![]() The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche argued in his treatise On the Genealogy of Morality (1887) that love of one's enemies is weakness and dishonesty (see Master–slave morality). Early church thinkers also saw this as one of Jesus' most important teachings. The author of Matthew places this verse in the final antithesis, a summary of all that been stated in the Sermon. This term occurs seven more times in Matthew, and 140 times in the NT. Rather the author of Matthew uses agapan, which Barclay translates as continued benevolence. The Greek words for love for a family member, stergein sexual love, eros and deep affection, philia are not used in this verse. Barclay notes that Greek had four different words that are normally translated as love. The meaning of the word love is more restricted in Greek than in English. The entire Jewish community at both the time of Jesus and the latter 1st century had been subject to persecution by the Romans (see History of the Jews in the Roman Empire, Persecution of Christians in the New Testament, and Anti-Christian policies in the Roman Empire). In this verse, persecutors are specifically mentioned at the time of its writing (approximately the last quarter of the 1st century), the Christian community had recently faced considerable persecution under Nero. "Enemies" is a broad term for all manner of foes and adversaries. WikiProject Rome may be able to help recruit an expert. The present text shows little awareness of the dynamics of Roman-Jewish and Roman-Christian relations. ![]() The specific problem is: The intent of this paragraph is to put the passage in historical context, and it needs the attention of authors familiar with this historical context. This section needs attention from an expert in Rome. The World English Bible translates the passage as:īut I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, ![]() In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:īut I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you In the chapter, Jesus refutes the teaching of some that one should "hate enemies".Ĭontent The Greek text of Matthew 5:42-45 with a decorated headpiece in Folio 51 recto of Lectionary 240 (12th century) This is the second verse of the final antithesis, that on the commandment to " Love thy neighbour as thyself". Matthew 5:44, the forty-fourth verse in the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament, also found in Luke 6:27–36, is part of the Sermon on the Mount. Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.Sermon on the Mount, altarpiece by Henrik Olrik (1830–1890) at Sankt Matthæus Kirke, Copenhagen, Denmark. They ask me of things that I do not know.ġ4 I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother ġ5 But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered ġ8 I will thank you in the great congregation īut against those who are quiet in the landĢ1 They open wide their mouths against me Ģ3 Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication, The poor and needy from him who robs him?” Without cause they dug a pit for my life.Ĩ Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it! With the angel of the LORD pursuing them!ħ For without cause they hid their net for me With the angel of the LORD driving them away! 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.ģ5:1 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me įight against those who fight against me!ĥ Let them be like chaff before the wind, 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.ģ2 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. ![]() 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
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