You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? 48 So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Jesus had previously told the crowd, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill (Mt. 5:17).” In this passage on loving your enemies, he gave them the sixth example of the true interpretation of the Mosaic Law with respect to love and retaliation. He challenged the common understanding of love and hate at that time. Only the first part of Jesus’ quote is found in the OT, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Lev. 19:18).” There is no specific OT quotation, ‘hate your enemy,’ but that appears to be the general sentiment of that time.
Jesus challenged that understanding and reinterpreted the Torah as he continued his teaching on love and retaliation. We should treat everyone as a neighbor, extend a loving hand to them, and pray for them. In so doing we will truly be God’s children. God's grace is bestowed upon all and through nature, he blesses both the righteous and the unrighteous. His disciples should not love only those who love them in return like the dishonest and corrupt Tax collectors do. His followers must be exceptional in loving others and not show kindness to only those in their own clique. Jesus told his followers to strive for perfection in the way they demonstrate their love and compassion which would be a reflection of God’s perfect love.
Almighty God, in your love and generosity, help us to imitate Christ and be willing to love as you love so that we may mirror your perfection and truly be your children. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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