What does it mean to "love your enemies"?

Jesus said, "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven." Matt 5:44

 

"Love your enemies" is not about our emotions for our enemies. It is not about us making ourselves have warm fuzzy loving feelings toward our enemies. No, that would be irrational  But rather it denotes how we are to act towards our enemies. Then we add prayer: Prayer is focusing our mind and thoughts about how we can act in ways to bless our enemies. This action is not reactive, It is not based upon the way that our enemy treats us. Rather, our actions are based upon who we are and who we want to become.