Let’s break this verse down to gain a better idea of the full meaning of what is being told here.
The word “curse” in the original language of Greek is “kataraomai” (καταράομαι). It means to curse or call down evil upon someone and is referring to so much more than just “hateful language,” and we see here through this translation that it has a spiritual connotation to it. It means that when wicked people curse, they desire to use evil to accomplish their curse, thus revealing the enormity of what we’re being told in this verse.
This commandment requires a lot from us because of our own sinful nature and bent toward retaliation against those that hurt us. We can easily be hurt by something as simple as hateful language. Yet we are supposed to love and pray for our enemies, specifically those that curse us (which, as we’ve learned, is so much more than “hateful language”).
So how do we do that? How do we bless someone who hates us so much that they want evil to rest upon us?
Simply put: it is impossible on our own.
We only accomplish this type of Godly love through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and it is subsequently expressed by those whose lives are completely submitted to the Lord. It is in His power that we can love as Christ loved: to love our enemy by blessing those who curse us and praying for those who mistreat us – all of which we do for the glory of God.
