We answer those who mistreat us with blessing, not with cursing.
“Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.”Romans 12:14 (KJV)
What does “Bless, do not curse” mean in Romans 12:14?
Paul echoes Jesus' teaching about persecution. The verb bless means to speak well of someone and to ask God's good for them, even when they have done wrong.
Going deeper
Paul writes, Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. It is one of the hardest instructions in the Bible. When someone treats us badly, our instinct is to strike back, with words or with actions. Paul says the opposite: bless. Speak well, wish good, and pray for them. And then he repeats it in the negative to be clear: do not curse. Blessing is a choice that breaks the cycle of retaliation.
You may not feel like blessing the person who hurt you. Blessing is an action before it is a feeling. Try praying this week for someone who has treated you unfairly. Ask God to give them good things, peace, and wisdom. You may find your own heart softening as you pray. Blessing does not excuse wrong or remove the need for boundaries, but it frees you from being ruled by bitterness. Each blessing you speak is a small victory over resentment. Choose one name and pray for it today.
Reflect
Who could you pray a blessing over this week, even though it is hard?
Pray
Lord, I bless those who have hurt me. Give them good, and free my heart from bitterness. In Jesus' name, amen.
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