Read Verse Keyword Strong's
Prev

Matthew 5:43

Next

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

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}.

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

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

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

Commentary

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' famous Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7), where He presents a deeper understanding of God's law and the nature of true righteousness. In this section, Jesus addresses several traditional interpretations of the Old Testament law, often prefacing His remarks with "Ye have heard that it hath been said..." followed by His transformative teaching, "But I say unto you..." This specific verse sets up a contrast with the radical command Jesus is about to give regarding love for enemies.

Key Themes

  • Challenging Human Tradition: Jesus highlights a common teaching of His day that had become ingrained in society. While "Thou shalt love thy neighbour" is a direct quote from Leviticus 19:18, the addition "and hate thine enemy" was a popular interpretation or tradition among some Jewish teachers, not an explicit command from the Mosaic Law itself. This tradition likely stemmed from nationalistic sentiment or misinterpretations of Old Testament passages concerning Israel's enemies.
  • The Limited Scope of "Neighbour": In the context of the Old Testament, "neighbour" (Hebrew: rea) primarily referred to a fellow Israelite or someone within one's community. The traditional interpretation of the day often limited the scope of love to those within one's own group, implicitly allowing for animosity towards outsiders or adversaries.
  • Setting the Stage for Radical Love: This verse serves as a foil for Jesus' revolutionary teaching in the subsequent verse (Matthew 5:44), where He expands the definition of love to include even those who are hostile.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Ye have heard that it hath been said" indicates that Jesus is quoting a well-known maxim or interpretation, rather than a direct, singular Old Testament verse. While the first part, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour," is a clear command from the Law (Leviticus 19:18), the second part, "and hate thine enemy," is a human addition. The Old Testament did not command hatred of enemies; rather, it often encouraged justice and even kindness to strangers and those in need, even if they were not fellow Israelites (e.g., Exodus 23:4-5).

Practical Application

Matthew 5:43 reveals that human interpretations can sometimes distort the true spirit of God's law. For us today, it challenges the natural human tendency to love only those who love us, or to extend grace only to those within our circle. It highlights the need to critically examine traditions and cultural norms against the pure teaching of Christ. This verse prepares us for Jesus' call to a higher, more selfless love that reflects God's own character, a love that transcends boundaries and challenges prejudice, paving the way for reconciliation and true peace.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 19:18 (26 votes)

    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 (18 votes)

    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 (18 votes)

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

  • Galatians 5:13 (15 votes)

    ¶ 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 (15 votes)

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

  • Matthew 19:19 (12 votes)

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

  • Romans 13:8 (10 votes)

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