⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,^{(A) 45} that you may be children^(B) of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.^(C)

⁶ Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.^{(A) 7} As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven^(B) has come near.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,^[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

⁹ “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts^(C)— ¹⁰ no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.^{(D) 11} Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. ¹² As you enter the home, give it your greeting.^{(E) 13} If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.^{(F) 15} Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah^(G) on the day of judgment^(H) than for that town.^(I)

³⁴ “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to turn

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)

³⁵ But love your enemies, do good to them,^(A) and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children^(B) of the Most High,^(C) because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

²⁷ For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.^(A)

¹⁰ For if, while we were God’s enemies,^(A) we were reconciled^(B) to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!^(C)

¹⁷ Join together in following my example,^(A) brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.^{(B) 18} For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears,^(C) many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.^(D)