Matthew 5:46

46 What reward do you get if you love only those who love you? Why, even tax-collectors do that!

Matthew 5:46 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 5:46

For if ye love them which love you
That is, if ye only love such that love you; for that such who love should be loved again, is both natural and just: our Lord's meaning is not, that ye ought not to love them that love you, but that these should not be the only objects of your love; for should this be the case,

what reward have ye?
or "shall ye have?" Do you deserve any thanks for your love now? none at all, it is what you are obliged to by your friend's love to you. Do you expect any hereafter with God? if you do, you will be mistaken; you have your reward with men, who have loved you as much as you have done them, and therefore none can be due to you, either from God or men: besides,

do not even the publicans the same?
men of the worst characters, and who were most hateful to the Jews, upon many accounts; partly because of their business, which was to collect the Roman tax, and carry it to the proper officers appointed to receive it, and of whom they sometimes farmed it. Now the Roman yoke was very grievous to the Jews, who boasted of their being a free people; nor did they willingly pay their tribute money; and some of them would refuse to do it, under a pretence of religion; wherefore those publicans, or tax gatherers, which were oftentimes men of their own nation, as appears from the instances of Levi and Zacchaeus, were very odious to them; because they looked upon them as joining with the Romans, in oppressing them, and abridging them in their liberty: and partly because of their character and conduct, being men of great improbity, rapine, and covetousness: hence, as in the New Testament, they are frequently joined with "sinners", as being notorious ones themselves; so in the Talmudic writings, with thieves ^F1, and are reckoned as thieves, with murderers, and robbers ^F2; they were not allowed as witnesses ^F3 in any of their courts of judicature; nor were they to be kept company ^F4 with in private houses. Now our Lord instances in these men who were the most profligate part of the nation, and had in greatest contempt by the rest; and yet these, by the very dictates of nature, loved such as loved them: wherefore it must be shameful and scandalous in the Pharisees, and others, who pretended to great sanctity and religion, to do no more than these persons did.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 Maimon. Hilch. Gezela, c. 5. sect. 9. 11.
F2 Misn. Nedarim, c. 3. sect. 4.
F3 T. Bab. Sanhedrim, fol. 25. 2. Maimon. Hilch. Eduth, c. 10. sect. 4. Moses Kotsensis Mitzvot Tora pr. neg. 214.
F4 Maimon. Hilch. Mishcab, c. 10. sect. 8.

Matthew 5:46 In-Context

44 But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

45 Then you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike.

46 What reward do you get if you love only those who love you? Why, even tax-collectors do that!

47 And if you are friendly only to your friends, are you doing anything out of the ordinary? Even the Goyim do that!

48 Therefore, be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.