Matthew 5 46

Matthew 5:46 kjv

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

Matthew 5:46 nkjv

For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

Matthew 5:46 niv

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

Matthew 5:46 esv

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

Matthew 5:46 nlt

If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.

Matthew 5 verses

Matthew 5 46 Meaning

Matthew 5:46 teaches that loving only those who love you in return brings no special divine reward or distinguishes you as God's follower. This reciprocal love, driven by human nature or self-interest, is a common trait, even among those considered societal outcasts like tax collectors. Jesus challenges His disciples to exceed this baseline and manifest a higher, transformative righteousness by demonstrating selfless love that transcends natural human inclination.

Matthew 5 46 Context

Matthew 5:46 is a critical verse within Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), particularly within the section known as the "Antitheses" (Matthew 5:21-48). In this segment, Jesus declares, "You have heard that it was said... But I say to you..." (e.g., Matt 5:21-22, 27-28, 31-32, 33-34, 38-39, 43-44). He systematically reinterprets and deepens the Law given to Moses, elevating it from mere external observance to a matter of the heart and intention, demanding a righteousness that "exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees" (Mt 5:20). Verse 46 directly follows Jesus' radical command to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Mt 5:44) and sets the stage for the call to be "perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Mt 5:48). The verse highlights the practical application of this higher standard by contrasting it with common human behavior, preparing His listeners for the radical demands of divine love. The audience, primarily Jewish people under Roman occupation, would have acutely understood the disdain associated with tax collectors, making Jesus' comparison a powerful challenge to their ethnocentric and often exclusionary social norms.

Matthew 5 46 Word analysis

• For if: (Greek: ean gar, ἐὰν γὰρ). Ean introduces a conditional clause, posing a hypothetical scenario. Gar provides a reason or explanation, setting up a logical consequence. This introduces a rhetorical question designed to provoke reflection on the spiritual emptiness of merely natural human behavior.
• you love: (Greek: agapate, ἀγαπᾶτε). This is the verb form of agape, signifying a volitional, self-sacrificing, benevolent love that wills the good of the other. While human beings can extend this type of love, Jesus' point is that when it is merely reciprocal, it does not distinguish them as God's children. He implies that merely loving phileo (affectionate or friendly love) those who love you is not enough. The challenge is to extend agape beyond the expected.
• those who love you: This phrase describes the most basic form of human interaction and emotional reciprocity. It represents the "normal" expectation in society—you show affection or kindness to those who are kind to you. Jesus uses this as a baseline against which true, Kingdom-oriented righteousness is measured.
• what reward: (Greek: tis misthos, τίς μισθὸς). Tis ("what") is an interrogative pronoun, making it a rhetorical question implying "none," or "no exceptional spiritual value." Misthos means "wage," "pay," or "reward." Here, Jesus refers to a reward from God (as seen in Mt 6:1-6), not an earthly commendation. It points to a spiritual recompense from God for actions performed out of obedience to Him rather than human gain or recognition.
• do you have?: This completes the rhetorical question, highlighting the lack of distinctive value or divine approval for actions that fall within typical human boundaries.
• Do not even: (Greek: kai ou, καὶ οὐ). The particle kai means "even" or "also," emphasizing that this behavior is so common that even those considered morally inferior participate in it. Ou is a direct negation, making it a rhetorical question expecting a "yes" answer ("Indeed, they do!").
• the tax collectors: (Greek: telōnai, τελῶναι). In 1st-century Jewish society, tax collectors (publicans) were universally despised. They were often Jewish individuals who collaborated with the Roman occupying power, collecting taxes for Rome. They were notorious for corruption, extortion (often demanding more than required and pocketing the difference), and being associated with Gentile powers. They were often grouped with "sinners" or "prostitutes" (e.g., Mt 9:10-11, Mt 21:31-32). Jesus' choice of "tax collectors" is a stark, shocking example for His Jewish audience, as they represented the absolute low standard of moral and social standing, making the point even stronger: if even they perform such a common courtesy, how much more should followers of God surpass it?
• do the same?: This phrase underscores that loving only those who reciprocate is not a distinctive characteristic or virtuous deed from God's perspective. It's a natural, expected human behavior. Jesus is calling His followers to a supernatural love that imitates the character of God, who loves all, even His enemies.

Matthew 5 46 Bonus section

The context of Matthew 5:46 implies a critique of a legalistic righteousness that prioritizes external adherence to rules and social acceptance over genuine, transformative heart attitudes. Many religious individuals of that time might have prided themselves on their love within their own community, their "in-group," while simultaneously harboring animosity or indifference towards outsiders or perceived sinners. Jesus shatters this self-congratulatory piety by showing that even those considered "unrighteous" can exhibit the same level of reciprocal affection. The call for His disciples, therefore, is to pursue missional love, actively extending benevolent action beyond natural social boundaries and emotional inclination, thus showcasing the very character of God. This profound teaching forms a foundational ethical principle for the Kingdom of Heaven, shaping how believers are to interact with a fallen world and bear witness to God's transformative grace.

Matthew 5 46 Commentary

Matthew 5:46 succinctly exposes a fundamental challenge to human righteousness: true piety goes beyond merely doing what is common, natural, or self-serving. It critiques conditional love, revealing its spiritual inadequacy. Jesus uses the rhetorical question and the example of tax collectors—people universally reviled by His Jewish audience—to demonstrate that loving those who love you back is merely human. It is the default, the minimum, practiced even by those who fail to uphold righteous standards in other areas. The "reward" Jesus speaks of is not earthly commendation or social status, but divine favor and spiritual blessings from the heavenly Father, the ultimate reward in God's Kingdom. This verse urges disciples to embrace a higher standard, reflecting God's impartial love (Mt 5:45) rather than the reciprocal love that seeks benefit or social acceptance. It is a call to align one's actions and motives with God's perfect, unconditional character, initiating a love that seeks the well-being of the unlovable and demonstrates true righteousness from the heart.

• Example: Consider a business owner who is very kind and offers discounts to loyal, good-paying customers. This is normal, good business practice, but it's not extraordinary from a spiritual perspective. However, if that same owner shows kindness, generosity, and mercy to a difficult customer, or even one who owes money and cannot pay, simply out of grace, then they are exhibiting a love that exceeds mere human expectation, embodying the principle of Matthew 5:46.