Matthew 5:42 kjv
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
Matthew 5:42 nkjv
Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
Matthew 5:42 niv
Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Matthew 5:42 esv
Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Matthew 5:42 nlt
Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow.
Matthew 5 42 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Foundational Principles / OT Wisdom | ||
| Deut 15:7-11 | "If there is among you a needy person... you shall surely open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need..." | Commands open-handedness to the needy. |
| Prov 19:17 | "Whoever gives to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." | Giving to poor is lending to God. |
| Prov 28:27 | "Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse." | Blessings for giving, curses for withholding. |
| Lev 25:35-37 | "If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him... do not exact interest." | Help fellow Israelite without interest. |
| Psa 37:26 | "He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing." | Characteristic of the righteous. |
| NT Parallels / Clarifications from Jesus | ||
| Lk 6:30 | "Give to everyone who asks you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back." | Parallel command, broader context of non-retaliation. |
| Lk 6:34-35 | "And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? ... lend to them without expecting to get anything back." | Explicitly clarifies lending without expectation of return. |
| Lk 6:38 | "Give, and it will be given to you... For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." | Principle of generous giving and return. |
| Mt 5:43-48 | "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies..." | Immediately precedes, expanding generosity to enemies. |
| Early Church Practice / Apostles' Teaching | ||
| Acts 2:44-45 | "And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need." | Practical example of radical generosity. |
| Acts 4:32 | "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common." | Early church's communal sharing. |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." | Giving should be voluntary and joyful. |
| Gal 6:10 | "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." | Broader principle of doing good. |
| 1 Jn 3:17-18 | "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?" | Connecting practical aid with God's love. |
| Jas 2:15-16 | "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace,'... without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?" | Faith evidenced by practical help for needy. |
| Rom 12:8 | "...the one who contributes, in generosity..." | Encourage generosity in giving. |
| Heb 13:16 | "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." | Doing good and sharing are pleasing to God. |
| Underlying Principles | ||
| Mt 6:1-4 | "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them... when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing..." | Giving should be in secret, for God's glory. |
| Lk 14:12-14 | "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends... But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed." | Hospitality towards those who cannot repay. |
| Phil 4:19 | "And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." | God provides as His people give. |
| 1 Tim 6:17-19 | "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty... to do good, to be rich in good works, generous and ready to share." | Instructions for the wealthy to be generous. |
Matthew 5 verses
Matthew 5 42 Meaning
Matthew 5:42 commands believers to be radically generous and open-handed. It instructs followers of Jesus to give freely to those who ask for assistance and not to turn away from those who wish to borrow. This teaching emphasizes unconditional compassion, a willingness to sacrifice personal resources, and a heart attitude of selfless love, extending help without expecting repayment or reciprocity. It signifies a fundamental shift from self-interest to actively meeting the needs of others.
Matthew 5 42 Context
Matthew 5:42 is a central component of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), specifically within His teachings on "righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees" (Mt 5:20). Coming after directives on turning the other cheek and going the extra mile, this verse extends the principle of radical, counter-intuitive love and generosity. It challenges the conventional understanding of reciprocity common in both Jewish and Roman cultures, where loans or favors were often expected to be repaid, sometimes with interest, or given primarily to friends. Jesus emphasizes an inner righteousness that manifests as self-giving compassion towards anyone in need, even those who cannot, or might not, repay. This teaching is a precursor to the command to "love your enemies" (Mt 5:43-48), showing that the same spirit of unqualified benevolence should characterize all relationships.
Matthew 5 42 Word analysis
- Δός (Dos) – Give: A strong, unhesitating command (aorist imperative) meaning "to hand over, bestow, grant, impart." It signifies an act of definite, decisive giving. This is not about deliberating but a ready inclination to respond.
- τῷ αἰτοῦντί (tō aitounti) – to the one who asks: "αἰτέω (aiteō)" refers to a simple request or asking, implying a direct approach for something. The present participle indicates a continuous state—the ongoing reality of someone being in need and asking for help. The emphasis is on the individual's need rather than their worthiness or ability to repay.
- σε (se) – you: The direct object. The request is specifically directed towards the hearer of Jesus' teaching, making the command personal and immediate.
- καὶ (kai) – and: This conjunction links the two commands, emphasizing they are two aspects of the same principle of radical generosity: direct giving and permissive lending.
- τὸν θέλοντα (ton thelonta) – the one who wants: "θέλω (thelō)" means "to will, wish, desire, intend." The present participle denotes someone who expresses a desire or intent to borrow, highlighting their need or situation that necessitates a loan. It's not just someone who happens to take, but someone in genuine desire/need.
- ἀπὸ σοῦ (apo sou) – from you: Specifies the source of the requested loan. The generosity is to come directly from the believer.
- δανίσασθαι (danisasthai) – to borrow: "δανίζω (danizō)" in the active means "to lend" and in the middle/passive "to borrow." Here, it’s the latter. This term specifically refers to financial or material loans, setting the instruction apart from general charity and directly challenging a common reluctance to lend money, especially without guarantee of repayment.
- μὴ ἀποστραφῇς (mē apostraphēs) – do not turn away/turn your back: A strong prohibition. "ἀποστρέφω (apostrephō)" means "to turn back, avert, refuse, reject." The passive implies allowing oneself to be turned away, or to be turned from (i.e., by the person requesting). In essence, it's "do not refuse" or "do not push them away." It forbids an active posture of rejection or coldheartedness toward the one in need.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- Give to the one who asks you: This phrase establishes a fundamental principle of responsiveness to others' expressed needs. It demands an active and ready disposition to part with what one possesses when directly solicited. It extends beyond simple charity to a posture of constant readiness to help.
- and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you: This second part reinforces and specifies the first. It tackles the practical and often sensitive area of loans, where fear of non-repayment or personal loss can deter generosity. "Do not turn away" is a powerful command against hard-heartedness, emphasizing a welcoming, benevolent stance even in a situation that traditionally carries risk or obligation. The combination portrays a pervasive, Christ-like generosity that actively seeks to alleviate suffering and fulfill legitimate needs.
Matthew 5 42 Bonus section
The profound challenge of Matthew 5:42 lies in its demand for unconditional trust and detachment from material possessions. It tests whether our resources are truly available for God's purposes through the needs of others. This command aligns with the wider theme of spiritual poverty and dependence on God (Mt 5:3) – in becoming truly "poor in spirit," believers are liberated from the grip of possessions and fear, enabling them to share freely. The underlying principle is about aligning our hearts with the giving nature of God the Father (Mt 5:45), extending goodness to all, regardless of merit or future benefit to oneself. This radical generosity becomes a tangible demonstration of true righteousness and kingdom values.
Matthew 5 42 Commentary
Matthew 5:42 is a powerful statement about the nature of kingdom righteousness, demonstrating God's own generosity. It moves beyond outward legalistic obedience to demand a radical heart attitude of self-giving love. Jesus' teaching here is not to be interpreted as a blanket command to fulfill every request indiscriminately, especially if it would enable harm or sinful behavior. Rather, it speaks to a spirit of benevolent readiness to help those in genuine need, prioritizing the needs of the individual over the potential personal cost or convenience. The implication from parallel texts (Luke 6:34-35) suggests an expectation that one might not receive repayment for such loans, thereby elevating lending to an act of pure charity. This verse calls believers to reflect the uncalculating love of God, who gives freely and abundantly even to the undeserving, challenging them to move from a transactional view of relationships to one defined by unconditional agape.
- Example: A neighbor needs tools for a critical repair but cannot afford them. Instead of calculating how likely they are to return the tools, the believer, guided by this verse, readily lends them.
- Example: A colleague is facing an unexpected financial hardship and asks for a small, short-term loan. The believer lends the money, understanding that true generosity includes a willingness to not press for repayment if circumstances prevent it.