King James Bible
"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;"
Jesus directly contradicts the prevailing interpretation of 'love your neighbor, hate your enemy' by commanding radical love toward those who oppose us. This authoritative 'But I say' formula establishes Jesus as one who fulfills and transcends the Law, demanding a love that mirrors God's own indiscriminate grace. These paired commands move love from feeling to concrete action—speaking well of those who speak evil and actively benefiting those who wish harm. The progression from blessing (words) to doing good (deeds) demonstrates that kingdom love must be both verbal and practical. Prayer for persecutors represents the deepest spiritual response, bringing enemies before God rather than seeking revenge. This echoes Jesus' own practice on the cross and transforms victims into intercessors, breaking cycles of retaliation through divine appeal.