As we move about and interact within the Christian Arena, especially in Bible study classes and prayer meetings, many times we will hear someone say, “Well the Bible says for us to pray for our enemies”! Do we remember underlining or highlighting that scripture? If so, where is that verse found in the Bible? Does the scriptures state pray for our enemies?
Would it be a surprise to us to find that there is not a verse in the Bible that states that we are to pray for our enemies? If we use the Concordance and enter “pray for” we will find 20 references but none that state “pray for our enemies” or “pray for your enemies” or “pray for my enemies.” Is that shocking?
In the United States Military, if a military person is found aiding and abetting the enemy, it is the crime of treason and that offense is punishable by death. That is just common sense in military law and procedures!
In a war, military (A) does not win the war by aiding and abetting the opposing military (B). If they do, then military (B) will defeat military (A). That is just common sense.
If we do a bit of study concerning our Founding Fathers and their developing of “The Constitution Of The
United States Of America and The Republic For Which It Stands” and also “The Bill Of Rights” for “We the people”, we will find that they used the scriptures of the Bible for many of the foundational laws and patterns of our land. Our Founding Fathers are the ones who included the crime of Treason into our laws.
(AHD) Treason 1. Violation of allegiance toward one's country or sovereign, especially the betrayal of one's country by waging war against it or by consciously and purposely acting to aid its enemies.
Where might this mindset of praying for our enemies have developed in the modern church? It may have of come through what we call “The Beatitudes!” Even though “pray for your enemies” is not found in the scriptures, we do find “pray for those which despitefully use you and persecute you.”
Matt 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 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;
despitefully use is #1908 epereazo (ep-ay-reh-ad'-zo); from a comparative of 1909 and (probably) areia (threats); to insult, slander:
persecute is #1377 dioko (dee-o'-ko);a prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb dio (to flee; compare the base of 1169 and 1249); to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication, to persecute:
persecute 1. To oppress or harass with ill-treatment, especially because of race, religion, sexual orientation, or beliefs. 2. To annoy persistently; bother.
We can see that the definitions of these words do not go so far as being mortal enemies but rather the level of enemies we might find in a family unit or the body of Christ, which is the church.
This is the closest scripture that could have developed into “pray for our enemies!” Let’s look at another scripture about enemies.
Rom 12:20 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.
In this scripture feeding your enemy and giving him drink is compared to heaping coals of fire on his head. Many people think that God will burn them a little bit or something if we feed them and give them drink. Who knows?
In that day and time, families traveled together. Since they did not have Bic lighters or matches to carry with them, one of the family members was assigned to carry coals of fire so they could easily start a fire and cook their meals. A special container that was carried on the head was developed. If a family came across another family whose coals had cooled and gone out, the family with hot coals would usually share some of their hot coals with that family. They would heap coals of fire upon the head of the family assigned to carry the hot coals. That was a great blessing to those who had lost their ability to start a fire to cook the meals.
The word “enemies” is listed in the KJV Bible 266 times. The word “enemy” is listed in the KJV Bible 107 times. However, if we ask any gathering of believers to quote the verses they know by heart about enemies or enemy, they will usually quote the one that does not occur in the scriptures and the one found in Romans 12:20.
Let’s try a bit of logical thinking here. Recently we have had a group of God haters; anti-Christian enemies round up about 800 believers into a church and behead them. According to the Beatitudes and Romans 12:20, should we send aid to these enemies and make sure they are fed and have water to drink and clothes to wear while we pray for them, knowing their intent is to kill more Christians? Sadly this is how many believers pray and that is why we see evil prevailing to a great degree in the world.
What does the scripture state about the risen Lord Jesus Christ concerning His enemies?
Heb 10:12 But this man (Jesus), after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
enemies is #2190 echthros (ech-thros'); from a primary echtho (to hate); hateful (passively, odious, or actively, hostile); usually as a noun, an adversary (especially Satan):
hateful 1. Exciting great dislike.
odious 1. Arousing or meriting strong dislike, aversion, or intense displeasure.
hostile 1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of an enemy. 2. Feeling or showing enmity or ill will; antagonistic. 3. An enemy in warfare.
We can see that there are different levels of enemies in the world. The level of an enemy can range from dislike, ill will, being antagonistic all the way up to warfare with intent to kill. In order for us to extract proper counsel from the Word of God, we must determine which level of enemy is being referenced in each situation described in the scriptures. For example, did David pray for Goliath? No! David did not pray for his enemy Goliath! David did not bless Goliath! David did not feed Goliath! David did not give Goliath water to drink! That is not how you treat this level of enemy.
1 Sam 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
David said to Goliath, “When I kill you and cut your head off the world will know that there is a God in Israel!” That is David’s testimony! In the Old Testament the Lord said, “I am the Lord and I change not” and in the New Testament the scriptures state, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever,” most modern day churches will not preach that message. We need to examine that line of thinking.
When we give meditation to the word “enemies”, there are different levels of enemies to consider.
We may know someone who has never confessed Jesus as Lord and savior but they are basically good people. They are good neighbors, good to their family, work diligently, help other people etc. Paul referred to those who will not accept Jesus as “enemies of the cross!” They are not part of the family of God and they will perish if they never accept the sacrifice that Jesus made for them. However, they are not hostile to believers.
Then we have the Jihadist Muslim enemies, who say that all the infidels (non Muslims) must be killed and beheading is the preferred method of killing according to Allah and the Koran.
When we address the Beatitudes, we must use a few simple rules of mediation in order to extract proper counsel from the Word of God.
1. No scripture taken out of context.
2. Interpret scripture with scripture.
3. Proper use of conjunctions in the scriptures.
4. Who is doing the speaking?
5. Who is being spoken to?
6. Think when we read.
7. We must be willing to lay down the traditions of men.
8. God speaks totally different to His enemies than He speaks to His family.
When we look closely at the Beatitudes we see #4 that Jesus is doing the speaking and that He is #5 speaking to His disciples.
Matt 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
The Beatitudes are instruction and teachings that only pertain to the family of Jesus followers! When Jesus is talking about “your enemies” here, He is talking about those within the family of God or we would say today within “the body of Christ.” Is there a chance that there might be members of the body of Christ that have hateful, odious, hostile or antagonistic attitudes toward other members of the body of Christ? It would be great if we could say “No Way!” That might be the way we got all these denominations?
The Beatitudes are not referring to those mortal enemies of God that plan to cut the head off of believers! That was the plan that Goliath had for David. The modern church has applied the Beatitudes to include the Muslim Jihadist and all the mortal enemies of God who have plans to eradicate Christians from off the earth. Certainly we can see Politicians and governments heavily in this category! We should recognize these to be the Psalms 2 people and the Psalms 110 people of today.
Many times we also hear many believers say, “Well God loves the sinner but He hates the sin!” That is another one of those scriptures that is nowhere to be found in the scriptures. All mankind of the linage of Adam are sinners. It is true that God has extended His love to whosoever will receive His love but what about those whosoevers who will not receive His love but chooses to become His blatant enemy? They would be found in Psalms 2 & 110 and Romans 1:18 and other places throughout the scriptures.
FYI! Go to the concordance and look up these categories of individuals. 1. The wicked. 2. The workers of iniquity. 3. Evil doers. 4. Bloody men. 5. Violent men. 6. The transgressors. It would be good to remember that Jesus said that the scriptures are Truth and the scriptures cannot be broken. When He spoke those statements, the New Testament had not been written. Apply rule number 6!
Ps 11:4 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.
Is the LORD the same yesterday, today and forever? We should vote YES! If someone says that they hate you with their soul that is a serious form of hatred is it not!
hateth is #8130 sane' (saw-nay'); a primitive root; to hate (personally):
Wow! Heavy stuff in the scriptures! Some situations to give thought to could be, why at the last supper did Jesus pray for Peter but did not pray for Judas? While Jesus was on the cross, He prayed for those at the foot of His cross casting lots for His clothes however Jesus did not pray for Pilate, who was trying to keep Jesus from being crucified.
Grace and Peace multiplied in the name of Jesus.
Compiled by Jerry Thomas 03/30/2025
All scripture references are (KJV) unless otherwise denoted.
Feel free to share any of jtministries post with anyone who might benefit from them.