“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.”
Matthew 5:44
Read this saying in the chronological reader →Words of Jesus by topic
What did Jesus say about love?
Jesus’ teaching on love is broader than affection. It reaches upward toward God, outward toward neighbor and enemy, and inward to the shape of discipleship itself. In John’s account of the Last Supper, love becomes a defining mark of the community that follows him.
At a glance
- The greatest commandments join wholehearted love of God with love of neighbor.
- Jesus extends love beyond friends and allies: disciples are told to love enemies and pray for persecutors.
- At the Last Supper, Jesus gives a new commandment shaped by his own love for the disciples.
- Love is connected with obedience, abiding, service, and willingness to lay down one’s life.
Love your enemies
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus pushes beyond reciprocal love. The command concerns enemies and persecutors, placing prayer and active goodwill where retaliation would be expected.
Love God and your neighbor
When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus joins Deuteronomy’s call to love God with Leviticus’ command to love one’s neighbor. He treats the two as the great summary of the law.
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart ... Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Matthew 22:37–39; Mark 12:29–31
Read this saying in the chronological reader →A new commandment
During the final meal with his disciples, Jesus makes his own pattern of love the measure: “as I have loved you.” He also says this love will identify his disciples publicly.
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you ... By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples.”
John 13:34–35
Read this saying in the chronological reader →Love that lays down its life
The vine discourse connects abiding in Jesus with keeping his commandments and loving one another. The highest image is self-giving love.
“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:12–13
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