by Dorcas Kulwa | 29 January 2021 08:46 am01
PRAY FOR THOSE WHO OFFEND YOU
The Lord Jesus said:
Matthew 5:43-48 (ESV)
“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, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Praying for those who offend us is one of the hardest commands in Scripture. Our natural inclination is to retaliate, hold grudges, or simply ignore the offense. Yet Jesus calls us to a higher standard of love—a reflection of God’s own character. This command is not merely moral advice; it is a call to spiritual maturity and Christlikeness.
God’s example is clear: He blesses both the righteous and the wicked, showing His impartiality and mercy (Matthew 5:45). This divine patience allows for repentance and transformation.
Romans 2:4 reminds us, “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”
Similarly, when we show mercy and pray for those who hurt us, we participate in God’s redemptive work, extending grace where it may not be deserved.
Consider the practical implications: When someone speaks badly about us or causes us harm, our instinct is often to hate or retaliate. Yet Jesus teaches that prayer transforms the heart.
Philippians 4:6 says,
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Praying for those who offend us not only blesses them spiritually, it frees us from the poison of resentment.
Jesus also highlights that true perfection is measured not by external compliance but by inner conformity to God’s character (Matthew 5:48). This is echoed in
1 John 4:7-8: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
Love for our enemies is therefore the evidence of God dwelling within us.
Even God’s patience toward sinners serves as a model.
Romans 5:8 declares, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
If God had not extended mercy to us, we would still be under judgment. Likewise, when we pray for our enemies, we imitate God’s mercy and become agents of His transformative love.
We are not called to mimic human instincts but to reflect the heart of God. As Jesus says in
John 5:19 (ESV),
“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.”
Our prayers for our enemies are not a passive act; they are a participation in God’s work of grace in the world.
It can be difficult. Our flesh resists. Yet prayer for those who hurt us is a fragrant offering to God (Philippians 4:18), a tangible sign of Christlike maturity, and a channel through which God’s mercy can flow—not only into the lives of others but into our own hearts.
Let us train ourselves daily to pray for those who offend us. In doing so, we will grow in holiness, reflect God’s love more fully, and experience His mercy multiplying in our lives.
May the Lord bless you and guide you as you extend His love to all, even those who hurt you.
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