Bible Verses About Loving Those Who Do You Wrong

Dear friends, the teachings of Jesus Christ call us to a difficult yet necessary way of life – loving those who harm us. As the Bible reminds us in passages like Ephesians and Colossians, we are to be kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving just as God forgives us.

When someone wrongs us, the natural reaction may be bitterness or revenge, but Jesus tells us plainly in Matthew to forgive others so that God will forgive us. Taking to heart his words to turn the other cheek rather than retaliate takes great spiritual strength.

Yet as Romans and 1 Peter state, avoiding retaliation breaks the cycle of evil and has the power to transform situations. Blessing enemies and praying for persecutors as Jesus did while on the cross are also means to overcoming hate with radical love. With guidance from the holy scriptures, we can all develop a forgiving heart.

For human judgment is flawed, but the Lord who knows all hearts will rightly judge in the end. And we must treat others as we wish to be treated with the compassion and mercy that Micah and Zechariah teach.

Now let’s look at some Bible verses below that talk more about this vital topic.

What Does the Bible Say About Forgiving Others?

Ephesians 4:32
“Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”

Colossians 3:13
“Forbearing one another, forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye”

Matthew 6:14-15
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”

Turning the Other Cheek – Jesus’s Teaching on Non-Retaliation

Matthew 5:39
“But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also”

Luke 6:27-28
“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, pray for them which despitefully use you”

Romans 12:17-21
“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”

1 Peter 3:9
“Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing”

Overcoming Evil with Good – Bible Verses on Blessing Your Enemies

Romans 12:14
“Bless them which persecute you: bless, curse not”

Luke 6:35-36
“But love ye your enemies, do good, lend, hoping for nothing again; your reward shall be great, ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful”

Proverbs 25:21-22
“If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, the Lord shall reward thee”

Praying for Those Who Persecute You

Matthew 5:44
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, pray for them which despitefully use you, persecute you”

Romans 12:20-21
“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”

Luke 23:34
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. they parted his raiment, cast lots”

Acts 7:60
“He kneeled down, cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. when he had said this, he fell asleep”

Leaving Judgment to God – Verses on Not Taking Revenge

Romans 12:19
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord”

Matthew 5:38-42
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. If any man will sue thee at the law, take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away”

Proverbs 20:22
“Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord , he shall save thee”

Treating Others How You Want to Be Treated

Matthew 7:12
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law the prophets”

Luke 6:31
“As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise”

Philippians 2:3-4
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others”

Showing Mercy and Compassion to Others

Zechariah 7:9
“Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, shew mercy compassions every man to his brother”

Micah 6:8
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly with thy God?”

Luke 10:37
“He said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, do thou likewise”

James 2:13
“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; mercy rejoiceth against judgment”

Developing a Forgiving Heart – Tips from Scripture

Matthew 18:21-22
“Then came Peter to him, said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven”

Luke 17:3-4
“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; if he repent, forgive him. If he trespass against thee seven times in a day, seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him”