Matthew 5:44-48

Love Your Enemies

⁴⁴ But I say to you, _i Love your enemies and _j pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ _k so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and _l sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ _m For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers, ₁ what more are you doing than others? Do not even _n the Gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸ _o You therefore must be _p perfect, _q as your heavenly Father is perfect.

1. Cross References
   Luke 6:27 - 28
   But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.
   Romans 12:20
   To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.
   Exodus 23:4
   If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him.
   Job 31:29 - 30
   If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him
   Psalms 7:4
   If I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause.
   
2. Cross References
   Luke 23:34
   And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.
   Acts 7:60
   And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
   2 Timothy 4:16
   At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!
   1 Peter 3:9
   Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
   
3. Cross References
   Luke 6:35
   But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
   Ephesians 5:1
   Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
   Philippians 2:15
   That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.
   
4. Cross References
   Acts 14:17
   Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.
   
5. Cross References
   Luke 6:32
   If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
   
6. Cross References
   Matthew 6:7
   And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
   Matthew 6:32
   For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
   
7. Cross References
   Luke 6:36
   Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
   
8. Cross References
   Matthew 19:21
   Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go...
   1 Corinthians 2:6
   Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, altho...
   Philippians 3:15
   Let those of us who are mature think this way, ...
   Colossians 1:28
   Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching ...
   Colossians 4:12
   Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Chris...
   James 1:4
   And let steadfastness have its full effect, tha...
   James 3:2
   For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone ...
   Genesis 17:1
   When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord a...
   
9. Cross References
   Leviticus 19:2
   Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
   1 Peter 1:15
   But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.