Being wronged by another person often triggers anger, bitterness, and the desire for retribution. When faced with betrayal or deep hurt, the natural human response is typically to withdraw or retaliate. The Bible, however, offers a unique and counter-intuitive spiritual guidance that runs opposite to this instinct. This teaching shifts the focus from seeking justice or revenge to engaging in intentional goodwill through intercessory prayer. The purpose of this instruction is to transform the heart of the one who was harmed.
The Foundational Scripture
The instruction to pray for those who have caused pain is directly stated in the teachings of Jesus. The most widely cited passage is found in the Gospel of Matthew, where the command is phrased simply: “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” This verse serves as the central mandate for interceding for those who inflict injury.
A parallel account in the Gospel of Luke reinforces this principle. Luke records Jesus saying, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.” These foundational scriptures establish prayer as a distinct, deliberate action toward people actively causing harm. The instruction elevates the response from mere tolerance to an active posture of seeking their well-being.
Context and Interpretation
This teaching was delivered as part of a larger discourse, known as the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew or the Sermon on the Plain in Luke. The command to love enemies was a radical departure from the prevailing legal and social understanding of the time, which emphasized an “eye for an eye” system of justice. Jesus was challenging the interpretation that limited the command “love your neighbor” to only one’s friends or fellow countrymen.
The “enemies” and “persecutors” Jesus spoke of represented real threats in the first-century context, including Roman occupiers and religious adversaries. By commanding prayer for these groups, Jesus was not advocating for a passive acceptance of injustice, but rather a spiritual strategy mirroring the impartial nature of God. The text notes that God “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Disciples were instructed to imitate this divine generosity toward all people.
The love described here is not an emotional affection, but agape, a moral, willed love expressed through action, such as doing good or praying. This concept focuses on the benevolent desire for the other person’s good, even if they continue to act unjustly. The prayer for a persecutor is the highest expression of this difficult love, offered even when circumstances prevent other acts of kindness.
How to Apply the Teaching
Practically applying this instruction requires a deliberate shift in perspective, moving from focusing on the injury to focusing on the person’s spiritual state. The prayer is not merely a rote exercise, but a purposeful intercession for the individual’s spiritual welfare or a change of heart. This action is a genuine request to God for the person’s ultimate good, rather than a thinly veiled request for their punishment.
The act of praying for a person who has caused pain offers significant cognitive and emotional benefits to the one praying. Holding onto bitterness and resentment activates stress responses and releases cortisol, which is detrimental to long-term health. By choosing to pray, the individual actively works to release the emotional energy bound up in their anger. This spiritual discipline helps break the chain of bitterness, leading to reduced psychological distress and greater inner peace.
It is important to distinguish this spiritual command from enabling or excusing continued harmful behavior. Praying for a person’s well-being does not negate the need to establish necessary personal boundaries or to seek justice and safety. The goal is to surrender the desire for personal vengeance, entrusting the ultimate judgment to a higher power, as Jesus did when he was mistreated. This allows the person to begin with small, honest steps toward release, asking for the emotional capacity to desire good for the other person.