But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
--Matthew 5:44
Jesus, the perfect Man, exemplified this commandment when He prayed for forgiveness for His crucifiers. "And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:33-34). Jesus gave no commandment to His followers that He Himself was not willing and able to keep.
Praying for others is not mysterious. Whether we pray for loved ones, strangers, or even enemies, such prayers sanctify us. They draw us closer to God and to those for whom we pray. Our prayers for our enemies do not change God's heart or even our enemies' hearts, but they change our hearts. God can show us especially our enemies through His eyes and free us from fear and acrimony. The more we learn to pray for others in faith and love, the closer we become to the Savior.
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