Matthew 5:43-44

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Read all of Matthew 5 · Words of Christ are set in red.

5 songs meet this passage

  • “Should I fold that bitch, no yoga mat?”

    30 For 30 (with Kendrick Lamar) · SZA

    strains against Matthew 5:43-44

    Fantasies of violent retaliation toward enemies sit far from Jesus' call to love and pray for those who wrong us.

  • “Never show thy enemies love”

    Lighters Up · Lil' Kim

    strains against Matthew 5:43-44

    Jesus commands love even for enemies, a direct reversal of the song's code to never extend love or mercy to rivals.

  • Sacala · Héctor El Father

    strains against Matthew 5:43-44

    The song's refrain glorifies striking rivals first; Jesus commands love and prayer for enemies instead of preemptive aggression.

  • “she's probably gettin' frisky”

    Before He Cheats · Carrie Underwood

    strains against Matthew 5:44

    Rather than any posture of grace toward rivals, the song labels and mocks the other woman.

  • “Tell the Ayatollah, "Gonna put you in a box!”

    Bomb Iran (1980) · Vince Vance & The Valiants

    strains against Matthew 5:44

    Mocking and threatening an enemy leader stands opposite Jesus's call to love and pray for enemies, even hostile ones.

Each reading weighs one song’s words against Scripture. It is AI-assisted and can be wrong; open a song to see its whole reading and decide for yourself.

Elsewhere in Matthew 5