Luke 6:28
“bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.”
What does Luke 6:28 mean?
Jesus is asking us to do something that goes completely against our natural instinct: respond to hostility with goodness. When someone curses you or treats you badly, instead of firing back or withdrawing in hurt, he's inviting you to actively wish them well and intercede for them in prayer. This isn't about pretending the harm didn't happen or being a doormat. It's about breaking the cycle of hurt that keeps spinning between people. When you bless someone who's hurt you, you're choosing a different path, one that protects your own heart from bitterness and leaves room for healing or transformation. Prayer for those who mistreat us also shifts our perspective, helping us see their struggles instead of just their actions toward us. If you're in a season where someone is treating you poorly, this verse isn't demanding you suppress your real pain. But it is offering you a way through that pain that doesn't require you to become bitter yourself.