³⁸“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ ⁿ ³⁹But I tell you, don’t stand up against an evil person. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other cheek also. ⁴⁰If someone wants to sue you in court and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. ⁴¹If someone forces you to go with him one mile, go with him two miles. ⁴²If a person asks you for something, give it to him. Don’t refuse to give to someone who wants to borrow from you.

Love All People

⁴³“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor ⁿ and hate your enemies.’ ⁴⁴But I say to you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. ⁿ ⁴⁵If you do this, you will be true children of your Father in heaven. He causes the sun to rise on good people and on evil people, and he sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong. ⁴⁶If you love only the people who love you, you will get no reward. Even the tax collectors do that. ⁴⁷And if you are nice only to your friends, you are no better than other people. Even those who don’t know God are nice to their friends. ⁴⁸So you must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Read in Logos

Matthew 5:48: You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Footnotes

n‘An eye … tooth.’ Quotation from Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21.
n‘Love your neighbor’ Quotation from Leviticus 19:18.
nyou Some Greek copies continue, “Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you.” Compare Luke 6:28.