Is Love greater than Hate?

In Matthew 5 and Luke 6, Jesus calls for his followers to love their enemies. Even the Gentiles return good for favors, but followers of Jesus are to set a different path. We are to pray for our enemies and to do good to those who mistreat us (6: 27-28):

“But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you.”

Many times, our mission is centered around our friends. We love to do good to those who are good to us. It is good to reciprocate goodness, but it is even greater to reciprocate goodness for hate. The only way to eradicate hate is to replace it with love. Someday, in the most unexpected ways, we might find a friend in our enemies, it is just that we have to try harder and we have to love deeper. We have to break down that wall which stops us from extending our love to the enemies.

In these (6: 27-28) verses we see that we are called to love God, love neighbors, love enemies, and even to love one another as followers of Jesus. Imagine what a different world this would be if people took Jesus seriously along these lines. And, maybe we can create a new wave along those lines, even today.