Matthew 5:42-44
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
42 Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.(A)
Love of Enemies.[a] 43 (B)“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’(C) 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,
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- 5:43–48 See Lv 19:18. There is no Old Testament commandment demanding hatred of one’s enemy, but the “neighbor” of the love commandment was understood as one’s fellow countryman. Both in the Old Testament (Ps 139:19–22) and at Qumran (1QS 9:21) hatred of evil persons is assumed to be right. Jesus extends the love commandment to the enemy and the persecutor. His disciples, as children of God, must imitate the example of their Father, who grants his gifts of sun and rain to both the good and the bad.
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