Matthew 5:43-48 teaches that followers of Jesus are to love their enemies, not only their friends, and to pray for those who hurt them. Jesus grounds this command in the character of God, who gives good gifts to everyone, and he sets it against the common practice of loving only those who love you back.
These verses come from the Sermon on the Mount, the long teaching in Matthew 5 through 7 where Jesus describes the life of those who belong to his kingdom. By this point in the sermon he has already contrasted his teaching with what “was said” in the law and its interpretations, and this passage is the climax of that series.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:43-48 (WEB)
Matthew 5:43-48 Summary
Jesus begins by quoting a common teaching: love your neighbor and hate your enemy. The first half of the command, from Leviticus 19:18, is found in the Law. The second half, hating enemies, is not in the Law. It reflects the attitude many people had toward those who opposed them. Jesus rejects that half entirely and calls his listeners to a radical love that includes blessing, doing good, and praying for those who mistreat them.
He then gives two reasons. The first is family resemblance: God sends sun and rain on both the good and the bad, so his children should act the same way. The second is a test of ordinary goodness. Anyone can love people who love them, and even tax collectors do that. Jesus ends by calling his followers to be “perfect,” just as their Father is perfect, meaning whole, mature, and complete in love.
Context of Matthew 5:43-48
Matthew, traditionally identified as the tax collector among the twelve apostles, wrote this Gospel for a community that included many Jewish followers of Jesus. The Sermon on the Mount presents Jesus as a new Moses who teaches with authority on a mountain. The audience is both his disciples and the crowds who have gathered to hear him.
The verses just before this passage, in Matthew 5:40-42, describe a pattern of generosity that goes beyond what people expect: giving up a coat, going an extra mile, giving to someone who asks. Verse 43 continues that theme. Jesus is not asking for passive tolerance of wrong, but for active, costly goodwill toward people who are hostile to you.
Matthew 5:43-48 Verse by Verse
Romans 12:20
Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
(WEB)
Paul carries the teaching of Jesus into daily life by urging believers to feed their enemies and give them drink. The verse shows that such kindness is a concrete act, one that can change how a hostile person relates to you over time.
1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us.
(WEB)
John explains that our capacity to love comes from God, who loved us first. This helps explain why Jesus can ask for love toward enemies: it is a response to a love we have already received.
A Prayer Based on Matthew 5:43-48
Father, you give your sun and your rain to good people and bad people alike, and you have shown me mercy I did not earn. Please help me see the people who have hurt me as people you love. I confess how quickly I want to hold on to my anger and how easily I pray only for what I want. Teach me to bless those who curse me and to do good to those who hate me. Make me more like you in my love, and give me the courage to pray for those who mistreat me. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does loving my enemies mean I have to trust them again?
Loving an enemy means seeking their good and refusing to repay harm with harm. It does not require you to ignore danger or pretend that wrongs did not happen. Trust may need to be rebuilt slowly, and wisdom may call for boundaries.
What does it mean to be perfect in Matthew 5:48?
The Greek word carries the sense of being whole, complete, or mature. In context it describes a love that reflects the full, generous character of God. It is not a demand for flawless performance, but a call to grow into that kind of love.
Why does Jesus mention tax collectors in these verses?
Tax collectors were often seen as traitors or cheats in first-century Judea. By pointing out that even they love those who love them, Jesus shows that ordinary reciprocity does not require any special faith or grace.
