Matthew 5:43-48
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’(A) 44 But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,(B) 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.(C) 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.(D)
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Matthew 5:43-48
International Standard Version
Teaching about Love for Enemies(A)
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You must love your neighbor’[a] and hate your enemy. 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you will become children of your Father in heaven, because he makes his sun rise on both evil and good people, and he lets rain fall on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? 47 And if you greet only your relatives, that’s no great thing you’re doing, is it? Even the unbelievers[b] do the same, don’t they? 48 So be perfect,[c] as your heavenly Father is perfect.”[d]
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- Matthew 5:43 Cf. Lev 19:18
- Matthew 5:47 Lit. to the gentiles; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews; other mss. read the tax collectors
- Matthew 5:48 Or mature
- Matthew 5:48 Or mature
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