In Matthew 5:38-41, Jesus taught against retaliation. Jesus takes this teaching further in the following verses. He says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”[1] It’s one thing not to mistreat someone just because they mistreated you. But to love the person who wronged you? To pray for those who hate you and bless those who are your enemies? That’s another category altogether. And it’s what Jesus calls us to.
Avoiding retaliation is good and necessary—but it’s not enough in and of itself. Jesus commands us to love our enemies; that is, we choose to do good to them. We pray for them; we bless them however we can. And if this seems nigh-impossible, remember, it’s how God has acted towards us. And He wants us to share that type of love with others.
[1] Matthew 5:43-44