Keep in mind that Jesus is not teaching general charity here. This verse is about whether or not to belong to the kingdom of Jesus, and if you choose to do so, you will face enmity (people will curse you and abuse you). Your gratitude and the blessing of belonging to Jesus (Luke 6:22) results in your approaching these people with heavenly love through an attitude that is congruent with that of your Master. Thus, against a curse you set a blessing, against acts of enmity you intercede for the perpetrators. The verbs bless
and pray
indicate an upward motion and looking at this, you can also see that no general charity is meant here. Blessing
here is praying for goodness from God
and is thus more or less synonymous with praying.
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.