How do I deal with those who are hostile toward me?
Psalm 3:5-6I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side.
Psalm 4:8In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.
Psalm 27:3Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.
Psalm 118:7Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
Matthew 10:28-31“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”
Romans 8:31What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
In any conflict, we should constantly seek God’s will and make sure we are taking the right side. God is righteous and will prevail. As followers of Jesus, we must not respond to that hostility in kind. The evil one is our enemy—not the people he torments and twists into his service. Our purpose on this earth is to lead others to God in love. If we respond to hostility with hostility, we only push people further away from the One we claim to follow. Those who have full confidence in God will find that peace from an eternal perspective replaces their fear. Looking to our eternal future helps us cope better with the present.
Psalm 18:17He [God] rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me.
Psalm 71:4My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked, from the clutches of cruel oppressors.
Psalm 140:1-2, 4O Lord, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent, those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long. . . . O Lord, keep me out of the hands of the wicked. Protect me from those who are violent, for they are plotting against me.
When faced with unwarranted hostility, we should pray for deliverance. Our future is always in God’s hands.
Job 31:29-30“Have I ever rejoiced when disaster struck my enemies, or become excited when harm came their way? No, I have never sinned by cursing anyone or by asking for revenge.”
Proverbs 24:17-18Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall; don’t be happy when they stumble. For the Lord will be displeased with you and will turn his anger away from them.
We should not rejoice in the misfortunes of others—even for those who are hostile to us—because that would mean that we also are giving in to hostility.
Matthew 6:12-15“Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Mark 11:25“But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
Luke 11:4“Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation.”
Luke 23:33-34When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
Acts 7:59-60As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.
God calls us to forgive others—even our enemies. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t stand up to our enemies when necessary. It means that we should long for their redemption even as we confront the evil in them.
Exodus 23:4-5“If you come upon your enemy’s ox or donkey that has strayed away, take it back to its owner. If you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has collapsed under its load, do not walk by. Instead, stop and help.”
2 Kings 6:21-23When the king of Israel saw them, he shouted to Elisha, “My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?” “Of course not!” Elisha replied. “Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and send them home again to their master.” So the king made a great feast for them and then sent them home to their master. After that, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel.
Proverbs 3:31Don’t envy violent people or copy their ways.
Proverbs 25:21-22If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the Lord will reward you.
Matthew 5:38-48“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow. You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Luke 6:27-29, 35“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. . . . Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.”
Romans 12:14, 20-21Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. . . . Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
1 Peter 3:9Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.
If we respond to hostility with hostility, we only push people further away from the One we claim to follow. Instead, God calls us to overcome evil with good. Gentle words, acts of kindness, and even praying for our enemies have a powerful effect on reducing hostility. Better yet, these actions can be a powerful witness to lead others to faith in Christ.
Acts 9:1-6Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Galatians 1:23-24All they knew was that people were saying, “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!” And they praised God because of me.
Acts 9:10-15Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied. The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.” “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.” But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.”
Someone may seem to us to be beyond God’s changing grace, but we cannot always see how God is working behind the scenes. We should allow God time to work things out in his way, follow where he leads, and be sure to give him the credit for any victory.
Proverbs 15:1A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.
Proverbs 16:14The anger of the king is a deadly threat; the wise will try to appease it.
Proverbs 21:14A secret gift calms anger; a bribe under the table pacifies fury.
Proverbs 29:8Mockers can get a whole town agitated, but the wise will calm anger.
Ecclesiastes 10:4If your boss is angry at you, don’t quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes.
In dealing with those who are hostile to us, we should respond with gentleness in both actions and words. Often, hostility falls apart against expressions of gentleness.
