Love Your Enemies: Jesus’ Radical Call to Forgiveness
**Love Your Enemies: Jesus’ Radical Call to Forgiveness**
There’s a moment in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus delivers a teaching so countercultural, so revolutionary, that it still challenges us two thousand years later. He says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44).
Let that sink in for a moment. *Love your enemies.*
In a world where revenge is glorified, where grudges are held like trophies, and where division often feels like the default setting of humanity, these words feel almost absurd. Love your enemies? Really? The people who hurt you, betray you, or make your life harder? The ones who seem to thrive on your pain? Yes, them.
This isn’t just a nice sentiment or a poetic ideal. It’s a radical call to action—one that demands everything from us. But why? Why would Jesus ask us to do something that feels so unnatural, so difficult? And what does it even mean to love our enemies in a world that often feels so broken?
### The Context of the Command
To understand the weight of Jesus’ words, we need to step back into the world of first-century Palestine. It was a time of oppression, where the Jewish people lived under Roman rule. Enemies weren’t just abstract concepts; they were real people with real power. Soldiers who taxed them unfairly, religious leaders who judged them harshly, and neighbors who betrayed them for personal gain. Hatred and retaliation were common responses to injustice.
Into this context, Jesus speaks a different way—a way that doesn’t rely on violence, revenge, or even self-preservation. He introduces a kingdom where love is the currency and forgiveness is the rule. But this isn’t a weak or passive love. It’s a love that actively seeks the good of others, even when it costs us something.
### What Does It Mean to Love Your Enemies?
Loving your enemies doesn’t mean you have to like them. It doesn’t mean you excuse their behavior or pretend they didn’t hurt you. It doesn’t even mean you have to be best friends with them. What it does mean is choosing to see them through the lens of grace, just as God sees us.
It means refusing to let bitterness take root in your heart. It means praying for them, even when every fiber of your being wants to curse them instead. It means seeking their well-being, not because they deserve it, but because God’s love compels you to.
This kind of love is transformative. It doesn’t just change the person who receives it; it changes the person who gives it. When we choose to love our enemies, we break the cycle of hatred and violence. We become living examples of God’s kingdom, where mercy triumphs over judgment.
### The Cost of Forgiveness
Let’s be honest: loving your enemies is hard. It goes against every instinct we have. When someone hurts us, our natural response is to hurt them back. We want justice, or at least what we think justice looks like. But Jesus calls us to something higher.
Forgiveness is costly. It requires us to lay down our pride, our desire for revenge, and our need to be right. It asks us to trust that God is the ultimate judge and that He will make all things right in His time.
I think of Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch woman who survived the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp. After the war, she traveled the world sharing her story of forgiveness. One day, after a talk, a man approached her—a former guard from the very camp where she had been imprisoned. He extended his hand and asked for her forgiveness.
Corrie writes in her book *The Hiding Place* that in that moment, she felt nothing but hatred. She didn’t want to forgive him. But as she prayed for the strength to do what felt impossible, she felt God’s love pour through her. She took his hand and forgave him.
That’s the power of Jesus’ command. It’s not about our strength or our ability to forgive. It’s about His love working through us, even when we feel empty.
### Why Does It Matter?
You might be wondering, “Why should I love my enemies? Why should I forgive someone who doesn’t deserve it?” The answer lies in the heart of the Gospel.
We were once enemies of God. Scripture tells us that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). We didn’t deserve His love or His forgiveness, yet He gave it freely. When we choose to love our enemies, we are reflecting the love that has been shown to us.
It’s also a powerful witness to the world. In a culture that thrives on division and retaliation, forgiveness stands out. It’s a sign that there’s another way to live—a way rooted in love, not hate.
### Practical Steps Toward Loving Your Enemies
So how do we actually live this out? Here are a few practical steps to help you on the journey:
1. **Pray for them.** This might be the hardest step, but it’s also the most transformative. Praying for your enemies softens your heart and reminds you that they, too, are beloved by God.
2. **Seek understanding.** Sometimes, people hurt others because they’re hurting themselves. Try to see the humanity in your enemy, even if it’s difficult.
3. **Set boundaries.** Loving your enemies doesn’t mean allowing them to continue harming you. It’s okay to set healthy boundaries to protect yourself while still choosing forgiveness.
4. **Choose grace over grudges.** Every time you feel anger or bitterness rising up, choose to let it go. It’s a daily, sometimes moment-by-moment decision.
5. **Remember God’s forgiveness.** When you’re struggling to forgive, reflect on the forgiveness you’ve received from God. Let that be your motivation.
### The Freedom of Forgiveness
Here’s the beautiful thing about loving your enemies: it sets you free. When you let go of hatred and choose love, you release yourself from the prison of bitterness. You step into the fullness of life that Jesus promises.
It’s not easy. It’s not natural. But it’s worth it. Because when we love our enemies, we become more like Jesus. We become living testimonies of His grace, His mercy, and His radical, transformative love.
So today, if you’re holding onto anger or hurt, I challenge you to take the first step. Pray for the person who has wronged you. Choose forgiveness, even if it’s just a small step. And trust that God will meet you in that place, giving you the strength to love as He has loved you.
After all, that’s what the Gospel is all about. It’s a story of love that defies logic, grace that knows no bounds, and a Savior who calls us to live in a way that changes everything.
Love your enemies. It’s not just a command—it’s an invitation to be part of something bigger than yourself. And it’s a journey worth taking.