Love Your Enemies

27 “But I say to you who hear, ^sLove your enemies, ^tdo good to those who hate you, 28 ^ubless those who curse you, ^spray for those who abuse you. 29 ^vTo one who ^wstrikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic¹ either. 30 ^xGive to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And ^yas you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

32 ^z“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And ^aif you ^blend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But ^clove your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and ^dyou will be sons of ^ethe Most High, for ^fhe is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 ^gBe merciful, even as ^hyour Father is merciful.