Sign in
MATTHEW 5:47 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Matt 5:46Matt 5:48
“And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?”
And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? The greeting restriction — greeting only the in-group — is the everyday small-scale version of love restricted to the in-group. Even the Gentiles greet their own community. The what more are you doing than others? question is the Sermon's consistent challenge to religion that merely matches the best available alternatives: the disciples are called to exceed, not merely to match. The greeting that extends to strangers and enemies is the daily enactment of the love that extends to enemies.

Church Fathers on Matthew 5:47

The Lord has taught above that we must not resist one who offers any injury, but must be ready even to suffer more; He now further requires us to shew to them that do us wrong both love and its effects. And as the things that have gone before pertain to the completion of the righteousness of the Law, in like manner this last precept is to be referred to the completion of the law of love, which, according to the Apostle, is the fulfilling of the Law.

Gloss (Glossa Ordinaria) · medieval compilation · non occ.

That by the command, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour,' all mankind were intended, the Lord shewed in the parable of the man who was left half dead, which teaches us that our neighbour is every one who may happen at any time to stand in need of our offices of mercy; and this who does not see must be denied to none, when the Lord says, 'Do good to them that hate you.'

Augustine · 4th century · de Doctr. Christ., i, 30

As that, Thou shalt not lust, was not spoken to the flesh, but to the spirit, so in this the flesh indeed is not able to love its enemy, but the spirit is able; for the love and hate of the flesh is in the sense, but of the spirit is in the understanding. If then we feel hate to one who has wronged us, and yet will not to act upon that feeling, know that our flesh hates our enemy, but our soul loves him.

Pseudo-Chrysostom · 5th century
Read all 26 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!
Matthew 5:47 — Community Reflections | HolyStudy