If You Love Them Which Love You Matthew 5:46

Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples if their “righteousness” did not “exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees” they would, “in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus then shared about “murder, adultery, swearing turning the other cheek and giving and lending to those who ask”, and He told His disciples, “You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust”, and in chapter five and verse forty-six of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus asked His disciples, “if you love them which love you, what reward have you?” where we read:

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

The verse reads, “For if you love them which love you, what reward have you?” Matthew began with the word, “for” which means “because, since and on account that” “if you love them” which means “whether the disciples welcome, entertain, be fond of and love dearly in an unconditional manner” “which love you” or “people who welcome, entertain, be fond of and love dearly in an unconditional manner the disciples”, “what reward have you” which means “what kind of wages, dues or fruit naturally resulting from toils and endeavors do the disciples have”? Jesus challenged His disciples with the question concerning the “wages and fruit” of loving people who love them.

The verse goes on to say, “do not even the publicans the same?” Matthew continues with the words, “do not even” which means “produce, make ready, cause even, indeed, and also as” “the publicans“ or “the tax gatherer, collector of taxes or tolls and one who is employed by a tax collector or farmer general in the collection of taxes” “the same” which refers to “loving those who love them”. Jesus questioned His disciples as to whether they knew “tax collectors” also love people who love them.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see Jesus' challenge to His disciples concerning who they “love”. Jesus' idea was that it is nothing unusual for anyone to “love” someone who “loves” them because even some of the most “hated” people, the tax collectors of Jesus' day, “love” those who “love” them. There is no “reward, wage or fruit” for people who “love” those who “love” them, however, to “love” someone who does not “love” them is a difficult position. God “loves” everyone, and whether they “love” Him or not, friend or foe, God desires that all people be “saved” through a relationship with His Son, and He becomes our example.

Next time Jesus tells the disciples what happens, “if you salute your brethren only”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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