-soul-and/)

[Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/)

> [For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/for-god-so-loved-the-world-that-he-gave-his-only-begotten-son-that/)

[Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/)

> [John 1:12: Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/john-1-12-yet-to-all-who-received-him-to-those-who-believed-in-his/)

[Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/)

> [I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/i-am-the-way-the-truth-and-the-life-no-man-cometh-unto-the-father-but/)

[Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/)

> [Matthew 9:2 Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/matthew-9-2-some-men-brought-to-him-a-paralytic-lying-on-a-mat-when/)

[Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/)

> [1 Cor 6:19: Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/1-cor-6-19-do-you-not-know-that-your-body-is-a-temple-of-the-holy/)

[Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/)

> [They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/they-that-are-whole-need-not-a-physician-but-they-that-are-sick-i/)

[Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/)

> [Doing silly stuff with your best friend cause they are the only one who understands you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/doing-silly-stuff-with-your-best-friend-cause-they-are-the-only-one/)

[Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/)

> [John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/john-1-1-in-the-beginning-was-the-word-and-the-word-was-with-god-and/)

[Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/)

> [Where ones treasure is there also is his heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/where-ones-treasure-is-there-also-is-his-heart/)

[Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/)

[Explore all 56 Jesus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/)

## More Love your enemies quotes

> [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [“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/)

> [Another way that you love your enemy is this: When the opportunity presents itself for you to defeat your enemy, that is the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/another-way-that-you-love-your-enemy-is-this-when-the-opportunity/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [Love your enemies. They'll go crazy trying to figure out what you're up to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-your-enemies-they-ll-go-crazy-trying-to-figure-out-what-you-re/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [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/)

> [To all those whove tried to belong, and just didnt fit inyou are loved. To all those whove tried to stand out and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/to-all-those-whove-tried-to-belong-and-just-didnt-fit-inyou-are-loved/)

[Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/)

> [There's another reason why you should love your enemies, and that is because hate distorts the personality of the hater. We usually think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/there-s-another-reason-why-you-should-love-your-enemies-and-that-is/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [Love your enemies and drive them nuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-dave-gardner/love-your-enemies-and-drive-them-nuts/)

[Brother Dave Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-dave-gardner/)

> [“Love is boss when everything you hear about a person is filtered through their enemies, yet you still choose to love them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/love-is-boss-when-everything-you-hear-about-a-person-is-filtered/)

[Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/)

> [We should cuddle now~(:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meeee/we-should-cuddle-now/)

[Meeee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meeee/)

> [“Love your enemies, for they will tell you your faults ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/love-your-enemies-for-they-will-tell-you-your-faults/)

[Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/)

> [If you love your enemy, that means you want your enemy to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-thurman/if-you-love-your-enemy-that-means-you-want-your-enemy-to-be-happy/)

[Robert Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-thurman/)

> [“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-woolley/but-love-your-enemies-do-good-to-them-and-lend-to-them-without/)

[Michele Woolley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-woolley/)

[Browse all 120 Love your enemies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-your-enemies/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 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;",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jesus"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/ye-have-heard-that-it-hath-been-said-thou-shalt-love-thy-neighbour/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Love your enemies"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/ye-have-heard-that-it-hath-been-said-thou-shalt-love-thy-neighbour/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/jesus-11875_love-your-enemies_ye-have-heard-that-it-hath-been-said-tho_3048364.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/jesus-11875_love-your-enemies_ye-have-heard-that-it-hath-been-said-tho_3048364.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/jesus-11875_love-your-enemies_ye-have-heard-that-it-hath-been-said-tho_3048364.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto…” — Jesus",
                "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",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Ye have heard that it hath...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/ye-have-heard-that-it-hath-been-said-thou-shalt-love-thy-neighbour/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/ye-have-heard-that-it-hath-been-said-thou-shalt-love-thy-neighbour/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
