Matthew Poole and continuators on Romans 12:14

14. Bless them which persecute you : bless and curse not .

i. e. Pray for them, and wish Well to them. This is borrowed from Mat. 5.44. and Luk. 6.28. See the like in 1 Pet. 3.9. this is commended to us by the Example of Christ himself, Isa. 53.12. Luk. 23.34. 1 Pet. 2.23. Of Steven, Act. 7.60. Of Paul, and the Primitive Christians, 1 Cor. 4.12.

His doubling the Exhortation, shews the difficulty of the Duty; 'tis contrary to corrupt Nature, and it denotes the Constancy of it; we must Persevere therein. When he saith, curse not, he means wish no evil to your Enemies. Obj. The Prophets and Apostles went contrary to this. vid. 2 King. 2.24. Psal. 69.22, 23. Act. 8.20. and 13.10, 11. and 23.3. A. These did it by a special vocation and instinct of the Spirit.

Marginal references: Mat. 5.44.