Luke 6:28 kjv
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Luke 6:28 nkjv
bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
Luke 6:28 niv
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Luke 6:28 esv
bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
Luke 6:28 nlt
Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.
Luke 6 28 Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference |
---|---|---|
Mt 5:44 | But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you... | Direct parallel command by Jesus |
Rom 12:14 | Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. | Apostle Paul reiterates the command to bless |
1 Pet 3:9 | Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless... | Emphasizes active blessing instead of retaliation |
1 Cor 4:12 | when reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. | Apostolic practice of enduring and blessing |
Lk 6:27 | But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you... | Precedes Lk 6:28, establishing the broader context |
Lk 6:35 | But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return... | Reiteration of the radical command in Luke's account |
Ps 109:28 | Let them curse, but you bless! | David's prayer contrasting cursing with God's blessing |
Isa 41:10 | fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God... | God's presence strengthens against mistreatment |
Prov 25:21-22 | If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water... | OT wisdom promoting active good towards enemies |
Jn 13:34 | A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you... | Foundation for Christian love, including enemies |
2 Cor 12:10 | For the sake of Christ, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions... | Embracing difficulty for Christ's sake, leads to strength |
Rom 12:17 | Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable... | Principle of non-retaliation |
Eph 4:31-32 | Let all bitterness and wrath and anger...be put away from you, with all malice... | Calls believers to remove negative reactions |
Col 3:13 | Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other... | Context of forgiving those who wrong us |
Acts 7:60 | And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." | Stephen's prayer for persecutors, mirroring Jesus |
Rom 5:8 | But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. | God's prior love for undeserving enemies |
Mt 5:10 | "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake..." | Promise of blessing for those suffering for Christ |
Jas 3:10 | From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. | Emphasizes consistency of speech for believers |
Prov 20:22 | Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you. | Calls for reliance on God's justice, not self-retaliation |
Lk 23:34 | And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." | Jesus' own example of praying for His persecutors |
Luke 6 verses
Luke 6 28 Meaning
Luke 6:28 commands believers to respond with active love and benevolent action towards those who exhibit ill will or malicious conduct. Specifically, it instructs disciples to pronounce blessings upon those who verbally abuse them, and to intercede in prayer to God on behalf of those who treat them wrongly, whether through exploitation, slander, or physical harm. This teaching stands in stark contrast to human instinct and the natural inclination to retaliate or reciprocate harm, establishing a radical ethic rooted in the character of God.
Luke 6 28 Context
Luke 6:28 is a core part of Jesus' "Sermon on the Plain," addressed to His disciples and a large crowd. This teaching builds directly on Jesus' radical command in Luke 6:27, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you," providing specific, tangible ways to live out that love. It forms a stark contrast to the natural human inclination to seek retribution or to love only those who love you. In the immediate context (Lk 6:29-30), Jesus continues to provide counter-cultural examples of non-retaliation and extreme generosity ("turn the other cheek," "give to everyone who begs from you"). This section culminates in Luke 6:35-36, which encourages disciples to be "merciful, even as your Father is merciful," implying that this difficult command reflects the very character of God. Historically, during Jesus' time, the Jewish people were under Roman occupation, and there was a strong sense of nationalistic resentment. Within Jewish society, interpretations of "love your neighbor" sometimes excluded "enemies." Jesus' teaching therefore polemically challenged any self-serving or nationalistic interpretation of the law, urging universal love that extended even to personal or political adversaries, modeling God's inclusive grace.
Luke 6 28 Word analysis
- Bless (Greek: eulogeō, εὐλογέω): To speak well of; to pronounce a good word over someone. In contrast to kataráo, this implies an active utterance of good wishes, prayers for favor, or benevolent intentions, rather than merely refraining from negative speech. It's a proactive act of goodwill, rooted in the idea of conveying God's favor. The significance is that it transforms a moment of potential retaliation into an opportunity to act according to God's nature.
- those who curse you (Greek: tous katarōmenous hymas, τοὺς καταρωμένους ὑμᾶς): "Curse" (katarάomai, καταράομαι) means to call down evil upon, to invoke harm or divine displeasure, or to verbally abuse and revile. The plural indicates it's about persistent or multiple people who engage in this negative verbal action. The command implies direct personal attack, verbal abuse, or ill-wishing.
- pray for (Greek: proseuchomai, προσεύχομαι): To actively petition God on behalf of another. This is an intentional and earnest act of intercession, not mere wishing. It implies dependence on God for transformation or resolution, recognizing that true change comes from divine intervention. It goes beyond internal goodwill to active communication with God.
- those who mistreat you (Greek: tous epēreazontos hymas, τοὺς ἐπηρεαζόντων ὑμᾶς): "Mistreat" (epēreazō, ἐπηρεάζω) means to treat maliciously, to persecute, insult, defame, slander, or to act with spiteful injustice. This is a broader term than simply "cursing," encompassing actions and deeds motivated by hostility and ill intent, whether verbal abuse, physical harm, or exploitation.
- Words-group analysis:
- "Bless those who curse you": This juxtaposes the outward expression of good against verbal evil. It demands a spiritual and emotional shift from immediate defensive or offensive retaliation to an intentional act of blessing, counteracting the curse with God's goodness. This involves controlling one's tongue and inner disposition.
- "Pray for those who mistreat you": This goes beyond passive non-retaliation. It is an active engagement of one's will and spirit, entrusting the situation and the perpetrator to God's hands. Prayer is a potent weapon, transforming the believer's heart and potentially impacting the one mistreating. It highlights that overcoming evil requires divine aid.
Luke 6 28 Bonus section
The command in Luke 6:28, while seemingly simple, demands a complete transformation of the human heart, made possible only by the Holy Spirit. It's a hallmark of true discipleship, differentiating those who live by worldly principles from those who embody the kingdom of God. This teaching also serves as a strong evangelistic tool; an enemy truly "blessed" or "prayed for" might witness an authentic and undeniable expression of God's love through the believer, leading to curiosity about the source of such extraordinary conduct. Furthermore, this posture frees the believer from the destructive bitterness and resentment that retaliatory thinking often cultivates. It prioritizes spiritual growth and obedience over immediate emotional gratification, allowing God's peace to prevail even amidst persecution.
Luke 6 28 Commentary
Luke 6:28 embodies the radical and revolutionary ethics of Jesus, urging believers to imitate God's impartial love. Instead of yielding to the natural human desire for retribution or responding with an "eye for an eye," Christ calls His followers to break the cycle of negativity through intentional acts of grace. "Blessing" someone who curses is a counter-intuitive act, disarming hatred with love and transforming the atmosphere. "Praying" for those who mistreat you signifies a profound trust in God's ultimate justice and transformative power. It shifts the burden from personal vengeance to divine intercession, acknowledging that true reconciliation or just recompense belongs to God alone. This command is not about condoning evil but about responding to it in a way that reflects Christ's character, potentially leading the oppressor to repentance, and always cultivating a heart free from bitterness in the one who obeys. It's a practical demonstration of Christian love in the face of animosity. For practical usage: instead of muttering a sharp retort when criticized, one might quietly say, "Lord, bless them and soften their heart." Or, when unfairly treated, instead of plotting revenge, genuinely pray for God's mercy and understanding for the individual.