Matthew 5:38-48

New Testament for Everyone

Loving your enemies

³⁸ “You heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ ³⁹ But I say to you: don’t use violence to resist evil! Instead, when someone hits you on the right cheek, turn the other one towards him. ⁴⁰ When someone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your cloak, too. ⁴¹ And when someone forces you to go one mile, go a second one with him. ⁴² Give to anyone who asks you, and don’t refuse someone who wants to borrow from you.

⁴³ “You heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you: love your enemies! Pray for people who persecute you! ⁴⁵ That way, you’ll be children of your father in heaven! After all, he makes his sun rise on bad and good alike, and sends rain both on the upright and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ Look at it like this: if you love those who love you, do you expect a special reward? Even tax-collectors do that, don’t they? ⁴⁷ And if you only greet your own family, what’s so special about that? Even Gentiles do that, don’t they? ⁴⁸ Well then: you must be perfect, just as your heavenly father is perfect.”