Element No. 4: PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU (verse 45)

The Son of Man did not quarrel with His offenders. He prayed for them instead: 

³⁴ Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. LUKE 23

His advice to us?

²⁷ I tell you who hear Me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless them who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. LUKE 6 

⁹ Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing… that you may inherit a blessing. 1 PETER 3

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. ROMANS 12

³⁹ Do not stand up against someone who does you wrong. MATTHEW 5 cjb

Consider how He did it.   

⁶ The Messiah died for the ungodly… ⁸ God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, the Messiah died for us… ¹⁰ When we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son. ROMANS 5 

³ We were by [our sinful] nature objects of [God’s] wrath. ⁴ But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with the Messiah even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. EPHESIANS 2

Only when we imitate God’s example can we be held sons of God. 

³⁴ A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another. JOHN 13

The human lackeys of Lucifer will disturb our peace; violate our rights; mock, taunt and reject our love-initiatives; persecute us at the slightest pretext. Curse, punish or hate them and their way of life is reinforced. Selfishness, deception, treachery, backstabbing, betrayal, injustice, confusion, violence, murder and destruction—this is their way of life. Quarrel with them and we add to the disorientation, confusion and division in the neighborhood. The need to put up a united front against wickedness is deferred, even frustrated. We violate God’s instructions and displease Him. We become easy prey for the predator. We might end up maiming, disabling and killing one another, lessening the number of Lucifer’s enemies.

Scripture says do not douse fire with fire. If we treat our offenders differently—forgive them, bless them, soak them in Divine Love, extend grace and compassion to them—they would get to experience something new and wonderful; a great lack in them would be filled. Pray for them and the demons that influence their wicked behavior will flee.    

³⁸ You have heard that our fathers were told, Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. ³⁹ But I tell you not to stand up against someone who does you wrong. On the contrary, if someone hits you on the right cheek, let him hit you on the left cheek too! ⁴⁰ If someone wants to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well! ⁴¹ And if [an enemy] soldier forces you to carry his pack for one mile, carry it for two! MATTHEW 5 cjb

²⁹ If someone takes your coat, let him have your shirt as well. ³⁰ …If someone takes what belongs to you, don’t demand it back. LUKE 6 cjb

³⁵ Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. ³⁶ Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. LUKE 6

¹⁴ Bless and do not curse… ¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge. ROMANS 12

Y’shua said, “Are earthen pots washed with stones and iron hammers? Certainly not! The vessels would break into pieces. Just as righteousness results in a better world, so men are changed with compassion. Correct your brother with compassion and God’s compassion will abide with you; your words to him will bear good fruit. Correct your brother harshly and Divine Justice will deal with you harshly; your words to him will bear bad fruit.” (Gospel of Barnabas)

LOVE softens even the most calloused heart. It erodes hides of wickedness, uncovers and releases the godly nature in us.

¹² Be patient in affliction. ROMANS 12

³⁵ The Most High is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. LUKE 6

Our offenders might not reciprocate our righteousness or thank us for it, but don’t mind it, God will definitely repay us.      

¹⁴ Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; [for] without holiness no one will see the Lord. HEBREWS 12

⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God. MATTHEW 5

⁷ Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 1 CORINTHIANS 6

⁵⁰ Have salt within yourselves, and be at peace and live in harmony with one another. MARK 9 amp 

¹⁴ Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. PROVERBS 17

¹¹ It is to [a man’s] glory to overlook an offense. PROVERBS 19

³ It is to his honor to avoid strife. PROVERBS 20

¹⁵ If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. GALATIANS 5

¹⁶ Sensible people always think before they act, but stupid people advertise their ignorance. PROVERBS 13 tev

⁴ If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to take it back to him. ⁵ If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help him with it. EXODUS 23

²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. PROVERBS 25

¹⁷ Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, ¹⁸ or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn His wrath away from him. PROVERBS 24

Love Your Enemies Made Less Difficult

The offender is not easy to love, we agree, especially when our blood boils and we are programmed to retaliate when offended. Especially when we are yet hurting because of the wrongdoing or aggravation done to us. Especially when the offences have piled up way beyond our tolerance level. Especially when there is bad blood between us and the offender. Especially when our dispute has become the talk of the town and pride—personal, family, corporate pride—has set in.

Can Love your enemies be made less difficult to observe? The answer is Yes.

Keep in Mind Who Authored the Offence

⁹ Do not be quickly provoked in your soul. ECCLESIASTES 7

⁴ All through our lives we meet anger, jealousy, and trouble. Things disturb us; we live with furious conflicts and with the fear of death. ⁸ Here is what all creatures… must face (but it is seven times worse for sinners): ⁹ death, violence, conflict, murder, disaster, famine, sickness, epidemic. ¹⁰ All these things were created because of the wicked; they are the ones who have caused destruction. SIRACH 40