Love Your Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor(A)[a] and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies[b] and pray for those who[c] persecute you,(B) 45 so that you may be[d] sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.(C) 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary?[e](D) Don’t even the Gentiles[f] do the same? 48 Be perfect,(E) therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:43 Lv 19:18
  2. Matthew 5:44 Other mss add bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you,
  3. Matthew 5:44 Other mss add mistreat you and
  4. Matthew 5:45 Or may become, or may show yourselves to be
  5. Matthew 5:47 Or doing that is superior; lit doing more
  6. Matthew 5:47 Other mss read tax collectors

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