The commandment “love your enemies” in Christian ethics does not merely mean refraining from revenge, but rather an active and transformative expression of love aimed at overcoming the natural tendency towards malice and retaliatory actions.

Transcending Hostility: The Essential Christian Call to Love Enemies

The commandment “love your enemies” in Christian ethics does not merely mean refraining from revenge, but rather an active and transformative expression of love aimed at overcoming the natural tendency towards malice and retaliatory actions. This is not simply a recommendation to love those who love you, but a challenge calling upon the believer to change his inner attitude and renounce the human “self” corrupted by sin through spiritual renewal.

Firstly, the texts emphasize that true Christian love is a virtue that manifests not only in passive endurance but also in active deeds of goodness toward one’s enemies. As one source states:
"But love your enemies, do good to them, lend without expecting anything; and your reward will be great, and you will be called children of the Most High; for He is kind even to the ungrateful and wicked. Therefore, be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. This is the highest elevation to which Christ desires to raise a person!..." (source: link txt)

Secondly, this commandment is contrasted with the natural human inclination to love only those who harbor mutual affection. It is emphasized that love for enemies demonstrates spiritual superiority since it is natural not to feel sympathy for foes, while Christian ethics calls for a new nature, reborn in Christ, capable of loving even those who are hostile.

As another source explains: "But is not love for enemies considered unnatural?

Such is the objection raised by non-Christians. Do we not see that there are no examples in nature of love toward enemies, but only toward friends?... What can we reply to that? First of all, it is that our faith acknowledges two natures..." (source: link txt)

Thirdly, it is important to note that love for enemies is not merely the absence of malice, but an active manifestation of virtue directed against devilish temptations and natural selfishness. One source explains this:
"Love is a working, active virtue; an advancing virtue. But is love for enemies unnatural?... That is the objection raised against us." (source: link txt)

It is further emphasized that only true Christian nobility appears when a person, imitating Christ, overcomes his natural tendencies and, despite being wronged, shows kindness and mercy even to his enemies. As noted:
"From all this it follows that we should also love our enemies, according to Christ's commandment: 'Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who abuse you and persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Heavenly Father'... For Christ's commandment and Christ's example instruct this." (source: link txt)

Thus, the commandment “love your enemies” in Christian ethics is understood as a call for a profound transformation of the believer’s heart and actions. It demands active resistance against hostile emotions, the manifestation of mercy and virtue, which is the highest expression of spiritual strength and a sign of belonging to the sons of the Heavenly Father.

Supporting citation(s):
"But love your enemies, do good to them, lend without expecting anything; and your reward will be great, and you will be called children of the Most High; for He is kind even to the ungrateful and wicked. Therefore, be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. This is the highest elevation to which Christ desires to raise a person!..." (source: link txt)
"But is not love for enemies considered unnatural? Such is the objection raised by non-Christians. Do we not see that there are no examples in nature of love toward enemies, but only toward friends?..." (source: link txt)
"From all this it follows that we should also love our enemies, according to Christ's commandment: 'Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who abuse you and persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Heavenly Father'..." (source: link txt)