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46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.

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46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?(A) Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

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32 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

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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.

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20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.

21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered[a] for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

22 He never sinned,
    nor ever deceived anyone.[b]
23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted,
    nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God,
    who always judges fairly.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:21 Some manuscripts read died.
  2. 2:22 Isa 53:9.

20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.(A) 21 To this(B) you were called,(C) because Christ suffered for you,(D) leaving you an example,(E) that you should follow in his steps.

22 “He committed no sin,(F)
    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”[a](G)

23 When they hurled their insults at him,(H) he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.(I) Instead, he entrusted himself(J) to him who judges justly.(K)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:22 Isaiah 53:9

19 The Son of Man,[a] on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.”

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Footnotes

  1. 11:19 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.

19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’(A) But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

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13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’

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13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast(A) and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’(B)

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Parable of the Lost Sheep

15 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.

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The Parable of the Lost Sheep(A)

15 Now the tax collectors(B) and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.

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17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.

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17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church;(A) and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.(B)

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10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 9:11 Greek with tax collectors and sinners?

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”(A)

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Teaching about Giving to the Needy

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.

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Giving to the Needy

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.(A) If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

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But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.

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All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”(A)

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There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich.

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A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.

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31 “Which of the two obeyed his father?”

They replied, “The first.”[a]

Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. 32 For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.

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Footnotes

  1. 21:29-31 Other manuscripts read “The second.” In still other manuscripts the first son says “Yes” but does nothing, the second son says “No” but then repents and goes, and the answer to Jesus’ question is that the second son obeyed his father.

31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors(A) and the prostitutes(B) are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness,(C) and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors(D) and the prostitutes(E) did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent(F) and believe him.

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