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What does the Bible say about hurting the one you love?

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The Bible teaches that wounding those we love is sin, calling us to repentance, humble forgiveness, and Christlike love. Love is patient and kind, not self-seeking or resentful, as 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 teaches. Believers should forgive as God has forgiven them in Christ and put away bitterness, wrath, and harsh speech, according to Ephesians 4:32 and Matthew 6:14-15. Jesus even commands love toward enemies in Matthew 5:44, so love within our closest relationships should be marked by grace all the more. When we fail, God’s mercy in John 3:16-17 gives hope for confession, reconciliation, and changed hearts.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Revelation 2:4

    But I have this against you, that you left your first love.

  • Matthew 6:5

    "When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most assuredly, I tell you, they have received their reward.

  • Matthew 5:44

    But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,

  • Revelation 21:4

    He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away."

  • Luke 1:37

    For everything spoken by God is possible."

  • Matthew 6:14-15

    [14] "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if you don't forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

  • 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

    [4] Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, [5] doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; [6] doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; [7] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

  • Revelation 1:1

    This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John,

  • Ephesians 4:32

    And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

  • John 3:16-17

    [16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. [17] For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.

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