Matthew 5:46
44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?
- KJV
- For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
- WEB
- For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
- ASV
- For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
- DARBY
- For if ye should love those who love you, what reward have ye? Do not also the tax-gatherers the same?
- BLB
- For if you⁺ love those loving you⁺, what reward do you⁺ have? Do not also the tax collectors do the same?
- ÅB
- For om dere elsker dem som elsker dere, hvilken lønn har dere da? Gjør ikke også tollerne det samme?
- OTB
- Om dere elsker dem som elsker dere, hvilken lønn får dere da? Gjør ikke også tollerne det samme?
- B1930
- For om I elsker dem som elsker eder, hvad lønn har I da? Gjør ikke også tolderne det samme?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Luke 6:32–35
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
Read in context1 Peter 2:20–23
How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
Read in contextMatthew 11:19
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”
Read in contextMatthew 9:10–11
Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples.
Read in contextMatthew 18:17
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Read in contextLuke 18:13
But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’
Read in contextLuke 15:1
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.
Read in contextMatthew 6:1
“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Read in context