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The apostle having taught us our duty to our friends in the former verse, teacheth us our duty here towards our enemies. Bless them that persecute you: that is, pray for them, and wish well to them, whatever provocation you may have to the contrary.
Learn hence, 1. That good men must make account of, and prepare for, persecution; either the persecution of the tongue, or of the hand, or of both.
Learn, 2. That it is their duty ever to bless, never to curse, their persecutors and opposers; Bless, but curse not.
Where note, That the apootle doubles the exhortation, Bless your persecutors, bless and curse not. This doubling the exhortation, shows both the difficulty of the duty, how contrary it is to corrupt nature; and also the constancy of the duty, we must ever bless, and never curse: always wish well, never any ill, to the worst of men. Take we great heed of giving way to secret wishes of hurt to our enemy. God forbid we should hurt ourselves by sinful passion, because others hurt us by slander and false accusation. We are naturally prone to speak ill of others, and to wish ill to others, with delight; this sin persisted in, shuts out of heaven as well as murder.