SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:44
Mas yo os digo: Amad a vuestros enemigos, bendecid a los que os maldicen, haced bien a los que os aborrecen, y orad por los que os calumnian y os persiguen;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:44
Verse 44. Love your enemies] This is the most sublime piece of morality ever given to man. Has it appeared unreasonable and absurd to some? It has. And why? Because it is natural to man to avenge himself, and plague those who plague him; and he will ever find abundant excuse for his conduct, in the repeated evils he receives from others; for men are naturally hostile to each other. Jesus Christ design's to make men happy. Now he is necessarily miserable who hates another. Our Lord prohibits that only which, from its nature, is opposed to man's happiness. This is therefore one of the most reasonable precepts in the universe. But who can obey it? None but he who has the mind of Christ. But I have it not. Seek it from God; it is that kingdom of heaven which Christ came to establish upon earth. See on chap. iii. 2. This one precept is a sufficient proof of the holiness of the Gospel, and of the truth of the Christian religion. Every false religion flatters man, and accommodates itself to his pride and his passions. None but God could have imposed a yoke so contrary to self-love; and nothing but the supreme eternal love can enable men to practice a precept so insupportable to corrupt nature. Sentiments like this are found among Asiatic writers, and in select cases were strongly applied; but as a general command this was never given by them, or any other people. It is not an absolute command in any of the books which they consider to be Divinely inspired. Sir William Jones lays by far too much stress on the casual introduction of such sentiments as this in the Asiatic writers. See his WORKS, vol. i. p. 168, where the sentiment is connected with circumstances both extravagant and unnatural; and thus it is nullified by the pretended recommendation. Bless them that curse you] eulogeite, give them good words for their bad words. See the note on "Gen. ii. 3".
Do good to them that hate you] Give your enemy every proof that you love him. We must not love in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
Pray for them which despitefully use you] ephreazontwn from epi against, and arhv Mars, the heathen god of war. Those who are making continual war upon you, and constantly harassing and calumniating you.
Pray for them-This is another exquisitely reasonable precept. I cannot change that wicked man's heart; and while it is unchanged he will continue to harass me: God alone can change it: then I must implore him to do that which will at once secure the poor man's salvation, and contribute so much to my own peace.
And persecute you] diwkontwn, those who press hard on and pursue you with hatred and malice accompanied with repeated acts of enmity.
In this verse our Lord shows us that a man may be our enemy in three different ways.
First, in his heart, by hatred.
Secondly, in his words by cursing or using direful imprecations (katarwmenouv) against us.
Thirdly, in his actions, by continually harassing and abusing us.
He shows us also how we are to behave to those.
The hatred of the first we are to meet with love.
The cursings or evil words of the second, we are to meet with good words and blessings.
And the repeated injurious acts of the third, we are to meet with continual prayer to God for the man's salvation.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 44. But I say unto you, love your enemies , etc.] That is, as the Apostle Paul may be thought to interpret the words of Christ, ( Romans 12:20). If thine enemy hunger, feed him: if he thirst, give him drink: unless our Lord should be supposed rather to regard the internal affection of the mind; since outward expressions of love, by words and works, are urged in the following exhortations: the actions of a man may be hated, and just indignation be expressed against them, and yet his person be loved, tenderness be used to him, and pity shown him: all men, even enemies, are to be loved with a natural love, as men; though they cannot be loved with a spiritual affection, as brethren in Christ: and in natural affection there are degrees, according to the relation and circumstances that persons stand in to one another. Bless them that curse you : when wicked men curse you, as Shimei cursed David, do not render evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing; give good words, use kind language, mild and soft expressions; such as may either win upon them, or put them to shame and silence: bless, and curse not; the latter belongs to them, the former to you; let them curse, but bless thou: curses better fit their mouths, and blessings thine. Blessing here, does not signify praising them, for that would be sinful, which is sometimes the sense of the word; nor wishing, or praying for a blessing on them, which is right and good; but this is mentioned afterwards, as distinct from blessing; wherefore, it is better to understand it of a sweet and engaging address unto, and behaviour and conduct towards such, whose mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Do good to them that hate you ; such as hate you in their hearts, and discover their hatred by their actions; do not make returns in the same way, but on the contrary, do them all the good you can; perform all the kind offices that lie in your power; let them partake of your bounty and liberality; if poor, feed, clothe, and supply them, as you are able, with the necessaries of life; and give them wholesome advice for the good of their souls: by so doing, you will heap coals of fire on their heads; of enemies, make them friends; engage their affections to you, and you may be happy instruments in doing them good, both in soul and body: and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you . What Christ here commands and advises to, he himself did; for as he hung upon the cross, he prayed for his crucifiers, who were then using him in the most despiteful, as well as cruel manner; saying, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do: and in this he has left us an example, that we should tread in his steps; and here in he was quickly followed by his holy martyr Stephen; who, whilst he was being stoned, prayed for his persecutors and murderers, saying, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.
This breathes out the true spirit of Christianity, and is peculiar to it. The whole of this is directly opposite to the tenets of the Jews, particularly the Scribes and Pharisees; who allowed of revenge, and keeping anger against any person that had done them an injury, as has been observed: and which were also the sentiments of the Karaites, or Scripturarians, another sect among them who kept to the letter of the Scriptures, and rejected the traditions of the elders, which the Pharisees held: but in this they agreed with them, that it was right to do good to their friends, and to forgive them that asked pardon of them; but to such men who rendered evil, and did not return to do well, that they might receive forgiveness, hm rwjnlw wqnl rwsa wnya , it is not forbidden to revenge, and to keep anger against them f356 .
It is indeed said of their former holy men, ydysj , Hasideans, which some have thought to be the same with the Essenes, and a sort of Christians; however, were a better sort of Jews; that these heard their reproach, but did not return it; and not only so, but they pardoned him that reproached them, and forgave him.
And it is reported of these men, that they used to pray to God to pardon and forgive all that disturbed them. But the Pharisees, whom Christ had to do with, and against whom he inveighs, were men of another complexion.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 43-48 - The Jewish teachers by "neighbour" understood only those who were of their own country, nation, and religion, whom they were pleased to loo upon as their friends. The Lord Jesus teaches that we must do all the real kindness we can to all, especially to their souls. We must pra for them. While many will render good for good, we must render good for evil; and this will speak a nobler principle than most men act by Others salute their brethren, and embrace those of their own party, an way, and opinion, but we must not so confine our respect. It is the duty of Christians to desire, and aim at, and press towards perfectio in grace and holiness. And therein we must study to conform ourselve to the example of our heavenly Father, 1Pe 1:15, 16. Surely more is to be expected from the followers of Christ than from others; surely mor will be found in them than in others. Let us beg of God to enable us to prove ourselves his children __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
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