¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above,^(A) coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,^(B) who does not change^(C) like shifting shadows.

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,^(A) the new creation^(B) has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here!^{(C) 18} All this is from God,^(D) who reconciled us to himself through Christ^(E) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.^(F) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,^(G) as though God were making his appeal through us.^(H) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.^(I)

Eye for Eye

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’^{[a](A) 39} But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.^{(B) 40} And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹ If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.^(C)

Love for Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[b](D) and hate your enemy.’^{(E) 44} But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,^{(F) 45} that you may be children^(G) 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.^{(H) 46} If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?^(I) Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.^{(A) 9} This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son^(B) into the world that we might live through him.^{(C) 10} This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us^(D) and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.^{(E) 11} Dear friends,^(F) since God so loved us,^(G) we also ought to love one another.^{(H) 12} No one has ever seen God;^(I) but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.^(J)