KEY TEXT: LUKE 6:32-33 (KJV) – “32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? For sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? For sinners also do even the same.”
Most of us Christians understand that loving our enemies means merely not having a problem with them. Normally, when someone wrongs us and time passes, many things happen in our lives, and we end up forgetting what previously hurt us. When more hurtful things happen in our lives, we tend to forget the ones that happened earlier. We may not completely forget, but those past hurts don’t hurt us as much as they did when the wounds were still fresh. As a result, we don’t hold a big grudge against the person who previously wronged us. A common saying goes, “time heals.” Therefore, we tend to have no problem with them. Having no problem with them makes us feel that we love them. However, love goes beyond feeling. Love is a verb. A verb is a doing word. A verb is an action word. Love is an action, and love should be seen in action.
The Bible makes this clear:
“Let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” — 1 John 3:18 (KJ21)
And again:
“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’” — Galatians 5:14 (KJ21)
Loving your enemies means treating people like kings who treated you like trash before. Most of the time, our egos cannot allow that. It is common for unbelievers to mistreat those who mistreated them. It is also a natural human inclination to have contempt for those who have contempt for them. We naturally have no respect for those people who disrespected us. The best thing that many Christians often do is to ignore those who disrespected them. We often apply the “You stick to your lane, I stick to my lane” rule. However, this is not what Jesus calls us to do. He calls us to love our enemies.
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you.” — Matthew 5:44 (KJ21)
“But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest.” — Luke 6:35 (KJ21)
When Peter cut off the soldier’s ear (the soldier who had unlawfully arrested Jesus), Jesus took it and placed it back.
“And Jesus answered and said, ‘Suffer ye thus far.’ And He touched his ear and healed him.” — Luke 22:51 (KJ21)
Jesus had the option of doing more harm to that soldier, but He did not do that. Jesus Christ had the option to overlook and ignore that soldier and allow him to also feel pain. Instead, Jesus did an act of love by healing the soldier who had arrested Him on the spot.
“Put up again thy sword into his place; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” — Matthew 26:52 (KJ21)
It is much easier to do good for someone who did something bad to you in the past because the evil thing that they did to you is in the past. However, it is extremely difficult to do something good for a person who is doing something bad to you at the present moment. This is because pain hits you most in the present moment.
“Recompense to no man evil for evil.” — Romans 12:17 (KJ21)
“Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” — Romans 12:21 (KJ21)
Jesus knew the soldier was taking Him to be crucified, but despite all that, He still healed the soldier’s ear. Even on the cross, His love continued to act:
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” — Luke 23:34 (KJ21)
That is what loving your enemies looks like — not merely the absence of hatred, but the presence of sacrificial action.
Luke 6:38 (KJV) – “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
When you help your enemy, when you do good to those who have hurt you the most, God shall bless and reward you greatly. The Sabbath is a tremendously restful social institution (Exodus 20:10). We cannot have total rest on the Sabbath when we are still in conflict with people.
Who are the people you find hardest to do good to?
- Someone who constantly bullies you in school.
- The person/people who constantly bully you on social media.
- Someone who is always making false accusations against you in the workplace.
- The person/people who made you stop attending a certain church.
- The person who is always gossiping about you.
- The person who is always blocking your progress.
- The person who wishes the worst for you.
- The person who despises your ideas and contributions.
- The friend who betrayed your trust.
- The person who scammed you.
- The robber who robbed you.
- The person who rejected you.
- The spouse or the dating partner who left you.
- The spouse who does not appreciate you, regardless of all the good things you do for them.
- The parent who caused you childhood trauma.
- The son or daughter who does not appreciate your love and effort.
- The person who injured you and left a permanent scar on your body.
- The neighbor or relative who abused you or your child.
- The person who murdered someone you love so much.
Loving your enemies does not mean staying in abusive situations, ignoring justice, or removing healthy boundaries. Doing good does not require you to tolerate ongoing harm, silence truth, or protect wrongdoing. God does not call you to enable sin. You can forgive, pray, and refuse revenge while still setting firm boundaries, seeking protection, and allowing proper authorities to pursue justice. Love releases personal vengeance — it does not cancel wisdom, accountability, or safety.
Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery out of jealousy (Genesis 37:23–28). Years later, when Joseph became governor of Egypt, he had the power to punish them. Instead, he forgave them, comforted them, and provided food and land for them and their families during the famine.
He said:
“Now therefore be not grieved nor angry with yourselves that ye sold me hither; for God did send me before you to preserve life.” — Genesis 45:5 (KJ21)
And later:
“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good… Now therefore fear ye not; I will nourish you and your little ones.” — Genesis 50:20–21 (KJ21)
Instead of revenge, Joseph responded with mercy, provision, and reconciliation.
When Ellen G. White was nine years old, a classmate threw a stone that struck her in the face, severely injuring her and affecting her health for years. Despite the long-term suffering it caused, she held no bitterness toward the girl. Instead, she chose forgiveness.
In her autobiography, she recounts the incident (see Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, pp. 17–19). She did not seek revenge or harbor resentment but entrusted the matter to God and later spoke of the experience as something that ultimately shaped her spiritual life.
“While I was but a child, my parents removed from Gorham to Portland, Maine. Here, at the age of nine years, an accident happened to me which was to affect my whole life. In company with my twin sister and one of our schoolmates, I was crossing a common in the city of Portland, when a girl about thirteen years of age, becoming angry at some trifle, threw a stone that hit me on the nose. I was stunned by the blow, and fell senseless to the ground.” – Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, Page 17.2, Ellen G. White.
“At this time I began to pray the Lord to prepare me for death. When Christian friends visited the family, they would ask my mother if she had talked with me about dying. I overheard this, and it roused me. I desired to become a Christian, and prayed earnestly for the forgiveness of my sins. I felt a peace of mind resulting, and loved every one, feeling desirous that all should have their sins forgiven, and love Jesus as I did.” – Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, Page 18.3, Ellen G. White.
“My health seemed to be hopelessly impaired. For two years I could not breathe through my nose, and was able to attend school but little. It seemed impossible for me to study and to retain what I learned. The same girl who was the cause of my misfortune, was appointed monitor by our teacher, and it was among her duties to assist me in my writing and other lessons. She always seemed sincerely sorry for the great injury she had done me, although I was careful not to remind her of it. She was tender and patient with me, and seemed sad and thoughtful as she saw me laboring under serious disadvantages to get an education.” – Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, Page 18.5, Ellen G. White.
Even amid her struggles while learning, Ellen G. White was careful not to remind her classmate that she was the one who caused her that damage.
How can you do good to those who do bad to you?
1. Start with Prayer
You may not feel love, but you can start with obedience.
“Pray for them who despitefully use you.” — Matthew 5:44 (KJ21)
Prayer softens your heart before it changes theirs.
2. Refuse Retaliation
Doing good sometimes begins with simply refusing to return evil.
“Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” — Romans 12:21 (KJ21)
3. Separate Justice from Revenge
Forgiveness does not mean approving abuse or avoiding boundaries. It means releasing personal vengeance to God.
“Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” — Romans 12:19 (KJ21)
4. Do One Concrete Act of Good
It may be small:
- Speak respectfully.
- Refuse to gossip back.
- Offer help when needed.
- Bless them in private prayer.
Love is action.
5. Ask God for a New Perspective
Joseph saw God’s hand behind human betrayal. That changed everything.
“God meant it unto good.” — Genesis 50:20 (KJ21)
Sometimes the greatest victory is not changing the person who hurt you — but allowing God to transform your heart in the process.
Doing good to those who do bad to you does not mean the pain disappears. It means Christ’s character becomes stronger than the pain.
And that is supernatural.
The message in Luke 6 is a message for believers, those who have allowed the supernatural power of Jesus Christ to work in them. Therefore, do the supernatural act of doing good to those who have done the worst to you.
Anyone can love the lovable. Only those transformed by Christ can love the unlovable.
GOD BLESS YOU!
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
You have called me to love not only those who love me, but also those who hurt me. I confess that this is hard. My heart wants justice, distance, and sometimes even revenge. But Your Word says, “Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Lord, give me the supernatural strength to do what is not natural. Heal my wounds. Remove bitterness from my heart. Help me to pray for those who have wronged me, to bless those who have cursed me, and to do good to those who have caused me pain.
Teach me to reflect the character of Jesus — who healed the ear of the man who came to arrest Him, and who prayed, “Father, forgive them.”
Transform my heart. Make me an instrument of Your love.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Activity
Step 1: Identify One Person
Prayerfully choose one person you struggle with the most to do good to.
Step 2: Pray for Them Daily for 7 Days
Not vague prayer — specific prayer. Ask God to bless their health, family, career, and salvation. (Matthew 5:44). You can go an extra mile to find out their personal needs and pray for those needs.
Step 3: Refuse One Negative Response
When they trigger you:
- Do not retaliate.
- Do not gossip.
- Do not rehearse the offense.
Instead, remain calm and respectful. (Romans 12:21)
Step 4: Perform One Concrete Act of Good
Choose one:
- Send an encouraging message.
- Speak well of them publicly.
- Offer practical help if appropriate.
- Do a hidden act of kindness that they may never know about.
Step 5: Release the Outcome to God
Remember:
“Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” — Romans 12:19 (KJ21)
Your responsibility is obedience, not results.
Reflection Question
After 7 days, ask yourself:
- Has my heart softened?
- Has my peace increased?
- Has God changed me in the process?
Author: Mark Alex
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