Add parallel Print Page Options

43  You have heard akouō that hoti it was said legō, ‘ You shall love agapaō · ho your sy neighbor plēsion and kai hate miseō · ho your sy enemy echthros.’ 44 But de I egō say legō to you hymeis, love agapaō · ho your hymeis enemies echthros and kai pray proseuchomai for hyper those ho who persecute diōkō you hymeis, 45 so hopōs that you may be ginomai sons hyios of ho your hymeis Father patēr who ho is in en heaven ouranos, for hoti he makes · ho his autos sun hēlios rise anatellō on epi the evil ponēros and kai on the good agathos, and kai sends rain brechō on epi the just dikaios and kai on the unjust adikos. 46 For gar if ean you love agapaō those ho who love agapaō you hymeis, what tis reward misthos do you have echō? Do not ouchi even kai the ho tax telōnēs collectors do poieō the ho same autos? 47 And kai if ean you greet aspazomai only monon · ho your hymeis brothers adelphos, what tis are you doing poieō more perissos than others? Do not ouchi even kai the ho Gentiles ethnikos do poieō the ho same autos? 48 You hymeis, however oun, are eimi to be perfect teleios, as hōs · ho your hymeis heavenly ouranios Father patēr · ho is eimi perfect teleios.

Read full chapter

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor (fellow man) and hate your enemy.’(A) 44 But I say to you, [a]love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,(B) 45 so that you may [show yourselves to] be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil and on those who are good, and makes the rain fall on the righteous [those who are morally upright] and the unrighteous [the unrepentant, those who oppose Him]. 46 For if you love [only] those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers [wishing them God’s blessing and peace], what more [than others] are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles [who do not know the Lord] do that? 48 You, therefore, will be perfect [growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life], as your heavenly Father is perfect.(C)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:44 The key to understanding this and other statements about love is to know that this love (the Greek word agape) is not so much a matter of emotion as it is of doing things for the benefit of another person, that is, having an unselfish concern for another and a willingness to seek the best for another.