Pray for your enemies

[Classik]

An evangelist I once knew said this portion does not specifically tell us what to pray exactly. Therefore he chose to pray against his enemies, arguing that it does not only ask you to say the so-called good stuff about them.

He "was" (dunno his whereabouts) a kind of God-kill-them preacher.

What is the grammatical function of 'for' in the statement: Pray for your enemies

 

[SpagLard]

What is the grammatical function of 'for' in the statement: Pray for your enemies

It is the same FOR as in "Pray FOR the wicked, Pray for the sick, etc.
To pray FOR the salvation and (God's) forgiveness of ones enemies.

he chose to pray against his enemies, arguing that it does not only ask you to say the so-called good stuff about them.

IMHO , a prayer against (anti- / contra ) is not a prayer but a Curse or a petitioning to Curse.
Would you rather see God save and heal your enemies, or curse, destroy and annihilate them ?

 

[Classik]

It is the same FOR as in "Pray FOR the wicked, Pray for the sick, etc.
To pray FOR the salvation and (God's) forgiveness of ones enemies.


IMHO , a prayer against (anti- / contra ) is not a prayer but a Curse or a petitioning to Curse.
Would you rather see God save and heal your enemies, or curse, destroy and annihilate them ?

A heart like Christ's

 

[WIP]

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:43-48 NKJV

 

[Classik]

How about the case of unrepentant enemies? recidivists

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:43-48 NKJV

 

[WIP]

How about the case of unrepentant enemies? recidivists

Not so easy to do but...

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:17-21 NKJV