Interpreting the Bible by Taking One Concept Out of Context

this is from what i've understood... hope this is also not taken out of context... God gave us freewill... and man used this freewill to enhance his knowledge and other means of self-gratification... if man sees that there is someone else out there who is better than him, this insecurity turns into jealousy results into conflicts... there will always be conflicts between men... in conflicts, there are misunderstandings.. and if you're misunderstood, people tend to resent you and become your enemies... what you consider an enemy can be different but it usually roots from one thing "pride"... loving your enemies means being able to swallow your pride and admit when you're wrong and forgive your enemies... once you do, you'll feel a lot better and can work and at least be civil with them regardless of whether or not they forgive you.

I am a Baha'i not a Christian so my views may be a little different but I will share my interpretation. Enemies do not actually exist. All people are one human family and all should love one another. The word enemy is a term we have created out of our own selfish desire to be dominant. An enemy is anyone who interfers with that. The reason the word enemy is used here is because it is a word we can understand. The phrase instructs us to love everyone by saying that we should even love those who appear to be against us. If everyone truly followed the Teachings of God there would not be any enemies in our mind or otherwise. Hope this helps! Good discussion question!

You can't really take this teaching out of a Biblical context and accurately interpret it. God demonstrated this concept by sending his Son to die for a world that contiually disobeyed him and hated him. Mankind has (and still does) a horrible job of following the commands that God has laid out for us and yet he still showers us with blessings every day - and not just to those who love him, but to all. even those who hate him. He simply asks us to follow his example - show love to everyone regardless of how they treat you.

I guess its roughly equivalent to: If Adam and Eve aren't supposed to eat the apple, then why give them the apple? I have no religious footing, I am spiritual but not religious, but I'm pretty sure that the lessons God teaches are only effective if in the context of a challenge. It's not an accomplishment to forgive if you have never been wronged. Great question!

Ok, I'm going to take a stab at this as I'm not very religious and I haven't had anyone decode the bible for me. I think this doesn't mean Love as in Love i think God is trying to say that we must learn to love having enemies because without enemies, there would be no learning! Having obsticles is what teaches us patients, hope, curage and many more things. So for us to learn how to love thine enemy means for us to realize that we wouldn't be if there wasn't any. That's just what I think, i'm not sure if i'm right or not and may i say what a great question. Hopefully someone will be able to really answer that for you.