³And this is what Jesus means, I think, in this very passage when he says, “Love your enemy.” And its significant that he does not say, “Like your enemy.” Like is a sentimental something, an affectionate something. There are a lot of people that I find it difficult to like. I don’t like what they do to me. I don’t like what they say about me and other people. I don’t like their attitudes. I don’t like some of the things theyre doing. I don’t like them. But Jesus says love them. And love is greater than like. Love is understanding, redemptive goodwill for all, so that you love everybody, because God loves them. You refuse to do anything that will defeat an individual, because you have agape in your soul. And here you come to the point that you love the individual who does the evil deed, while hating the deed that the person does.

This is what Jesus means when he says, “Love your enemy.” This is the way to do it. When the opportunity presents itself when you can defeat your enemy, you must not do it. ²

– the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fron his speech  ³Loving Your Enemies November 17 1957