Matthew 5:46
What does Matthew 5:46 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 5:46 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 5:46 means
Jesus challenges the common, self-serving forms of love. He asks, if you only love those who love you in return, "what reward have ye?" He points out that even "publicans" (tax collectors, often despised as greedy and corrupt) practice this kind of reciprocal love. The implication is that such love, transactional and conditional, falls short of God's standard and merits no special commendation or heavenly reward, as it merely mirrors fallen human nature.
Matthew 5:46 in context
Matthew 5 — The Beatitudes
Jesus opens his Sermon on the Mount with eight pronouncements that turn the world's value system upside down. Blessing belongs not to the proud and self-sufficient but to the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the hungry for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. In a few sentences he sketches the character of the citizens of the kingdom of heaven, and then calls them salt of the earth and light of the world.
- Kingdom ethics
- Inner righteousness
- True blessedness
- Light and salt
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
KJV
King James Version · 1611For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For if you have love for those who have love for you, what credit is it to you? do not the tax-farmers the same?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`For, if ye may love those loving you, what reward have ye? do not also the tax-gatherers the same?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? do not even the publicans this?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For if ye should love those who love you, what reward have ye? Do not also the tax-gatherers the same?
Context
This verse provides a rhetorical question buttressing the call to love enemies (verse 44) by exposing the inadequacy of limited love. It highlights that loving only those who love you is not extraordinary, setting up a parallel argument in the next verse about greeting only brethren, reinforcing the need for radical, God-like love.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 18:17
And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican.
- Luke 18:13
But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner.
- Luke 15:1
Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto him to hear him.
- 1 Peter 2:20
For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted for it, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
- Matthew 11:19
The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! And wisdom is justified by her works.
- Matthew 21:31
Which of the two did the will of his father? They say, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
Sermon ideas from Matthew 5:46
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What Matthew 5:46 teaches us about kingdom ethics
What Matthew 5:46 teaches us about inner righteousness
What Matthew 5:46 teaches us about true blessedness
What Matthew 5:46 teaches us about light and salt
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