Luke 6:28 – “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
Extended Explanation of the Verse
This verse builds on Jesus’ teaching in the previous verse about loving our enemies. Here, Jesus takes it a step further by commanding His followers to bless those who curse them and pray for those who mistreat them. To “bless” someone means to speak well of them or wish for their good. When someone curses you, the natural human response is to curse them back or wish harm upon them. But Jesus flips this expectation and instructs His followers to respond with kindness and blessing instead.
Praying for those who mistreat you means bringing them before God, not to ask for their punishment, but to ask for their well-being, repentance, and transformation. This type of prayer changes not only the person you are praying for but also your own heart. It allows bitterness and anger to be replaced with compassion and forgiveness. Jesus is teaching that the power of prayer can help overcome hate with love and can soften even the hardest of hearts.
Historical Context
In first-century Jewish culture, curses were seen as serious and powerful. A curse wasn’t just a casual insult—it was a pronouncement of harm or misfortune. People who were cursed or mistreated often sought revenge or justice through retaliation. The Jewish law included the principle of “an eye for an eye” (Exodus 21:24), which allowed for measured retaliation. However, religious leaders often misapplied this law, using it to justify personal vengeance.
Jesus challenges this mindset by teaching that His followers should not seek revenge but instead respond with blessings and prayer. His teaching was radical because it required a heart transformation. Instead of seeking retribution, His followers were called to respond with grace, reflecting God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Theological Implications
This verse reveals that true love for others, even enemies, comes from a heart transformed by God’s grace. The natural human response to mistreatment is to retaliate, but God’s love calls for a different response—one that mirrors His own forgiveness and patience toward sinners. Jesus’ command to bless and pray for enemies reflects the kind of love that is central to the Christian life: a love that doesn’t depend on how others treat you but on God’s work in your heart.
Praying for those who mistreat you also shows faith in God’s justice. By praying for them instead of seeking revenge, believers trust that God will handle the situation in His perfect way. This command teaches that prayer is a powerful tool in reconciling broken relationships and softening hearts, both in the person being prayed for and in the one doing the praying.
Theologically, this verse also emphasizes the role of grace. Just as believers have received God’s undeserved grace, they are called to extend that same grace to others, including their enemies.
Literary Analysis
This verse uses parallelism, with the phrases “bless those who curse you” and “pray for those who mistreat you” reflecting similar ideas. The repetition underscores the importance of responding to mistreatment with positive action instead of retaliation. The verbs “bless” and “pray” highlight that love is not passive—it requires intentional action. Jesus is not calling for passive tolerance of mistreatment but an active response of kindness and intercession.
The contrast between cursing and blessing, mistreatment and prayer, is central to the verse’s message. Jesus is teaching that love and forgiveness have the power to break the cycle of hate. The structure of the verse emphasizes that blessings and prayers should be the default response to opposition.
Biblical Cross-References
- Matthew 5:44 – “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
- Romans 12:14 – “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
- 1 Peter 3:9 – “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing.”
- Luke 23:34 – Jesus prays for those who crucified Him, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
- Acts 7:59-60 – Stephen prays for his persecutors as he is being stoned, asking God to forgive them.
What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian
For Christians today, this verse is a reminder that following Jesus means living differently from the world. The world often encourages retaliation and self-defense, but Jesus calls His followers to respond with love, even in the face of mistreatment. Blessing those who curse you may involve speaking kindly about them, refusing to spread gossip, or offering a helping hand when they are in need. Praying for them may involve asking God to work in their hearts, soften their attitudes, and draw them closer to Him.
This verse also challenges believers to reflect on their own hearts. It’s easy to harbor bitterness and resentment when someone has wronged you, but Jesus’ command to pray for those who mistreat you can help release those negative emotions. Prayer shifts the focus from seeking personal justice to seeking God’s will and trusting Him to bring about reconciliation.
Additionally, this verse reminds Christians that their behavior should reflect God’s character. By blessing and praying for enemies, they demonstrate the love of Christ to the world and may even lead others to repentance.
How This Verse Relates to a Loving God
God’s love is central to this verse. God doesn’t wait for people to “deserve” His love—He offers it freely, even to those who rebel against Him. Romans 5:8 reminds us that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Just as God showed love and mercy to sinners, He calls His followers to do the same.
This verse also shows that God desires reconciliation, not just punishment. By commanding His followers to pray for their enemies, God demonstrates His desire for all people to turn to Him and experience His grace. His love is patient and forgiving, and He calls His people to extend that same love to others.
How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ
Jesus perfectly lived out the command to bless those who cursed Him and pray for those who mistreated Him. Throughout His ministry, He was insulted, rejected, and ultimately crucified, yet He never responded with hatred or vengeance. Instead, He prayed for His enemies, asking God to forgive them (Luke 23:34). His response to mistreatment reflects the depth of His love and His commitment to fulfilling God’s plan of salvation.
Through His death and resurrection, Jesus made it possible for believers to live out this command. By giving them the Holy Spirit, He empowers them to respond to hatred with love and to pray for their enemies. Jesus’ example reminds believers that loving their enemies is not optional—it’s a reflection of their relationship with Him.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
- Is there someone in your life who has mistreated or cursed you? How can you begin to bless them or pray for them today?
- Why is it difficult to respond to mistreatment with kindness and prayer instead of retaliation?
- How has prayer helped you let go of bitterness or anger toward someone who wronged you in the past?
- What does Jesus’ example of praying for His enemies on the cross teach you about the power of forgiveness and grace?
- How can you rely on God’s strength and the Holy Spirit to help you love and pray for those who oppose you?