Matthew 5:43-45

Love Your Enemies

⁴³ _f "You have heard that it was said, _g 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴ But I say to you, _i Love your enemies and _j pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ _k 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 _l sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

1. Cross References
   Matthew 5:21
   "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.'
   
2. Cross References
   Leviticus 19:18
   You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
   Matthew 19:19
   Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
   
3. Cross References
   Leviticus 19:18
   You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
   
4. Cross References
   Luke 6:27 - 28
   But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.
   Romans 12:20
   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.
   Exodus 23:4
   If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him.
   Job 31:29 - 30
   If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him
   Psalms 7:4
   If I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause.
   
5. Cross References
   Luke 23:34
   And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.
   Acts 7:60
   And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
   2 Timothy 4:16
   At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!
   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.
   
6. Cross References
   Luke 6:35
   But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
   Ephesians 5:1
   Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
   Philippians 2:15
   That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.
   
7. Cross References
   Acts 14:17
   Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.