Matthew 5:38-48
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Concerning Retaliation
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’(A) 39 But I say to you: Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also,(B) 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, give your coat as well, 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to the one who asks of you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.(C)
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’(D) 44 But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,(E) 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.(F) 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.(G)
Read full chapter
Matthew 5:38-48
Contemporary English Version
Revenge
(Luke 6.29,30)
38 (A) You know you have been taught, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” 39 But I tell you not to try to get even with a person who has done something to you. When someone slaps your right cheek,[a] turn and let that person slap your other cheek. 40 If someone sues you for your shirt, give up your coat as well. 41 If a soldier forces you to carry his pack one kilometer, carry it two kilometers.[b] 42 When people ask you for something, give it to them. When they want to borrow money, lend it to them.
Love
(Luke 6.27,28,32-36)
43 (B) You have heard people say, “Love your neighbors and hate your enemies.” 44 But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you. 45 (C) Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong. 46 If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for this? Even tax collectors[c] love their friends. 47 If you greet only your friends, what's so great about this? Don't even unbelievers do that? 48 (D) But you must always act like your Father in heaven.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 5.39 right cheek: A slap on the right cheek was a bad insult.
- 5.41 two kilometers: A Roman soldier had the right to force a person to carry his pack as far as one kilometer.
- 5.46 tax collectors: These were usually Jewish people who paid the Romans for the right to collect taxes. They were hated by other Jews who thought of them as traitors to their country and to their religion.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.
