The Bible offers wisdom and guidance on how to respond to enemies and treat them with godliness. Proverbs 25:21–22 provides a powerful principle that challenges believers to take the high road and not retaliate when facing opposition.
Proverbs 25:21-22 states, “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” This passage encourages believers to counter evil with good and not repay wrong with more wrongdoing. Instead of seeking revenge or retaliation, we are called to meet a foe’s basic needs with kindness and care.
There are several important implications from these verses on how Christians should treat enemies:
1. Seek to overcome evil with good
Romans 12:21 similarly commands, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” When facing opposition, the natural impulse may be to fight back and try to make enemies hurt like they hurt you. However, Scripture says the godly response is to shower them with unexpected grace and meet harm with active love. This reflects God’s character and seeks His greater purposes (Matthew 5:44-48).
2. Leave judgment and vengeance to God
When wronged, it’s easy to take matters into our own hands and pursue vengeance. But Numbers 35:31 says, “You shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer…; he shall surely be put to death.” And Romans 12:19 adds, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God.” God is the ultimate judge and will ensure perfect justice is served. As His followers, we are called to defer punishment to Him.
3. Treat enemies as creations made in God’s image
No matter how much we may dislike someone, they still reflect the image of their Creator (Genesis 1:27). Showing charity to an adversary recognizes their inherent dignity and value as human beings. Though they may act cruelly, we must still choose compassion.
4. You may make enemies into friends
Proverbs 25:21-22 suggests that showing extraordinary kindness may overwhelm enemies’ hostility. When given undeserved grace, their hearts may soften and stir repentance. While reconciliation may not happen, displaying Christlike love provides an opportunity for transformation.
5. Trust God to work all things for good
When we honor God through graciousness and forgiveness, we can rest assured He will use every trial for our growth and His glory (Romans 8:28). Any hardship we endure ultimately serves His purposes, even if we cannot yet see how.
6. Blessing enemies reflects God’s love
Loving the unlovable showcases God’s vast, unconditional love for us (1 John 4:10). Though we were once His enemies, He showed compassion through Christ (Romans 5:8, 10). We must extend that same mercy to those who wrong us.
7. It serves as a powerful witness
Nothing confounds the world as radically as returning hostility with honor. When we repay evil with blessing, it displays the supernatural love and grace that comes only through knowing Jesus Christ (John 13:34-35). Our Christlike response can point others to the gospel.
8. Our true battle is spiritual, not physical
Ephesians 6:12 declares, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Our enemies are not fellow humans but the forces of spiritual darkness in this world. We must fight the right battle.
9. Reconciliation and restoration are possible
With God, nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37). No offense is too great for Him to heal, and no relationship too damaged to repair (Luke 15:11-32). We should never close the door on the possibility of redemption and change when relating to adversaries.
10. Our own sin required mercy and forgiveness
We must remember that we too were unworthy enemies of God, saved only by His grace (Ephesians 2:1-9). Who are we then to withhold that same forgiveness from others when we needed it ourselves? We all require mercy.
In summary, Proverbs 25:21-22 reminds believers that by loving enemies and doing good to those who harm us, we reflect God’s heart, leave justice and vengeance to Him, overcome evil with grace, seize opportunities for reconciliation, trust God’s greater plan, and offer a Christlike witness to the world. This generous posture toward foes brings blessing on us and ultimately glorifies God.
Other key passages on loving enemies include:
Matthew 5:43-48 – “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.”
Luke 6:27-36 – “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”
Romans 12:14 – “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”
Romans 12:17-21 – “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
1 Peter 3:9 – “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”
As the Bible makes clear, the most Christlike response to enemies is not vengeance and retribution but grace, forgiveness, love and blessing – leaving judgment to God alone. This reflects His heart for reconciliation and provides a powerful witness to transform lives through the power of the gospel.