thinking bible.

You asked

what does the bible say about loving people you disagree with?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Matthew 5:43-47

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, 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, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

This passage is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, where he is offering radical teachings about righteousness, contrasting his message with some common interpretations of the Jewish law. He's speaking to his disciples and a larger crowd, outlining a revolutionary ethic for living in God's kingdom.

What specific actions might 'loving your enemies' involve when dealing with deep disagreements in your own life?

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

  • Romans 12:17-21

    This passage echoes Jesus' teaching by instructing believers not to repay evil for evil, but to overcome evil with good, even feeding hungry enemies.

  • Luke 6:27-36

    Luke's account of Jesus' teaching on loving enemies includes specific commands to 'do good to those who hate you' and 'lend, expecting nothing in return'.

  • 1 John 4:7-8

    This verse states that 'God is love,' implying that love is foundational to understanding God and is a characteristic expected of those who know him.

Ask your own follow-up