Matthew 5:43-48
Matthew 5:46-48
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
By: Rev. Lauren
Parliament
Matthew 5:43-48
(43) “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
(44) But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those whop persecute you,
(45) That you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
(46) If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
(47) And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
(48) Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Love is a Lifestyle
In Matthew 5:43–48, Jesus teaches us how to treat all people—not only those who are easy to love or who love us in return. He challenges us to stop measuring out love in portions and to resist the urge to withhold grace and generosity from those we may consider enemies or outsiders. Instead, Jesus calls us to live differently than what the world expects. He invites us into a higher way of living, shaped by the wisdom we receive from him. In this passage, Jesus shows us three practical ways to live out that wisdom: to speak well, to do well, and to pray well—even, and especially, for those who are hardest to love.
First, Jesus calls us to speak well. In other words, what you say matters and how you say it. When Jesus calls us to love our enemies, the first place that love often shows up—or fails to show up—is in our words. Speaking well does not mean pretending harm never happened or approving of wrongdoing. Instead, it means choosing words that reflect the character of God rather than the reflexes of our wounded hearts.
Second, Jesus calls us to do well to those who dislike or hate you. This dislike could be caused by a difference of opinion, belief, lifestyle, or assumptions. Jesus never intended love to remain in our words but must take shape in our actions. Jesus moves us from sentiment to practice in this passage. To do well, we are to live out the wisdom of Christ through intentional acts of goodness, especially towards those we expect nothing in return.
Third, Jesus calls us to pray for those who persecute you. This is where true wisdom is given by God and by us, for if speaking well shapes our words and doing well shapes our actions, then praying well shapes our hearts. This is where Jesus takes us deepest. Loving enemies becomes possible only when our inner life is transformed—when we bring even our most difficult relationships honestly before God. Jesus does not simply tell us to tolerate our enemies or ignore them. He commands us to pray for them. That instruction is radical because prayer has a way of reshaping us before it ever changes anyone else. This is where wisdom is given and grasped.
Jesus’ call in Matthew 5 is not complicated, but it is costly. He invites us into a fuller kind of love—one that speaks well, does well, and prays well. This is the love that marks us as children of our heavenly Father. It shows up in our words, is proven by our actions, and is sustained through prayer. As we live this way, we are a witness to a kingdom that looks different from the world, a kingdom shaped not by retaliation, but by grace. May our lives reflect the wisdom we gain in growing in God’s likeness each day!
Lord,
We pray for you to have us reflect on our actions and lifestyle. Give us pause before we speak. Give us the recognition to see what people need. Give us the desires of your heart! Teach us to speak with grace and love, act with mercy and compassion, and pray with faith and boldness. May our lives reflect Your love and bear witness to Your kingdom. AMEN