“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus begins by saying "to you who hear," not just to everyone present, but specifically to those who will truly listen and obey. This isn't just a suggestion for outward behavior, but a radical call to internal disposition—to actively love those who wish you ill.
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just chosen his twelve apostles and is now addressing a large crowd that has gathered to hear him. This radical teaching on loving enemies is not a contradiction of the Old Testament, but rather a clarification of its deepest intent, pushing beyond the bitter interpretations that had taken root. He's laying out the core principles for living in God's kingdom, principles that will stand in stark contrast to the world's ways.
Jesus begins this teaching with a crucial phrase: 'But I say to you who hear.' What does it really mean to 'hear' Jesus?
Jesus wasn't just talking to a crowd who happened to be present. He was addressing those who would actively listen and respond. The original language here emphasizes not just the physical act of hearing, but the internal commitment to heed and obey.
Jesus drops a bombshell: 'Love your enemies.' How could this be, especially when the world around seemed to encourage the opposite?
This command is the heart of Jesus' teaching here, and it flew in the face of much of the prevailing thought, even within Jewish tradition.
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This isn't about condoning evil, but about refusing to let hatred define our response to it.
Understand the original words
agapate · Greek Verb
A self-sacrificial, active, and persistent commitment to the well-being of another, regardless of their response or merit. This is the hallmark of the believer's character as reflective of God's own nature.
echthrous · Greek Noun
Those who are hostile, actively opposed to, or working against the interests and righteousness of the believer. Biblically, they are to be the object of the believer's proactive grace.
Jesus' command to love enemies wasn't a new idea in abstract, but its radical application and universality stood in stark contrast to some prevailing interpretations and social attitudes of His day, which often fostered exclusion and animosity.
c. 500 BC - 1st Century AD
Development of Jewish Law and Tradition
During this period, interpretations of the Old Testament law developed within Jewish communities. While core texts like Exodus and Proverbs contained principles of kindness even to enemies, other passages were sometimes emphasized to justify animosity towards outsiders.
c. 1st Century AD
Pharisaic Interpretations and Social Tensions
Some Jewish groups, particularly some Pharisees, developed interpretations that fostered strong in-group/out-group distinctions, sometimes leading to a practical emphasis on hatred toward Gentiles and perceived enemies of Judaism.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus commenced His public ministry, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples across Galilee and Judea. His teachings often challenged prevailing religious and social norms.
c. AD 28— this verse
Jesus' Sermon on the Plain
Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Plain, a foundational teaching that included radical commands about loving enemies, doing good to those who hate you, and blessing those who curse you.
c. AD 60-64
Paul's Letters Written
Apostle Paul wrote letters, such as to the Romans, expanding on the principles of love and non-retaliation, echoing and reinforcing Jesus' teachings on loving enemies.
This passage directly parallels Jesus' teaching on loving enemies, showing it's a core message taught in both Luke's and Matthew's accounts of his ministry.
Romans 12:14Paul echoes Jesus' command by urging believers to 'bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse,' highlighting the practical outworking of this difficult love.
Exodus 23:4This Old Testament law shows that the principle of showing kindness even to an enemy, like returning a lost animal, had roots in God's commands long before Jesus.
Proverbs 25:21This wisdom literature provides a foundational proverb, 'If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,' that Jesus builds upon with his radical command to love.
1 Peter 3:9Peter instructs believers not to repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but to offer a blessing instead, reinforcing the spirit of Jesus' command to love those who hate us.
barnesLuke 6:27: "But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,"
See Matthew 5:44-45 .
jfbLuke 6:12-49: "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."
Lu 6:12-49. The Twelve Apostles Chosen—Gathering Multitudes—Glorious Healing.12, 13. went out—probably from Capernaum.all night in prayer … and when … day, he called, &c.—The work with which the next day began shows what had been the burden of this night's devotions. As He directed His disciples to pray for "laborers" just before sending themselves forth (see on…
Jesus begins by saying "to you who hear," not just to everyone present, but specifically to those who will truly listen and obey. This isn't just a suggestion for outward behavior, but a radical call to internal disposition—to actively love those who wish you ill.
Jesus has just chosen his twelve apostles and is now addressing a large crowd that has gathered to hear him. This radical teaching on loving enemies is not a contradiction of the Old Testament, but rather a clarification of its deepest intent, pushing beyond the bitter interpretations that had taken root. He's laying out the core principles for living in God's kingdom, principles that will stand in stark contrast to the world's ways.
Jesus has just chosen his twelve apostles and is now addressing a large crowd that has gathered to hear him. This radical teaching on loving enemies is not a contradiction of the Old Testament, but rather a clarification of its deepest intent, pushing beyond the bitter interpretations that had taken root. He's laying out the core principles for living in God's kingdom, principles that will stand in stark contrast to the world's ways.
"“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you," — Jesus begins by saying "to you who hear," not just to everyone present, but specifically to those who will truly listen and obey. This isn't just a suggestion for outward behavior, but a radical call…
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Last reviewed October 2026