How do I pray for my enemies?
Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
New International Version (NIV)
The answer
Praying for an enemy means asking God to do that person genuine good—especially to bring repentance and salvation—while leaving vengeance with God. Jesus joins prayer to love, blessing, and action in Matthew 5:44: “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you.”
Step 1: Bring the real person and the real wrong
- Name them plainly: Pray for the actual person, not a vague category of enemies, and tell God honestly what happened and how it affected others.
- Do not pretend: Prayer for an enemy is not denial that evil was done. Bring the anger and pain to God rather than turning them into a curse against the person.
Step 2: Ask God to bless, not curse
- Use Jesus’ category: Ask for legitimate good in the person’s life—daily needs, family, work, health, and opportunities to know the truth.
- Refuse revenge-shaped prayer: Romans 12:14 says, “Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse.” The request must not become a spiritualized way of wishing harm.
Step 3: Pray for repentance and salvation
- Ask for the greatest good: Pray that the person would turn from sin, trust Christ, and be changed, not merely become easier to live with.
- Follow Jesus’ example: While being crucified, Jesus prayed in Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
- Pray within God’s saving desire: 1 Timothy 2:1-4 calls for prayers for all people, including rulers, and says that God “desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth.”
Step 4: Hand judgment over to God
- Release personal vengeance: Romans 12:19 says, “Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath,” because vengeance belongs to the Lord.
- Keep seeking what is right: It remains right to ask God to stop wrongdoing, protect the vulnerable, expose deception, and establish justice. Refusing personal revenge is not approving the sin or abandoning justice.
Step 5: Let prayer lead into obedient love
- Ask for a concrete good to do: Matthew 5:44 places “do good” alongside prayer. Look for an action that serves the person’s real welfare rather than one that seeks repayment or recognition.
- Meet need where opportunity comes: Romans 12:20-21 directs believers to feed a hungry enemy and give drink to a thirsty one, concluding, “Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
When the heart resists
Begin with obedience rather than waiting until warm feelings arrive. The command is to love, bless, do good, and pray; God can also change the affections as those commands are practiced. Matthew 5:45 gives the pattern: the Father makes the sun rise on evil and good people and sends rain on just and unjust people alike. Asking for an enemy’s good reflects His character.
A verse to carry
Romans 12:21: “Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Answered from Scripture · reviewed November 11, 2026
Scripture commands believers to pray for their enemies not as an impossible ideal, but as an active, concrete discipline of Christian obedience. By asking God for their welfare, seeking their forgiveness and salvation, and renouncing personal retaliation, we display the very character of our heavenly Father. Walking through the full counsel of God reveals both the command and the living examples of this supernatural love.
The Lord's Command
Christ calls His disciples to active intercession for abusers
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Matthew 5:44 (NIV)
Jesus explicitly joins love, blessing, and doing good with the specific spiritual act of interceding for those who mistreat us.
In Matthew 5:44, the Lord Jesus issues one of the most radical commands in all of Scripture: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." He confronts the prevailing human instinct cited in Matthew 5:43 that narrowed love strictly to neighbors while permitting hostility toward foes. True kingdom righteousness, Jesus explains in Matthew 5:45, mirrors our heavenly Father, who bestows common grace by commanding His sun to rise and rain to fall upon both the righteous and the unrighteous. Anyone can love those who love them in return; as Matthew 5:46 and Matthew 5:47 emphasize, even corrupt tax collectors and pagans accomplish that much. Disciples, however, are summoned in Matthew 5:48 to a mature, impartial holiness that reflects the pure character of God.
Luke records the same standard in the Sermon on the Plain. In Luke 6:27 and Luke 6:28, Christ directs His followers not merely to internal tolerance, but to vocal blessing and active intercession: "Bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." Such sacrificial posture expects no earthly reciprocation, yet Luke 6:35 guarantees that the eternal reward is great, identifying intercessors as genuine children of the Most High. This posture flows out of Luke 6:36: "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."
Jesus binds our daily fellowship with God directly to this forgiving disposition. In Matthew 6:14 and Matthew 6:15, He warns plainly that harboring an unyielding spirit toward our debtors shuts us out from the Father’s forgiveness of our own sins. When we stand before God in prayer, as Mark 11:25 instructs, we are to release every grievance held against another person. Intercession for enemies is not an emotional feeling; it is an act of resolute obedience that aligns our heart with divine mercy.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Matthew 5:43 | Jesus quotes the traditional distortion that set limits on neighborly love while justifying hatred of personal enemies. |
| Matthew 5:44 | Christ commands loving enemies, blessing those who curse, doing good to those who hate, and praying for persecutors. |
| Matthew 5:45 | Intercession and kindness reflect the character of the Father, who gives sun and rain to both just and unjust. |
| Matthew 5:46 | Loving only those who reciprocate offers no distinct witness or reward before God. |
| Matthew 5:47 | Greeting only friends fails to exceed the standard of the unbelieving world. |
| Matthew 5:48 | Believers are summoned to mature, impartial righteousness mirroring the perfection of their heavenly Father. |
| Luke 6:27 | Jesus repeats the royal law to love enemies and do good to those who hate. |
| Luke 6:28 | The Lord commands speaking blessings over those who curse and praying for those who abuse. |
| Luke 6:35 | Sacrificial love toward enemies without expectation of return brings great reward as sons of the Most High. |
| Luke 6:36 | The mandate to show mercy is grounded in the Father's own boundless mercy. |
| Matthew 6:14 | Jesus warns that forgiving others their trespasses is directly tied to receiving the Father's forgiveness. |
| Matthew 6:15 | Jesus states plainly that refusing to forgive others prevents the Father from forgiving one's own trespasses. |
| Mark 11:25 | Jesus instructs believers to forgive anyone against whom they hold something whenever standing in prayer. |
The Old Covenant Roots
God required kindness toward adversaries long before the Gospels
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
Proverbs 25:21 (NIV)
Solomon reveals that meeting an enemy's basic physical needs is the ancient, divine pattern of overcoming malice.
The command to overcome animosity with kindness did not originate in the New Testament; it was woven into the fabric of the Mosaic law and Israel's wisdom literature. Proverbs 25:21 captures the heart of this ancient ethic: "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink." Solomon notes in Proverbs 25:22 that such unexpected mercy heaps burning coals of conviction upon the offender while securing the Lord’s reward. Centurions of the Old Covenant operated under this mandate: Exodus 23:4 requires an Israelite to return a straying work animal belonging to an enemy, while Exodus 23:5 insists on helping relieve that same adversary’s burdened beast. Leviticus 19:18 explicitly outlaws revenge and grudge-bearing, establishing the command to love one's neighbor as oneself.
Godly leaders lived this truth amid fierce slander and strife. Job affirmed his righteous walk in Job 31:29 and Job 31:30 by noting he never rejoiced at his enemy's ruin or uttered an imprecatory curse against his life. David demonstrated this remarkable intercession in Psalm 35:13 and Psalm 35:14; when his bitter pursuers fell ill, he put on sackcloth, fasted, and grieved for them as if mourning his own brother. This spirit matches Proverbs 24:17 and Proverbs 24:18, which strictly forbid gloating over a fallen adversary lest the Lord turn His wrath away. When King Saul sought his life, David declared in 1 Samuel 24:12 that the Lord alone would judge between them, refusing to avenge himself. Later, in 2 Kings 6:21–23, the prophet Elisha prevented the king of Israel from executing captured Syrian soldiers, ordering a banquet prepared for them instead, bringing an end to enemy raids. Jeremiah 29:7 even summoned the Jewish exiles to seek the peace and welfare of Babylon, their pagan captor, praying to the Lord on its behalf.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Exodus 23:4 | God commands an Israelite to return a stray ox or donkey belonging to an enemy. |
| Exodus 23:5 | A person must stop and assist an enemy's overburdened donkey rather than pass by. |
| Leviticus 19:18 | The law strictly forbids taking vengeance or bearing grudges, commanding love of neighbor as oneself. |
| Job 31:29 | Job defends his integrity by affirming he never rejoiced at the destruction of his foe. |
| Job 31:30 | Job insists he never sinned by letting his tongue curse an enemy's life. |
| Psalms 35:13 | David recalls putting on sackcloth, fasting, and praying deeply when his enemies were sick. |
| Psalms 35:14 | David grieved for his adversaries as though mourning a dear friend or brother. |
| Proverbs 24:17 | Wisdom warns never to rejoice when an enemy falls or stumbles. |
| Proverbs 24:18 | Gloating over an enemy displeases the Lord and turns away His righteous judgment. |
| Proverbs 25:21 | If an enemy is hungry or thirsty, the godly must give him bread and water. |
| Proverbs 25:22 | Giving tangible aid heaps burning coals of conviction upon an enemy, and the Lord will reward it. |
| 1 Samuel 24:12 | David commits judgment between himself and King Saul to the Lord rather than lifting his hand in revenge. |
| 2 Kings 6:21 | The king of Israel asks the prophet Elisha whether he should kill the captured Syrian enemy army. |
| 2 Kings 6:22 | Elisha instructs the king to feed the captured Syrian raiders bread and water instead of slaughtering them. |
| 2 Kings 6:23 | The king prepares a great feast for the Syrian raiders, who eat, drink, and return peacefully to their master. |
| Jeremiah 29:7 | God commands the exiles to seek the peace and welfare of Babylon, their captor city, and pray for it. |
The Ultimate Models
Christ and His martyrs intercede for executioners in death
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
Luke 23:34 (NIV)
In the very agony of the cross, Jesus puts His own command into practice by pleading for His killers' pardon.
The supreme model of intercession for adversaries occurred at Calvary, recorded in Luke 23:34: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Nailed to Roman timber, mocked by passersby, and taunted by religious authorities, Jesus did not call down judgment or unleash legions of angels. Instead, He utilized His failing breath to plead for the very men hammering the iron spikes and casting lots for His garments. This was not a passive surrender; it was the definitive fulfillment of Isaiah's ancient prophecy that the Servant would make intercession for transgressors.
The early church understood that the cross provided the master pattern for Christian conduct under fire. In Acts 7:59 and Acts 7:60, as jagged stones battered Stephen's broken body outside the city walls, the first Christian martyr fell to his knees and echoed his Savior's prayer: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." His final act was an outward petition for the pardon of his murderers, including a young Pharisee named Saul of Tarsus.
Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 2:21 that Christ suffered unjustly on our behalf, "leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps." Though He committed no sin and no deceit crossed His lips (1 Peter 2:22), Jesus refused to retaliate when abused; 1 Peter 2:23 records that "when he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly." Decades later, awaiting execution in a cold Roman dungeon, the apostle Paul walked in these same steps. In 2 Timothy 4:16, reflecting on his trial where everyone deserted him, Paul writes: "May it not be charged against them." Christ and His witnesses consistently turned execution sites into places of prevailing intercession.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Luke 23:34 | Jesus prays on the cross for His crucifiers, asking the Father to forgive their ignorance. |
| Acts 7:59 | Stephen commits his spirit to Jesus while stones are cast against him. |
| Acts 7:60 | Stephen kneels down in his final breath and cries aloud for God not to charge his killers with sin. |
| 1 Peter 2:21 | Christ suffered unjustly, leaving a concrete example for believers to walk in His exact steps. |
| 1 Peter 2:22 | Jesus committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth under interrogation. |
| 1 Peter 2:23 | When reviled and suffering, Christ uttered no threats, entrusting Himself entirely to Him who judges righteously. |
| 2 Timothy 4:16 | Paul prays that the desertion of his companions during his initial legal defense not be charged against them. |
Apostolic Instruction
The Epistles direct believers to replace retaliation with blessing
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
Romans 12:19 (NIV)
Relinquishing the desire to punish others rests on trusting the absolute justice of God.
The apostolic letters translate the example of Christ into daily pastoral practice for believers navigating a hostile world. In Romans 12:19, Paul anchors all non-retaliation in the sovereign justice of God: "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.'" Knowing God will execute flawless justice frees the believer from the toxic burden of vengeance. Paul therefore commands in Romans 12:14: "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them." He urges us in Romans 12:17 and Romans 12:18 to repay no one evil for evil and, as far as it depends on us, to live peaceably with all men. Citing Proverbs, Romans 12:20 directs believers to feed hungry foes and refresh thirsty ones, culminating in the triumphant summary of Romans 12:21: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
This was not abstract theory for the early apostles; it was their everyday reality. In 1 Corinthians 4:12 and 1 Corinthians 4:13, Paul describes apostolic ministry under brutal opposition: "When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat." Likewise, 1 Thessalonians 5:15 charges the entire congregation to ensure no one repays injury with injury, but always to pursue what is good for one another and for all. In 1 Peter 3:9, Peter commands believers not to repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but rather to return a blessing, reminding them of their heavenly inheritance.
This spirit of intercession extends upward to governing authorities who may be antagonistic toward the faith. In 1 Timothy 2:1 and 1 Timothy 2:2, Paul urges supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for all people, specifically for kings and those in high positions. Such broad, loving intercession is pleasing to God (1 Timothy 2:3), who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Romans 12:14 | Paul commands believers to bless those who persecute them, explicitly forbidding cursing. |
| Romans 12:17 | Believers are instructed never to repay evil for evil, but to pursue what is honorable. |
| Romans 12:18 | Christians must strive to live peaceably with all men as far as it depends on them. |
| Romans 12:19 | Vengeance belongs solely to the Lord, freeing believers from enacting private retribution. |
| Romans 12:20 | Feeding and giving drink to an enemy heaps burning coals upon his head. |
| Romans 12:21 | The Christian strategy is never to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good. |
| 1 Corinthians 4:12 | Paul recounts apostolic practice: when reviled they bless, and when persecuted they endure. |
| 1 Corinthians 4:13 | When slandered, the apostles answer with conciliation and entreaty. |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:15 | The church must ensure no one repays evil for evil, but always seeks good for everyone. |
| 1 Peter 3:9 | Believers are called to repay insult with blessing, knowing they are called to inherit a blessing. |
| 1 Timothy 2:1 | Paul urges supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings to be offered on behalf of all people. |
| 1 Timothy 2:2 | Believers are instructed to pray specifically for kings and all authority figures, including pagan rulers, to lead quiet lives. |
| 1 Timothy 2:3 | Paul declares that interceding for leaders and all people is good and pleasing in the sight of God. |
| 1 Timothy 2:4 | God desires all people, even opposing rulers, to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. |
Where in the Bible
| Book | Passages |
|---|---|
| Exodus | 2 · Exodus 23:4, Exodus 23:5 |
| Leviticus | 1 · Leviticus 19:18 |
| 1 Samuel | 1 · 1 Samuel 24:12 |
| 2 Kings | 3 · 2 Kings 6:21, 2 Kings 6:22, 2 Kings 6:23 |
| Job | 2 · Job 31:29, Job 31:30 |
| Psalms | 2 · Psalms 35:13, Psalms 35:14 |
| Proverbs | 4 · Proverbs 24:17, Proverbs 24:18, Proverbs 25:21, Proverbs 25:22 |
| Jeremiah | 1 · Jeremiah 29:7 |
| Matthew | 8 · Matthew 5:43, Matthew 5:44, Matthew 5:45, Matthew 5:46, Matthew 5:47, Matthew 5:48, Matthew 6:14, Matthew 6:15 |
| Mark | 1 · Mark 11:25 |
| Luke | 5 · Luke 6:27, Luke 6:28, Luke 6:35, Luke 6:36, Luke 23:34 |
| Acts | 2 · Acts 7:59, Acts 7:60 |
| Romans | 6 · Romans 12:14, Romans 12:17, Romans 12:18, Romans 12:19, Romans 12:20, Romans 12:21 |
| 1 Corinthians | 2 · 1 Corinthians 4:12, 1 Corinthians 4:13 |
| 1 Thessalonians | 1 · 1 Thessalonians 5:15 |
| 1 Timothy | 4 · 1 Timothy 2:1, 1 Timothy 2:2, 1 Timothy 2:3, 1 Timothy 2:4 |
| 2 Timothy | 1 · 2 Timothy 4:16 |
| 1 Peter | 4 · 1 Peter 2:21, 1 Peter 2:22, 1 Peter 2:23, 1 Peter 3:9 |
The story in order
- God commands kindness to enemies (c. 1450 BC) · Exodus 23:4 · Shows ancient Israelite law required helping an enemy's lost animal.
- David spares Saul's life (c. 1000 BC) · 1 Samuel 24:12 · David refused to harm God's anointed king, trusting God's justice.
- Proverbs on enemy welfare (c. 700 BC) · Proverbs 25:21 · Wisdom literature teaches feeding and caring for a hungry enemy.
- Elisha feeds Syrian army (c. 750 BC) · 2 Kings 6:22 · A prophet showed mercy to captured enemies, leading to peace.
- Jeremiah commands prayer for Babylon (c. 590 BC) · Jeremiah 29:7 · God's people were to seek the welfare of their captors.
- Jesus quotes Old Testament law (c. AD 30) · Matthew 5:43 · Jesus addresses the common distortion of loving neighbors but hating enemies.
- Jesus commands love for enemies (c. AD 30) · Matthew 5:44 · Christ explicitly commands blessing enemies and praying for persecutors.
- Jesus teaches forgiveness (c. AD 30) · Matthew 6:14 · Our forgiveness from God is conditional on forgiving others.
- Jesus prays for His crucifiers (AD 30) · Luke 23:34 · Jesus' ultimate act of love: praying for forgiveness for His executioners.
- Stephen prays for his killers (c. AD 35) · Acts 7:60 · The first martyr followed Christ's example, praying for his murderers.
- Paul instructs on repaying evil (c. AD 57) · Romans 12:17 · Believers must not repay evil for evil, but overcome evil with good.
- Paul urges prayer for all (c. AD 62) · 1 Timothy 2:1 · Intercession and thanksgiving are commanded for all people, including enemies.
- Peter on suffering like Christ (c. AD 64) · 1 Peter 2:21 · Christ's suffering provides the model for how believers should endure injustice.
From Retaliation to Blessing
| Old Testament Command | New Testament Command | Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Do not take vengeance or bear grudges (Leviticus 19:18). | Do not repay evil for evil (Romans 12:17). | Leviticus 19:18 |
| Assist an enemy's burdened animal (Exodus 23:5). | Bless those who curse you (Luke 6:28). | Exodus 23:5 |
| Feed a hungry enemy (Proverbs 25:21). | Feed and give drink to an enemy (Romans 12:20). | Proverbs 25:21 |
| Commit judgment to the Lord (1 Samuel 24:12). | Vengeance belongs to the Lord (Romans 12:19). | 1 Samuel 24:12 |
| Seek the welfare of captors (Jeremiah 29:7). | Pray for persecutors (Matthew 5:44). | Jeremiah 29:7 |
Christ's Example of Love
| Christ's Suffering | Believer's Response | Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Suffered unjustly (1 Peter 2:21). | Suffer unjustly without retaliation (1 Peter 2:21). | 1 Peter 2:21 |
| Committed no sin (1 Peter 2:22). | Walk in His steps (1 Peter 2:21). | 1 Peter 2:22 |
| Uttered no threats when reviled (1 Peter 2:23). | Bless when reviled (1 Peter 3:9). | 1 Peter 2:23 |
| Entrusted Himself to God (1 Peter 2:23). | Entrust ourselves to God who judges righteously (1 Peter 2:23). | 1 Peter 2:23 |
| Prayed for His crucifiers (Luke 23:34). | Pray for persecutors (Matthew 5:44). | Luke 23:34 |
Key words
- Love enemies (agapao, ἀγαπάω)
- Actively seek the good and salvation of those who oppose or harm you. · Matthew 5:44
- Pray for persecutors (proseuchomai, προσεύχομαι)
- Intercede with God on behalf of those who mistreat or attack you. · Matthew 5:44
- Forgive (aphiemi, ἀφίημι)
- Release others from debt or blame, as God releases us. · Matthew 6:14
- Vengeance (ekdikeo, ἐκδίκέω)
- The act of inflicting punishment in return for an injury; retribution. · Romans 12:19
- Bless (ευλογεω, eulogeo)
- Speak well of, invoke divine favor upon, or wish good to someone. · Romans 12:14
- Overcome evil with good (nikao, νικάω)
- Respond to wrongdoing not with retaliation, but with acts of kindness and righteousness. · Romans 12:21
Praying for those who harm us cuts against fallen human nature, yet it is the unmistakable mark of God's children. When we entrust justice entirely to the Lord and plead for our abusers' redemption, the Holy Spirit frees our hearts from bitterness and conforms us to Christ. Begin with a single honest petition for their welfare today, leaning fully on the grace of the Father who first loved His enemies.
50 passages, each cited once.
Scripture cited
- Luke 23:32-34
- Romans 12:14-21
- 1 Timothy 2:1-4