Matthew 5:44

5:44 But I say to you, love your enemy and ¹  pray for those who persecute you,

Luke 6:28

6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat ²  you.

Luke 23:34

23:34 [But Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”] ³  Then ⁴  they threw dice ⁵  to divide his clothes. ⁶ 

Romans 12:14-21

12:14 Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse. 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 12:16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. ⁷  Do not be conceited. ⁸  12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people. ⁹  12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. ¹⁰  12:19 Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, ¹¹  for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” ¹²  says the Lord. 12:20 Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head. ¹³  12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

¹ tc Most mss ([D] L [W] Θ Ë¹³ 33 Ï lat) read “bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you,” before “those who persecute you.” But this is surely a motivated reading, importing the longer form of this aphorism from Luke 6:27-28. The shorter text is found in א B ˹ pc sa, as well as several fathers and versional witnesses.

² tn The substantival participle ἐπηρεαζόντων (ephreazontwn), sometimes translated “those who abuse” (NRSV), is better rendered “those who mistreat,” a more general term (see L&N 88.129).

³ tc Many important mss (Ì⁷⁵ א¹ B D* W Θ 070 579 1241 pc sy^s sa) lack v. 34a. It is included in א*^,2 (A) C D² L Ψ 0250 Ë^1,(13) 33 Ï lat sy^c,p,h. It also fits a major Lukan theme of forgiving the enemies (6:27-36), and it has a parallel in Stephen’s response in Acts 7:60. The lack of parallels in the other Gospels argues also for inclusion here. On the other hand, the fact of the parallel in Acts 7:60 may well have prompted early scribes to insert the saying in Luke’s Gospel alone. Further, there is the great difficulty of explaining why early and diverse witnesses lack the saying. A decision is difficult, but even those who regard the verse as inauthentic literarily often consider it to be authentic historically. For this reason it has been placed in single brackets in the translation.

⁴ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

⁵ tn Grk “cast lots” (probably by using marked pebbles or broken pieces of pottery). A modern equivalent “threw dice” was chosen here because of its association with gambling.

⁶ sn An allusion to Ps 22:18, which identifies Jesus as the suffering innocent one.

⁷ tn Or “but give yourselves to menial tasks.” The translation depends on whether one takes the adjective “lowly” as masculine or neuter.

⁸ tn Grk “Do not be wise in your thinking.”

⁹ tn Here ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used as a generic and refers to both men and women.

¹⁰ tn Here ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used as a generic and refers to both men and women.

¹¹ tn Grk “the wrath,” referring to God’s wrath as the remainder of the verse shows.

¹² sn A quotation from Deut 32:35.

¹³ sn A quotation from Prov 25:21-22.