Matthew 5:47
What does Matthew 5:47 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 5:47 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 5:47 means
Continuing His critique of limited love, Jesus asks what extraordinary thing one does by merely greeting "your brethren only." He points out that even "the Gentiles" (non-Jews, often viewed as morally inferior by some Jews) do the same. This illustrates that extending kindness only to one's own group, family, or social circle is not evidence of a transformed, Kingdom-oriented righteousness. True righteousness extends beyond these narrow boundaries.
Matthew 5:47 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 · 2000And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?
KJV
King James Version · 1611And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And if you say, Good day, to your brothers only, what do you do more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and if ye may salute your brethren only, what do ye abundant? do not also the tax-gatherers so?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not also the heathens this?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And if ye should salute your brethren only, what do ye extraordinary? Do not also the Gentiles the same?
Context
This verse reinforces the argument from verse 46, further underscoring the mediocrity of restricted love by using another common social practice: greeting only those within one's own group. This brings the series of contrasts to a head, leading directly to the culminating command for perfection in the final verse of the chapter.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 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 5:20
For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
- Luke 10:4
Carry no purse, no wallet, no shoes; and salute no man on the way.
- Luke 6:32
And if ye love them that love you, what thank have ye? for even sinners love those that love them.
Sermon ideas from Matthew 5:47
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What Matthew 5:47 teaches us about kingdom ethics
What Matthew 5:47 teaches us about inner righteousness
What Matthew 5:47 teaches us about true blessedness
What Matthew 5:47 teaches us about light and salt
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