³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^{[a](A) 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^{[b](B) 40} All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”^(C)

⁴ Love is patient,^(A) love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.^{(B) 5} It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,^(C) it is not easily angered,^(D) it keeps no record of wrongs.^{(E) 6} Love does not delight in evil^(F) but rejoices with the truth.^{(G) 7} It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.^(H)

Love for Enemies^(A)

²⁷ “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,^{(B) 28} bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.^(C)

³² “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?^(A) Even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?^(B) Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. ³⁵ But love your enemies, do good to them,^(C) and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children^(D) of the Most High,^(E) because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶ Be merciful,^(F) just as your Father^(G) is merciful.

³² “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?^(A) Even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?^(B) Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. ³⁵ But love your enemies, do good to them,^(C) and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children^(D) of the Most High,^(E) because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶ Be merciful,^(F) just as your Father^(G) is merciful.