Is it Possible to Love our Enemies?

[bluebell]

Jesus commands all of His followers in Matthew 5: 43-44:

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"

I've been thinking about how we as Christians (those of us who are) so often completely ignore this commandment.  And not just ignore it but self-righteously ignore it, in that we ignore it while feeling really good about our righteousness and morality.

We often don't act like we believe that Christ expects us to love our enemies at all.  We act like we believe He's most happy with us when we hate our enemies, call them names, wish them harm, accuse them of wickedness, etc.

Why do we act like this commandment doesn't matter to Christ and that we can break it with impunity?

Is it possible to love our enemies?

How do we do it?

[Tony uk]

When someone near, friend or relatives, does something wrong. There can be a sense of anger, and hurt. Depending on what has been done wrong by the person or persons. The feelings that come, as a response to what has happened, will most probably have a stem from the love that exists with that person. Love between people will show itself in different forms, in different relationships. Husband and wife, brother and sister, friends and neighbours. So when anger, or hurt has been caused in one of these relationships. There is always a possibility of forgiveness existing because of the love which exist in those relationships. Although, forgiveness can exist, that does not mean we forget what has happened, or make that wrong go away. Sometimes, it is human pride that can get in the way of forgiveness.

 As for forgiveness of strangers. I would reference Jesus on the cross. Asking God to forgive his crucifiers, for they did not know what they were doing. Love of a stranger is a different relationship, a different type of love. Non the less, forgiveness is still possible,imo, as long as we can overcome our human weaknesses, which can prevent us from doing God's will in this world.

 

[let’s roll]

Step one.  Is there anyone I can justifiably consider to be my enemy?

Edited September 21, 2025 by let’s roll

[bluebell]

12 minutes ago, let’s roll said:

Step one.  Is there anyone I can justifiably consider to be my enemy?

Good question! How would you answer it?

[MustardSeed]

I think so, but it’s a tall order to love all of them immediately. 
I can get there and have often. 

[let’s roll]

22 minutes ago, bluebell said:

Good question! How would you answer it?

There is no mortal in my life I consider an enemy.

[MustardSeed]

2 minutes ago, let’s roll said:

There is no mortal in my life I consider an enemy.

Anyone hard to love in your life? 

[Rain]

I've always been uncomfortable with the idea of loving your enemies and then the bible comes in talking about how and when enemies will be destroyed.  And then people come in a step further and gloat about it. In a gospel point of view I had to see my enemy as instead a casualty. If we are all God's children, I can't see how we can be enemies if we are to be like him.  So I think we can love our enemies, but we may have to remember who they are first and that may be incredibly difficult or maybe even possible without Godly help.

Edited September 21, 2025 by Rain

[Pyreaux]

3 hours ago, let’s roll said:

Step one.  Is there anyone I can justifiably consider to be my enemy?

Would a Neo-Nazi, a KJB agent, a Hezabollah terrorist, a Chinese spy, or an Ex-Mormon arsonist, not your "enemy"? If not, they are certainly those who may consider you to be their enemy, therefore perhaps, they are your enemy even without your say in the matter. If they were in trouble, perhaps it's even their own comeuppance, would you help them? If neighborly-love is defined as helping them with your time and resources without them even asking, via the Good Samaritan.

Edited September 21, 2025 by Pyreaux

[manol]

4 hours ago, bluebell said:

Is it possible to love our enemies?

It might not be as long as we are perceiving them to be our enemies. 

I think we'd have to see the world through a very different lens, or from a very different mindset or level of consciousness, which does not even perceive "enemies”.  I think that is possible. 

Imo this higher level of consciousness doesn't have an effect only the one issue, “love your enemies”. I think it affects pretty much every issue that really matters.

 

4 hours ago, bluebell said:

How do we do it?

This will all just be my opinion.

Imo we can reach that different, higher level of consciousness through sustained deliberate choice and intention, such that we “align” ourselves to a level which already exists and is always present, but which we ignore.

Here is an imperfect analogy: Imagine you are sitting in front of a computer which is connected to the internet of everything. Only it is your level of consciousness interacting directly with the internet of everything, rather than your fingertips interacting with a keyboard, which determines what web pages are open in your browser. If our level of consciousness is tuned to “those people deserve condemnation”, then those are the web pages we perceive. If our level of consciousness is tuned to “I see Christ in everyone”, then those are the web pages we perceive.

Now unfortunately we cannot just flip a switch and instantly transform our level of consciousness (or at least I can't, not yet anyway). But we do have the ability to shift our level of consciousness by deliberately choosing our thoughts; however, it takes time for a new pattern of thinking to imprint on and shift our consciousness. We can deliberately practice thinking higher thoughts. We can notice our everyday thoughts, and if needed re-direct them rather than passively allowing them to take the path of least resistance. We can choose the higher thoughts we have practiced whenever we observe our unattended thoughts drifting into negative territory. This can require a great deal of effort at first, but over time it becomes easier. And as we do this, our level of consciousness shifts, at least temporarily. But after it has happened one time, we know it's possible.  And over time and with sustained (to the best of our ability in the moment) effort, I think our “default setting” level of consciousness can be shifted. 

Imo we have the calling and the privilege of loving everyone, of blessing everyone, of seeing God's hand in all things, of forgiving everyone of everything, and more. Imo all of this stuff is about a level or state of consciousness wherein we are participatory with and in Christ, and vice-versa.  Christ is the vine, we are the branches.

This is all just scratching the surface, and I'm a very imperfect scratcher.

 

Edited September 21, 2025 by manol

[The Nehor]

2 hours ago, let’s roll said:

Step one.  Is there anyone I can justifiably consider to be my enemy?

Yes. Quite a few of them.

“You have enemies? Why, it is the story of every man who has done a great deed or created a new idea. It is the cloud which thunders around everything that shines. Fame must have enemies, as light must have gnats. Do no bother yourself about it; disdain. Keep your mind serene as you keep your life clear.”

“You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.”

-Victor Hugo

[Calm]

If I am understanding correctly, the way enemy is used in the New Testament is more about how they feel about you and less about how you see them.  Though of course in many ways these days whether or not someone is hostile to us depends on our own perception, as in someone who is reacting to us out of fear and not irreconcilable hatred.  Or even someone who is self centered, greedy who is harming us with their actions, but it is unintentional even if uncaring…though I am not certain on this one for the more extreme cases.  Someone who wants to enslave others no matter what surely is hostile to them even if not done out of hate, but greed.

If so, changing how we feel about them won’t stop them being our enemies.  Which makes that commandment more difficult.

https://biblehub.com/greek/2190.htm

Edited September 21, 2025 by Calm

[bluebell]

31 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

Yes. Quite a few of them.

“You have enemies? Why, it is the story of every man who has done a great deed or created a new idea. It is the cloud which thunders around everything that shines. Fame must have enemies, as light must have gnats. Do no bother yourself about it; disdain. Keep your mind serene as you keep your life clear.”

“You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.”

-Victor Hugo

Hugo is talking about those who see us as their enemy.  What of the people who we see as our enemies?  The people who have stood up for something, sometime in their life, that we don't agree with?

[Calm]

1 hour ago, bluebell said:

Hugo is talking about those who see us as their enemy.  What of the people who we see as our enemies?  The people who have stood up for something, sometime in their life, that we don't agree with?

But that may be the point of the scripture…how do we respond to those whose hearts we can’t soften.  Do we still have the moral right to hate them or is Christ requiring us to love even them no matter what they want to do to us?

Not saying the alternative reading of us needing to love who we hate isn’t a valuable discussion as well and perhaps the intent of Jesus’ instruction was to address both.

Edited September 21, 2025 by Calm

[let’s roll]

2 hours ago, MustardSeed said:

Anyone hard to love in your life? 

 

1 hour ago, manol said:

It might not be as long as we are perceiving them to be our enemies. 

I think we'd have to see the world through a very different lens, or from a very different mindset or level of consciousness, which does not even perceive "enemies”.  I think that is possible. 

Imo this higher level of consciousness doesn't have an effect only the one issue, “love your enemies”. I think it affects pretty much every issue that really matters.

 

This will all just be my opinion.

Imo we can reach that different, higher level of consciousness through sustained deliberate choice and intention, such that we “align” ourselves to a level which already exists and is always present, but which we ignore.

Here is an imperfect analogy: Imagine you are sitting in front of a computer which is connected to the internet of everything. Only it is your level of consciousness interacting directly with the internet of everything, rather than your fingertips interacting with a keyboard, which determines what web pages are open in your browser. If our level of consciousness is tuned to “those people deserve condemnation”, then those are the web pages we perceive. If our level of consciousness is tuned to “I see Christ in everyone”, then those are the web pages we perceive.

Now unfortunately we cannot just flip a switch and instantly transform our level of consciousness (or at least I can't, not yet anyway). But we do have the ability to shift our level of consciousness by deliberately choosing our thoughts; however, it takes time for a new pattern of thinking to imprint on and shift our consciousness. We can deliberately practice thinking higher thoughts. We can notice our everyday thoughts, and if needed re-direct them rather than passively allowing them to take the path of least resistance. We can choose the higher thoughts we have practiced whenever we observe our unattended thoughts drifting into negative territory. This can require a great deal of effort at first, but over time it becomes easier. And as we do this, our level of consciousness shifts, at least temporarily. But after it has happened one time, we know it's possible.  And over time and with sustained (to the best of our ability in the moment) effort, I think our “default setting” level of consciousness can be shifted. 

Imo we have the calling and the privilege of loving everyone, of blessing everyone, of seeing God's hand in all things, of forgiving everyone of everything, and more. Imo all of this stuff is about a level or state of consciousness wherein we are participatory with and in Christ, and vice-versa.  Christ is the vine, we are the branches.

This is all just scratching the surface, and I'm a very imperfect scratcher.

 

Lots of wisdom here.  We are accustomed to referring to every person as a son or daughter of God and our brothers and sisters. That spiritual kinship when taken to heart can engender love.  But we know more about our brothers and sisters than their divine origins.  We know that each of them, like us, loved God, heard and accepted His plan for us, and was excited about the opportunities for growth afforded by mortal life.  That knowledge of a bond of love of God and a common purpose to grow closer to Him via our mortal sojourn can engender thoughts of brother and sisterhood much deeper and intentional than our common parentage.
 

So regardless of how buried that love and excitement might currently be in a son or daughter of God, KGB agent, Chinese spy or otherwise, if I consider them first through the prism of their divine heritage and love of God, I can’t see them as my enemy.  That said, one need not agree with or condone behavior that is reprehensible…I can strive to love you without agreeing with what you do.  

[CV75]

7 hours ago, bluebell said:

Jesus commands all of His followers in Matthew 5: 43-44:

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"

I've been thinking about how we as Christians (those of us who are) so often completely ignore this commandment.  And not just ignore it but self-righteously ignore it, in that we ignore it while feeling really good about our righteousness and morality.

We often don't act like we believe that Christ expects us to love our enemies at all.  We act like we believe He's most happy with us when we hate our enemies, call them names, wish them harm, accuse them of wickedness, etc.

Why do we act like this commandment doesn't matter to Christ and that we can break it with impunity?

Is it possible to love our enemies?

How do we do it?

Replying to your three questions:

We sometimes choose to disobey and ignore the consequences.

Yes, it is possible to love our enemies: "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."

Conversion to God and sustained religious practice in good faith.

[CV75]

47 minutes ago, let’s roll said:

 

Lots of wisdom here.  We are accustomed to referring to every person as a son or daughter of God and our brothers and sisters. That spiritual kinship when taken to heart can engender love.  But we know more about our brothers and sisters than their divine origins.  We know that each of them, like us, loved God, heard and accepted His plan for us, and was excited about the opportunities for growth afforded by mortal life.  That knowledge of a bond of love of God and a common purpose to grow closer to Him via our mortal sojourn can engender thoughts of brother and sisterhood much deeper and intentional than our common parentage.
 

So regardless of how buried that love and excitement might currently be in a son or daughter of God, KGB agent, Chinese spy or otherwise, if I consider them first through the prism of their divine heritage and love of God, I can’t see them as my enemy.  That said, one need not agree with or condone behavior that is reprehensible…I can strive to love you without agreeing with what you do.  

This is the attitude of many of the Book or Mormon missionaries, particularly the sons of Mosiah and Samuel the Lamanite.

[bluebell]

2 hours ago, Calm said:

But that may be the point of the scripture…how do we respond to those whose hearts we can’t soften.  Do we still have the moral right to hate them or is Christ requiring us to love even them no matter what they want to do to us?

Not saying the alternative reading of us needing to love who we hate isn’t a valuable discussion as well and perhaps the intent of Jesus’ instruction was to address both.

I do think the scripture is speaking about both groups and I don't think we have a moral right to hate anyone.  Not with the second commandment being the second commandment.   But I can't imagine trying to love someone who hurt you or someone you loved.  I think that would only be possible through Christ.

I asked Nehor about needing to love who we hate because Hugo's quote seemed to leave them out of the equation.  It implied that being hated is a sign of morality in an of itself.  So I wondered about the people we hate that quote didn't address.

(hate is a strong word and I think most people would say that they don't hate anyone.  But, in terms of our online communications, I think our words sometimes betray us and our true feelings about people with ideologies we don't agree with.  If anyone shies away from the term hate, I think it could be replaced with any other word that conveys the idea of judging someone in anger as being morally inferior to yourself because they believing differently)

[bluebell]

4 hours ago, Calm said:

If I am understanding correctly, the way enemy is used in the New Testament is more about how they feel about you and less about how you see them.  Though of course in many ways these days whether or not someone is hostile to us depends on our own perception, as in someone who is reacting to us out of fear and not irreconcilable hatred.  Or even someone who is self centered, greedy who is harming us with their actions, but it is unintentional even if uncaring…though I am not certain on this one for the more extreme cases.  Someone who wants to enslave others no matter what surely is hostile to them even if not done out of hate, but greed.

If so, changing how we feel about them won’t stop them being our enemies.  Which makes that commandment more difficult.

https://biblehub.com/greek/2190.htm

Given Christ was speaking to the Jews, I think a good option would be to ask, who would His audience have considered their enemies?  I think it would be the Romans, and the Jews definitely seemed to hate the Romans.

And maybe the Samaritans?  They clearly felt disdain for them, seeing them as inferior, but I'm not sure if they also hated them?

[The Nehor]

11 hours ago, bluebell said:

Hugo is talking about those who see us as their enemy.  What of the people who we see as our enemies?  The people who have stood up for something, sometime in their life, that we don't agree with?

Change their minds.

Unless they are fascists. If fashy, it is punching time!!!!!

[Stargazer]

16 hours ago, The Nehor said:

Yes. Quite a few of them.

“You have enemies? Why, it is the story of every man who has done a great deed or created a new idea. It is the cloud which thunders around everything that shines. Fame must have enemies, as light must have gnats. Do no bother yourself about it; disdain. Keep your mind serene as you keep your life clear.”

“You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.”

-Victor Hugo

There's a bit of difference between those whom you regard as your enemy, and those who regard you as their enemy. It's possible to have some of the latter, but none of the former. I feel that in Christ's admonition to love your enemy, the enemy he means for you to love is the latter sort, while you yourself shouldn't have any of the former. In other words, love all of God's children, even those who consider you their enemy.

 

[teddyaware]

On 9/21/2025 at 11:07 AM, bluebell said:

Jesus commands all of His followers in Matthew 5: 43-44:

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"

I've been thinking about how we as Christians (those of us who are) so often completely ignore this commandment.  And not just ignore it but self-righteously ignore it, in that we ignore it while feeling really good about our righteousness and morality.

We often don't act like we believe that Christ expects us to love our enemies at all.  We act like we believe He's most happy with us when we hate our enemies, call them names, wish them harm, accuse them of wickedness, etc.

Why do we act like this commandment doesn't matter to Christ and that we can break it with impunity?

Is it possible to love our enemies?

How do we do it?

Apart from Christ’s infinite and eternal atoning sacrifice, which is the greatest example of how it’s possible to truly love even one’s bitterest enemies, Moses 7 provides what I believe is the next greatest example of how it’s possible to love one’s enemies in a salutary manner that can even set the stage for eventual reconciliation, healing and the salvation of those who were once the most implacable enemies of God. What we learn in this most amazing and wonderful chapter of scripture is that the spiritual gift that enables the followers of Christ to truly love their enemies is the ability to see beyond the angry, insulting and aggressive exteriors of the enemies of Christ by means of a gift that empowers them to clearly see that the enemies of truth and righteousness are, in reality, inwardly miserable, existing in their own private hell of spiritual and emotional alienation.

For those who possess the greatest capacity for spiritual insight into the actual condition of the hearts and minds of those who say that they don’t want to be saved, there is not only a refusal to hate the enemies of God, but they’re filled with such overwhelming sympathy and compassion for these tortured souls that the greatest desire of their hearts is to provide them with a an escape route that enables them to find eventual peace, safety and redemption through Jesus Christ, and the gospel of his all embracing and undying love.

Among the following most enlightening verses, please take especial note of verse 41 wherein the man Enoch is gifted with the same insight into the condition of the human heart that God himself possesses, after which Enoch is enabled to understand and love his earthly enemies who remained on the earth with the same intense emotional pain and redeeming love experienced by God and the holy hosts of heaven.

28 And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept; and Enoch bore record of it, saying: How is it that the heavens weep, and shed forth their tears as the rain upon the mountains?

29 And Enoch said unto the Lord: How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?

30 And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creation; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom is there; and also thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever;

31 And thou hast taken Zion to thine own bosom, from all thy creations, from all eternity to all eternity; and naught but peace, justice, and truth is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face and have no end; how is it thou canst weep?

32 The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency;

33 And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood;

34 And the fire of mine indignation is kindled against them; and in my hot displeasure will I send in the floods upon them, for my fierce anger is kindled against them.

35 Behold, I am God; Man of Holiness is my name; Man of Counsel is my name; and Endless and Eternal is my name also.

36 Wherefore, I can stretch forth mine hands and hold all the creations which I have made; and mine eye can pierce them also, and among all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren.

37 But behold, their sins shall be upon the heads of their fathers; Satan shall be their father, and misery shall be their doom; and the whole heavens shall weep over them, even all the workmanship of mine hands; WHEREFORE SHOULD NOT THE HEAVENS WEEP, SEEING THESE SHALL SUFFER?

38 But behold, these which thine eyes are upon shall perish in the floods; and behold, I will shut them up; a prison have I prepared for them.

39 And that (Christ) which I have chosen hath pled before my face. Wherefore, he suffereth for their sins; inasmuch as they will repent in the day that my Chosen shall return unto me, and until that day they shall be in torment;

40 Wherefore, for this shall the heavens weep, yea, AND ALL THE WORKMANSHIP OF MINE HANDS (meaning all of us should weep for those without Christ).

41 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Enoch, and told Enoch all the doings of the children of men; wherefore Enoch knew, and looked upon their wickedness, and their misery, and wept and stretched forth his arms, and his heart swelled as wide as eternity; and his bowels yearned; and all eternity shook. (Moses 7)

Edited September 22, 2025 by teddyaware

[bluebell]

9 hours ago, The Nehor said:

Change their minds.

Unless they are fascists. If fashy, it is punching time!!!!!

I'm going to take the punching part of your reply with a grain of salt, because I don't believe you've ever punched a "facist" and I don't believe you would under most normal circumstances.  The circumstances where you would punch one, I would guess to be similar to the circumstances where anyone would punch another person--extenuating.

But in terms of the rest of your post, I wonder, are we open to changing our minds as well though?  That's what I'm contemplating right now.  Is it really loving someone if I require all compromise or change be done on their end?

 

[manol]

21 hours ago, let’s roll said:

.. one need not agree with or condone behavior that is reprehensible…I can strive to love you without agreeing with what you do.  

Yes.

I think there is a distinct difference between love as a state of consciousness, and love as an emotion. 

Imo it is love as a state of consciousness that we are to experience and embody.  Imo love as a state of consciousness is what Christ is referring to in the scripture @bluebell quoted and elsewhere.  And imo love as a state of consciousness excludes no one.

 

1 hour ago, bluebell said:

But in terms of the rest of your post, I wonder, are we open to changing our minds as well though?  That's what I'm contemplating right now.  Is it really loving someone if I require all compromise or change be done on their end?

Agreed. 

Imo, we simply do not know what lesson(s) or mission(s) a person signed up for.  I would not be the least bit surprised to find out that @The Nehor is ace-ing his lesson(s) and fulfilling his mission(s) far, far better than I am mine. 

Edited September 22, 2025 by manol

[marineland]

1 hour ago, teddyaware said:

Apart from Christ’s infinite and eternal atoning sacrifice, which is the greatest example of how it’s possible to truly love even one’s bitterest enemies, Moses 7 provides what I believe is the next greatest example of how it’s possible to love one’s enemies in a salutary manner that can even set the stage for eventual reconciliation, healing and the salvation of those who were once the most implacable enemies of God.

 

37 But behold, their sins shall be upon the heads of their fathers; Satan shall be their father, and misery shall be their doom; and the whole heavens shall weep over them, even all the workmanship of mine hands; WHEREFORE SHOULD NOT THE HEAVENS WEEP, SEEING THESE SHALL SUFFER?

 

Are you weeping over Satan and the fallen angels?

Edited September 22, 2025 by marineland