Bible Verses About Enemies and Revenge.
Jesus gave one of his hardest commands: love your enemies. Scripture does not pretend wrongs are small. It tells believers to leave justice to God and answer evil with good.
These verses show how to respond to people who oppose or hurt you. They call for love without excusing sin, and trust that God will judge rightly.
Love and pray for them
Jesus calls his followers to love those who oppose them.
Matthew 5:43-45
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Luke 6:27-28
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
Luke 23:34
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Leave vengeance to God
God will judge justly, so his people do not need revenge.
Romans 12:17-19
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Deuteronomy 32:35
Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’
Proverbs 20:22
Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.
Overcome evil with good
Kindness toward an enemy can change the situation.
Romans 12:20-21
To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Burning coals likely pictures shame that leads to repentance, not a way to hurt someone.
Proverbs 25:21-22
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
God is your defender
You can trust God with those who wrong you.
Psalm 37:7-9
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.
Exodus 14:14
The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
Spoken at the Red Sea about God fighting for Israel, it shows his care for his people under threat.
Write about Matthew 5:43-45
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“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
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Scripture quotations are from the ESV(R) Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version(R)), copyright (c) 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.