Matthew 5:43

KJV

¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

KJV (with Strong's)

Ye have heard {G191} that {G3754} it hath been said {G4483}, Thou shalt love {G25} thy {G4675} neighbour {G4139}, and {G2532} hate {G3404} thine {G4675} enemy {G2190}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"You have heard that our fathers were told, `Love your neighbors -- and hate your enemy.'

Berean Standard Bible

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’

American Standard Version

Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 5:43 introduces a common, yet distorted, interpretation of Old Testament law prevalent in Jesus' day, setting the stage for His radical redefinition of love. The verse quotes the legitimate command to "love thy neighbour" but appends a human tradition to "hate thine enemy," a concept not explicitly found in the Mosaic Law. This juxtaposition highlights the contrast between conventional societal ethics and the profound, transformative ethic of the Kingdom of God that Jesus is about to unveil, challenging His listeners to move beyond tribalistic love to a divine, all-encompassing compassion.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal part of Jesus' [Sermon on the Mount](/matthew/5-7 "Matthew 5-7 - The Sermon on the Mount"), specifically within a series of "antitheses" (Matthew 5:21-48). In this section, Jesus takes six traditional interpretations or applications of the Mosaic Law, prefacing each with "You have heard that it was said" (or similar phrasing), and then offering His authoritative, deeper understanding with "But I say to you." This structure demonstrates Jesus' role not as one who abolishes the Law, but as one who fulfills it by revealing its true, profound intent. Matthew 5:43 serves as the "you have heard" statement for the final and arguably most challenging antithesis, which culminates in the command to love one's enemies in [Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies"). The preceding antitheses dealt with murder, adultery, divorce, and oaths, progressively moving from external actions to internal dispositions, preparing the audience for the ultimate test of the heart: loving those who oppose them.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** During Jesus' time, the interpretation of "neighbor" (Hebrew: _rea'_ ) in [Leviticus 19:18](/leviticus/19-18 "Leviticus 19:18 - Love Your Neighbor as Yourself") had often narrowed to refer primarily to fellow Israelites or those within one's community or religious sect. The sentiment "hate thine enemy" was not a direct command from the Old Testament Law but likely developed from a combination of factors: nationalistic fervor against occupying powers or hostile nations, a misapplication of passages describing God's judgment on Israel's enemies, and a natural human inclination to reciprocate hostility. While the Old Testament did not explicitly command hatred of enemies, it also did not explicitly command love for them in the same way it did for fellow Israelites. This cultural understanding created a dualistic ethic where love was extended to one's own, and animosity was permitted, if not encouraged, towards outsiders or adversaries. Jesus directly confronts this limited, human-centric ethic.
* **Key Themes:** Matthew 5:43 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the Sermon on the Mount and the Gospel of Matthew. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Jesus as the Fulfiller of the Law**, demonstrating that His teaching clarifies and elevates the Law beyond superficial obedience or human tradition. He reveals the true spirit and radical demands of God's righteousness. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **Radical Righteousness**, emphasizing that true righteousness surpasses the external observance of the scribes and Pharisees (as stated in [Matthew 5:20](/matthew/5-20 "Matthew 5:20 - Righteousness Exceeds the Pharisees")). The command to love enemies is the epitome of this higher righteousness, reflecting God's own character. Thirdly, the verse sets up the theme of **The Kingdom Ethic**, presenting a counter-cultural way of living that distinguishes the citizens of God's Kingdom from the world. This ethic is not based on reciprocity or tribal loyalty, but on divine love, which is expansive and unconditional, even towards those who are hostile, as seen in [Matthew 5:45](/matthew/5-45 "Matthew 5:45 - God's Impartial Love").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Love (Greek, _agapáō_):** This verb signifies a volitional, self-sacrificial, and unconditional love, distinct from mere affection or familial bond (though it can include those). It is the highest form of love, often associated with God's character and His actions toward humanity. In this context, Jesus refers to the command from [Leviticus 19:18](/leviticus/19-18 "Leviticus 19:18 - Love Your Neighbor as Yourself"), which uses a similar concept of steadfast commitment and care.
* **Hate (Greek, _miséō_):** This verb means to detest, abhor, or persecute. It represents a strong aversion or hostility. While the Old Testament does not command hatred of enemies, this word captures the prevailing sentiment or practical outworking of the limited "love your neighbor" interpretation, where those outside the "neighbor" category were implicitly or explicitly treated with animosity. Jesus uses this word to expose the stark contrast between the human tradition and God's true intention.
* **Enemy (Greek, _echthrós_):** Derived from a root meaning "to hate," this noun refers to an adversary, foe, or one who is hostile. It can denote personal enemies, national enemies, or even spiritual adversaries. By including this term, Jesus directly addresses the human tendency to categorize people into "us" and "them," allowing for animosity towards the latter, and prepares to dismantle this distinction with His revolutionary command.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Ye have heard that it hath been said":** This introductory phrase, a common formula in the Sermon on the Mount, indicates that Jesus is quoting a widely accepted teaching or interpretation, rather than a direct, singular Old Testament command. It suggests a popular maxim or a rabbinic tradition that had gained currency among the people, possibly a composite of scriptural understanding and human inference. Jesus is not refuting Scripture but correcting a misapplication or a limited understanding of it.
* **"Thou shalt love thy neighbour":** This clause is a direct quotation from [Leviticus 19:18](/leviticus/19-18 "Leviticus 19:18 - Love Your Neighbor as Yourself"), which states, "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord." This command was foundational to Israelite ethics, emphasizing care and respect within the community. Jesus affirms the validity and importance of this command, but His subsequent teaching will expand the definition of "neighbor."
* **"and hate thine enemy":** This clause is the human addition, a popular inference or tradition that had no explicit basis in the Mosaic Law. While the Old Testament often depicted God's judgment against Israel's enemies and sometimes called for their defeat, it never commanded individual Israelites to harbor personal hatred for them. In fact, there were instances of kindness towards enemies (e.g., [Exodus 23:4-5](/exodus/23-4-5 "Exodus 23:4-5 - Kindness to an Enemy's Animal")). This added clause reflects a common human tendency to define one's identity and community by excluding or opposing those outside of it.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 5:43 primarily employs **Antithesis**, a literary device that juxtaposes contrasting ideas to highlight their differences. Here, the antithesis is between the affirmed command to "love thy neighbour" and the added, unscriptural injunction to "hate thine enemy." This stark contrast sets up the subsequent radical teaching of Jesus in [Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies"), where He directly challenges and overturns the "hate thine enemy" part. The phrase "Ye have heard that it hath been said" functions as a **Rhetorical Formula**, a recurring pattern Jesus uses throughout this section of the Sermon on the Mount to introduce a traditional teaching before presenting His authoritative, deeper interpretation. This formula emphasizes Jesus' unique authority to interpret and fulfill the Law. The verse also implicitly uses **Irony**, as the very people who claimed to uphold God's law had, through tradition, added a command that contradicted the spirit of God's expansive love.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 5:43 serves as a crucial theological bridge, connecting the Old Covenant's ethical framework with the radical demands of the New Covenant inaugurated by Christ. It reveals that while the Law commanded love for one's "neighbor," human interpretation had often limited this love and, conversely, sanctioned animosity towards outsiders. Jesus exposes this human distortion, preparing His audience for a divine standard of love that transcends tribalism and self-interest. Theologically, this verse underscores God's own impartial nature, as He "makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" ([Matthew 5:45](/matthew/5-45 "Matthew 5:45 - God's Impartiality")). It challenges the notion that love should be conditional or reciprocal, pushing believers towards a love that imitates the boundless grace and mercy of God Himself, a love that seeks the good of all, even those who are hostile.

* [Leviticus 19:18](/leviticus/19-18 "Leviticus 19:18 - Love Your Neighbor as Yourself")
* [Romans 12:17-21](/romans/12-17-21 "Romans 12:17-21 - Overcoming Evil with Good")
* [Luke 6:27-28](/luke/6-27-28 "Luke 6:27-28 - Love Your Enemies and Pray for Them")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 5:43 is a profound challenge to our natural human inclinations and societal norms. It forces us to examine where our understanding of love and justice might be limited by cultural traditions, personal biases, or even misinterpretations of scripture. We are often tempted to love only those who love us, those who are "like us," or those who benefit us. This verse, however, reveals that the Kingdom of God operates on a different principle—a principle of expansive, unconditional love that extends even to those we perceive as adversaries. It calls us to critically evaluate our attitudes towards those outside our immediate circle, those with differing views, or those who have wronged us. Are we allowing human traditions or our own fallen nature to dictate whom we love and whom we hate? This verse prepares our hearts for the radical call to emulate God's character, which is marked by a love that seeks the good of all, regardless of their deservingness. It prompts us to move beyond mere tolerance to active benevolence, praying for and seeking the welfare of even our "enemies," thereby becoming true children of our Father in heaven.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What cultural or personal traditions might be subtly influencing my understanding of whom I am obligated to love, and whom I am permitted to dislike or disregard?**
* **How does the concept of "hating my enemy" manifest in my thoughts, words, or actions today, even if subtly?**
* **In what specific situations do I find it most challenging to extend love or kindness, and what steps can I take to cultivate a more Christ-like attitude in those areas?**

### FAQ
**Was "hate thine enemy" an actual command in the Old Testament Law?**

Answer: No, the phrase "hate thine enemy" was not an explicit command found in the Mosaic Law or anywhere in the Old Testament. While [Leviticus 19:18](/leviticus/19-18 "Leviticus 19:18 - Love Your Neighbor as Yourself") clearly states, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," the addition about hating one's enemy was a popular interpretation or tradition that developed among some Jewish teachers and communities. This tradition likely arose from a narrow understanding of "neighbor" (often limited to fellow Israelites) and a misapplication of passages describing God's judgment on Israel's national enemies. Jesus corrects this human addition, revealing the true, expansive spirit of God's Law.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 5:43, with its stark contrast between human tradition and divine truth, finds its ultimate fulfillment and radical redefinition in Jesus Christ. He is not only the one who exposes the inadequacy of the "hate thine enemy" ethic but also the living embodiment and perfect example of the boundless love He commands. Jesus did not merely teach love for enemies; He lived it. His entire ministry was characterized by reaching out to the marginalized, the outcast, and even those who opposed Him. The pinnacle of this enemy-loving grace is seen on the cross, where, while being crucified by His adversaries, He prayed, "[Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do](/luke/23-34 "Luke 23:34 - Jesus' Prayer for His Executioners")" ([Luke 23:34](/luke/23-34 "Luke 23:34 - Jesus' Prayer for His Executioners")). Through His death, Christ reconciled humanity to God, turning enemies into friends ([Romans 5:10](/romans/5-10 "Romans 5:10 - Reconciled Through Christ's Death")). The New Covenant, established through His blood, empowers believers by the Holy Spirit to love with this divine, self-sacrificial _agape_ love, enabling them to "[bless those who persecute you](/romans/12-14 "Romans 12:14 - Bless Those Who Persecute You")" ([Romans 12:14](/romans/12-14 "Romans 12:14 - Bless Those Who Persecute You")) and "[overcome evil with good](/romans/12-21 "Romans 12:21 - Overcome Evil with Good")" ([Romans 12:21](/romans/12-21 "Romans 12:21 - Overcome Evil with Good")). Thus, Jesus fulfills the Law's true intent by embodying and enabling a love that transcends all human limitations, transforming hearts to reflect the very character of God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Leviticus 19:18

Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I [am] the LORD.

Psalms 139:21

Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

Psalms 139:22

I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

Galatians 5:13

¶ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Galatians 5:14

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Matthew 19:19

Honour thy father and [thy] mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Romans 13:8

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.