Love Thine Enemies?

To clearly understand what this means, we must look at the word for "love" that Jesus uses... Agape. 

Agape - the Greek word used for "love" in reference to love thy neighbor, and love thine enemy.

-to love, value, esteem, feel or manifest generous concern for, be faithful towards; to delight in, to set store upon.

What exactly does this mean, and how do we execute this "love" in our daily lives as Christians?

Jesus tells us in many references to "love" our neighbors as ourselves (whom could be anyone, of any faith),  and to love our enemies :

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.   This is the first and great commandment.   And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.   On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Matthew 22:37‭-‬40

This, meaning we can shut the books of the law and walk in Love alone.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;   That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.   For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?   And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Matthew 5:43‭-‬47

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,   Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.   And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.   Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.   And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.   For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.   And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.   And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.   But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.   Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.   Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Luke 6:27‭-‬37

In contrast to this, Jesus also tells us some other things regarding our "love" (or actions) towards our foes, enemies, and even our families:

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.   Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.   Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.   For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.   And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.   He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.   And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.   He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Matthew 10:14-16, 34‭-‬39

He also seemingly contradicts himself to his disciples :

And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.  Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.   For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.  And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
Luke 22:35‭-‬38 KJV

Why is this? Why did he command his disciples to carry swords if not to use them? It was a direct commandment to acquire swords for what? To not use them? Because they are cool to collect?

If he were to say this to us today, would he referencea gun instead?

Why then did he say later when he was being taken to be crucified:

Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.   Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?   But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
Matthew 26:52‭-‬54

Jesus knew it was God's will for him to fulfill the law by being crucified, and it was the time. The key here being  "a time for every purpose under Heaven" .

King Solomon, Jesus ancestor, King David's son known as the wisest man who ever lived said a few things that we must consider when dealing with evil:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;  A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;  A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;  A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;  A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;  A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1‭-‬8

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Proverbs 8:13

King David, Solomon's Father said:

Ye that love the Lord , hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
Psalms 97:10 KJV

We are further instructed by Paul the apostle concerning our enemies:

Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:17‭-‬21 KJV

This is how we "love our enemies" the evil doers, those who cause harm to others on purpose, and the wicked; meaning guilty, and also how we "do unto others" and love our neighbors as ourselves. We render humanitarian aid.

IF IT BE POSSIBLE Paul said, (if they have no thirst, are full, and coming to kill you or enslave your family is it possible?)

"Common sense prevails.  You protect yourself, your loved ones and sometimes strangers.  A correct translation of the bible says "Thou shall not murder."  It does not say "kill", which changes the meaning.  Just like "Peace on Earth good will toward men" translated correctly says, "Peace on Earth to men of good will.", which again completely changes the meaning".

Thad Curtis
Retired Sherrif

Is it God's will for us to be martyrs, and to deny our instincts to preserve life, or to blindly stand by and let evil men do as they will without syanding up for truth, ourselves and others?

Denying our instincts, and our common sense is to deny the voice of God within. This is referred to in the Gospel of Mary (what we have of it) as the NOUSE. This word is not even relevant in our modern Bible. We all have the NOUSE within, but not all choose to listen to it which is the root of many of mankind's trials.

Along these lines, is it God's will for us to allow people to stay in our lives, or invite others into our lives who will do us harm on purpose? Should we not "judge" those who choose evil and wickedness over righteousness and innocence by turning the other cheek that they might destroy us?

Those who reject the mercy of God and fail to repent of their wickedness (guilt), or do not submit to God's will are not our brothers or sisters. We should avoid them and expose their evil ways.

While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.  Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.  But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?  And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!   For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Matthew 12:46‭-‬50

We are to NOT have fellowship or be friends with them either...

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove(expose, show fault) them.  For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Ephesians 5:8‭-‬12 KJV

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2 Corinthians 6:14‭, ‬17‭-‬18

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:4‭, ‬7 KJV

Is loving someone the same as being their friend and allowing them to be an active part of your life?

I dare say NO.

Is forgiving someone the same as allowing their behavior to continue to affect you and your loved one's if they are not willing to change?

NO. 

And this might just mean totally cutting ties in many situations.

Is killing, or retaining someone, (not turnng the other cheek) in self defense to save your family or your neighbor evil?

NO.

Is exposing evil and judging righteous judgment by assessment of reality for what it is, with common sense against God's word?

NO.

Even though Jesus tells us in His famous sermon on the mount,

Judge not, that ye be not judged.  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Matthew 7:1‭-‬2

He also tells us,

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
John 7:24 KJV

Paul, who admonishes us to feed and give drink to our enemies if they hunger or thirst also said,

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
1 John 2:15‭-‬17 KJV

I love and forgive my ex husband, and my parents who wish evil upon me and my children, but I give them NO place in my life for my safety and sanity.

I love the people of Islam and pray for their souls and their liberation though they slay Christians and other non believers daily by the thousands and abduct and abuse their women and children.

To allow them into our lives would be giving place to the Devil, and turning a blind eye to evil as they are of the world, and not of the light of God.

If any of these "enemies" of mine were hungry or thirsty I'd feed them, but I would not let them sleep in my home with my loved ones, nor invite them into the fold of God unless they repented of their ways and received Jesus as their savior.

Even then, our modern day enemies of Christianity are taught to deceive us by pretending to convert that they might kill us. We must pray for wisdom...

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
James 1:5‭-‬8 KJV


God, we come to you in the name of Jesus, your only son who was raised from the dead.

We ask that you give us wisdom in dealing with the world, our neigubors and our enemies, that we might enter thy  kingdom through the straight and narrow  gate which you have set before us.

Help us to know you, and trust your voice within us and to never doubt it, in Jesua name amen.

Also, please join me in reciting the Lord's prayer, as this is the ultimate prayer we were taught to pray...

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.   Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.   Give us this day our daily bread.   And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.   And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matthew 6:9‭-‬13 KJV