Matthew 5:46

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

For {G1063} if {G1437} ye love {G25} them which {G3588} love {G25} you {G5209}, what {G5101} reward {G3408} have ye {G2192}? do {G4160} not {G3780} even {G2532} the publicans {G5057} the same {G846}?

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

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?

For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

Commentary

Matthew 5:46 is a pivotal verse within Jesus' revolutionary teaching on love in the Sermon on the Mount. It challenges the conventional understanding of human relationships and sets a higher standard for the followers of Christ.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' extended discourse on righteousness, which calls His disciples to a standard that surpasses the mere outward observance of the Law. Specifically, it falls within the section where Jesus redefines the concept of love, moving beyond the traditional "eye for an eye" (Matthew 5:38) or even the Old Testament command to "love your neighbour" (Leviticus 19:18). Just two verses prior, Jesus famously commands His followers to "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Matthew 5:46 serves as a rhetorical question to underscore the inadequacy of reciprocal love as a mark of true discipleship.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Unconditional Love: The core message is that true, divine love (agape) is not based on merit or reciprocity. It extends even to those who do not love back.
  • Distinguishing Christian Ethics: Jesus highlights that merely loving those who love you is a common human trait, practiced even by those considered morally deficient, such as the publicans. This emphasizes that followers of Christ are called to a higher, distinctive ethical standard that reflects God's character.
  • The Nature of Reward: Jesus questions the "reward" for conventional love. This implies that such actions, while natural, do not yield the spiritual or divine recompense that comes from acting out of a heart transformed by God, as discussed further in Matthew 6:1.

Linguistic Insights

The term "publicans" (Greek: telōnΔ“s) refers to tax collectors in ancient Judea. These individuals were generally despised by their Jewish countrymen because they often extorted more money than was due, enriching themselves at the expense of others, and collaborated with the Roman occupying power. By referencing them, Jesus makes a powerful point: if even such morally compromised individuals can manage to love those who love them, then this type of love cannot be the distinguishing mark of God's people. The word "reward" (Greek: misthos) here signifies a wage or recompense, implying that a reciprocal love offers no special merit in God's eyes.

Practical Application

Matthew 5:46 challenges believers to examine the nature of their love. It calls us to move beyond superficial relationships and natural human inclinations. For us today, it means extending kindness, forgiveness, and genuine concern not only to friends and family but also to rivals, critics, and those who may oppose us. This radical love is a powerful testimony to the transforming power of God's Spirit within us, reflecting the very character of God Himself, who "maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good" (Matthew 5:45). Ultimately, this verse serves as a stepping stone to the climactic command in Matthew 5:48: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

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Cross-References

  • Luke 6:32

    For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

  • Luke 6:35

    But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and [to] the evil.

  • 1 Peter 2:20

    For what glory [is it], if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye take it patiently, this [is] acceptable with God.

  • 1 Peter 2:23

    Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:

  • Matthew 11:19

    The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

  • Matthew 9:10

    And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

  • Matthew 9:11

    And when the Pharisees saw [it], they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
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