bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The specific Greek word used here for "abuse you" implies not just mistreatment, but the most coarse and insulting kind of verbal abuse. This highlights that Jesus' command extends beyond enduring mere inconvenience to actively praying for those who heap the vilest insults and accusations upon us.
bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just before this, Jesus spent the entire night in prayer, preparing for the momentous task of choosing his twelve apostles. He then gathers large crowds and begins teaching them, setting the stage for radical new commands that would shape his followers and the early church. This verse, therefore, comes as part of a direct teaching from Jesus, likely on the plain, following his selection of the apostles and amidst his growing ministry.
Why would Jesus ask us to bless those who curse us? It feels completely backward, doesn't it? This command challenges our most basic human instincts for self-preservation and retaliation.
Jesus' command to 'bless those who curse you' is a radical departure from the norm. Our natural inclination when someone insults or curses us is to curse back or at least withdraw. But Jesus calls His followers to a higher way. This isn't about condoning bad behavior or pretending insults don't hurt. Instead, it's about actively choosing a response that reflects God's character, even when it feels impossible. It’s about disarming hostility with love, not with more hostility.
What does it mean to be 'merciful, as your Father also is merciful'? Jesus points to God's own character as the ultimate model for our behavior.
The core of Jesus' teaching here is imitation. He wants us to be like our heavenly Father. Consider how God blesses everyone – the good and the bad, the thankful and the unthankful – by sending the sun and the rain. This divine 'unconditional goodness' is what believers are called to mirror. When we bless those who curse us and pray for those who abuse us, we are stepping into that likeness. It's a powerful testimony that our identity is found not in how others treat us, but in our relationship with God and our reflection of His boundless love.
When we look at Jesus on the cross or Stephen facing death, we see something extraordinary. How did they embody this difficult command?
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Jesus Himself provides the ultimate example. As Luke alone records, Jesus prayed for His crucifiers, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do' (Luke 23:34). Stephen, facing a violent death, echoed this prayer: 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them' (Acts 7:60). These weren't just words; they were profound acts of love and forgiveness in the face of unimaginable cruelty. This shows that the command isn't just a general principle but a call to embrace the very heart of Christ, empowering us through His Spirit to act with grace even in the most extreme circumstances.
Understand the original words
eulogeite · Greek Verb
To speak well of, to invoke God’s favor upon, or to express a desire for another's spiritual and physical prosperity. It is the direct opposite of cursing.
katarōmenois · Greek Verb
To speak evil, invoke calamity, or use malicious language against someone. It is a sign of spiritual hostility and lack of respect for the image of God in another person.
epēreazontōn · Greek Verb
To treat with violence, insult, or spiteful harassment. It involves the intentional mistreatment of someone, especially for their faith or association with Christ.
The specific examples of Jesus praying for his crucifiers and Stephen praying for his executioners, both recorded by Luke, highlight the profound and challenging nature of this teaching, showing it's not just abstract advice but a model for living, even in the face of extreme suffering.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, teaching and healing, and gathering disciples.
c. AD 28
Jesus Prays All Night
Before choosing the twelve apostles, Jesus spends an entire night in prayer on a mountain, demonstrating the importance of seeking God's guidance for significant decisions and ministry.
c. AD 28— this verse
Sermon on the Plain
Jesus delivers a significant sermon, including the teachings on loving enemies and blessing those who curse, which sets the ethical standard for his followers.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Crucifixion
During his crucifixion, Jesus prays for forgiveness for his executioners, an act Luke uniquely records, illustrating the ultimate example of blessing those who curse and praying for those who abuse.
c. AD 33-36
Stephen's Martyrdom
The first Christian martyr, Stephen, follows Jesus' example by praying for his stoners while they are killing him, another event uniquely recorded by Luke.
This passage directly parallels Luke 6:28 by commanding believers to 'love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,' reinforcing the radical nature of this teaching.
1 Peter 3:9Peter echoes Jesus' command, urging believers not to repay 'evil for evil or insult for insult,' but instead to 'bless' those who curse, showing this principle extended to the early church.
Luke 23:34This passage shows Jesus himself living out this command, praying 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do' while on the cross, demonstrating the ultimate example of blessing those who cursed and abused Him.
Acts 7:60Stephen, the first Christian martyr, followed Jesus' example and prayed, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them,' as he was being stoned, providing a powerful testament to applying this difficult command even in the face of death.
Romans 12:14Paul exhorts believers to 'Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse,' directly reflecting the teaching in Luke 6:28 and highlighting the active, positive response required.
pulpitLuke 6:28: "Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you."
Verse 28. - Pray for them which despitefully use you. Jesus himself, on his cross, when he prayed that his murderers might be forgiven, for they knew not what they were doing, and his true servant Stephen, who copied faithfully his Lord in his own dying moments, are beautiful though extreme examples of what is meant here. It is St. Luke alone who mentions this act of Jesus on the cross; it is St. Luke, again,…
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…
The specific Greek word used here for "abuse you" implies not just mistreatment, but the most coarse and insulting kind of verbal abuse. This highlights that Jesus' command extends beyond enduring mere inconvenience to actively praying for those who heap the vilest insults and accusations upon us.
Just before this, Jesus spent the entire night in prayer, preparing for the momentous task of choosing his twelve apostles. He then gathers large crowds and begins teaching them, setting the stage for radical new commands that would shape his followers and the early church. This verse, therefore, comes as part of a direct teaching from Jesus, likely on the plain, following his selection of the apostles and amidst his growing ministry.
Just before this, Jesus spent the entire night in prayer, preparing for the momentous task of choosing his twelve apostles. He then gathers large crowds and begins teaching them, setting the stage for radical new commands that would shape his followers and the early church. This verse, therefore, comes as part of a direct teaching from Jesus, likely on the plain, following his selection of the apostles and amidst his growing ministry.
"bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." — The specific Greek word used here for "abuse you" implies not just mistreatment, but the most coarse and insulting kind of verbal abuse. This highlights that Jesus' command extends beyond enduring me…
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Last reviewed October 2026