The Sermon on the Mount: Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’[a] and ‘Hate your enemy.’[b] 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven, because he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not the tax collectors also do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing that is remarkable? Do not the Gentiles also do the same? 48 Therefore you be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:43 A quotation from Lev 19:18
  2. Matthew 5:43 An allusion to Deut 23:3–6

Love Your Enemies(A)

43 “You have heard that it was said, (B)‘You shall love your neighbor (C)and hate your enemy.’ 44 [a]But I say to you, (D)love your enemies, bless those who curse you, (E)do good to those who hate you, and pray (F)for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for (G)He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 (H)For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your [b]brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the [c]tax collectors do so? 48 (I)Therefore you shall be perfect, just (J)as your Father in heaven is perfect.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:44 NU But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
  2. Matthew 5:47 M friends
  3. Matthew 5:47 NU Gentiles