📖 Biblical Definition
Christ's command in the Sermon on the Mount: "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" (Matt 5:44). Five active verbs: love, bless, do good, pray, all directed toward those persecuting you. Christ Himself models it from the cross: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). Stephen models it as he dies: "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge" (Acts 7:60).
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Mt 5:44: love + bless + do-good + pray for those persecuting you.
expand to see more
Christ's command in the antitheses of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:44; par. Luke 6:28): "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." Five active verbs: love, bless, do good, pray for, all directed toward those who hate, curse, persecute. Christ Himself models the prayer-for-persecutors from the cross: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). Stephen models it as he dies under the stones: "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge" (Acts 7:60). The pattern continues in the church's history.
📖 Key Scripture
Matthew 5:44 — "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."
Luke 23:34 — "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
Acts 7:60 — "And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Often softened to "don't hate them"; Christ commands active prayer FOR them, modeled by Himself from the cross.
expand to see more
The lower bar — don't actively hate your enemies — is achievable for most. Christ's bar is higher: pray FOR them. By name. For their good. Christ on the cross, Stephen at his stoning, Paul through his beatings — all model the active praying. The persecutor is not just to be avoided; he is to be prayed for.
Recover the verb: pray. Not pray ABOUT them (Lord, deal with them). Pray FOR them (Lord, forgive them, save them, bless them). The prayer is for their good.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek proseuchesthe hyper tōn diōkontōn hymas.
expand to see more
['Greek', 'G4336', 'proseuchomai', 'to pray']
['Greek', 'G1377', 'diōkō', 'to persecute']
Usage
"Pray FOR them, not just about them."
"Christ from the cross; Stephen under stones."
"Active verb of intercession."