SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:46
Porque si amareis a los que os aman, ¿qu salario tendris? ¿No hacen tambin lo mismo los publicanos?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:46
Verse 46. For if ye love them which love you] He who loves only his friends, does nothing for God's sake. He who loves for the sake of pleasure or interest, pays himself. God has no enemy which he hates but sin; we should have no other. The publicans] That is, tax-gatherers, telwnai, from telov a tax, and wneomai I buy or farm. A farmer or collector of the taxes or public revenues. Of these there were two classes; the superior, who were Romans of the equestrian order; and the inferior, those mentioned in the Gospels, who it appears were mostly Jews.
This class of men was detestable among the Romans, the Greeks, and the Jews, for their intolerable rapacity and avarice. They were abhorred in an especial manner by the Jews, to whom the Roman government was odious: these, assisting in collecting the Roman tribute, were considered as betrayers of the liberties of their country, and abettors of those who enslaved it. They were something like the tythe- farmers of certain college-livings in some counties of England, as Lancashire, &c.-a principal cause of the public burthens and discontent. One quotation, of the many produced by Kypke, will amply show in what detestation they were held among the Greeks. Theocritus being asked, Which of the wild beasts were the most cruel? answered, en men toiv oresin apktoi kai leontev? en de taiv polesin, telwnai kai sukofantai. Bears and lions, in the mountains; and TAX- GATHERERS and calumniators, in cities.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 46. For if ye love them which love you , etc.] That is, if ye only love such that love you; for that such who love should be loved again, is both natural and just: our Lords meaning is not, that ye ought not to love them that love you, but that these should not be the only objects of your love; for should this be the case, what reward have ye ? or shall ye have? Do you deserve any thanks for your love now? none at all, it is what you are obliged to by your friends love to you. Do you expect any hereafter with God? if you do, you will be mistaken; you have your reward with men, who have loved you as much as you have done them, and therefore none can be due to you, either from God or men: besides, do not even the publicans the same ? men of the worst characters, and who were most hateful to the Jews, upon many accounts; partly because of their business, which was to collect the Roman tax, and carry it to the proper officers appointed to receive it, and of whom they sometimes farmed it.
Now the Roman yoke was very grievous to the Jews, who boasted of their being a free people; nor did they willingly pay their tribute money; and some of them would refuse to do it, under a pretence of religion; wherefore those publicans, or tax gatherers, which were oftentimes men of their own nation, as appears from the instances of Levi and Zacchaeus, were very odious to them; because they looked upon them as joining with the Romans, in oppressing them, and abridging them in their liberty: and partly because of their character and conduct, being men of great improbity, rapine, and covetousness: hence, as in the New Testament, they are frequently joined with sinners, as being notorious ones themselves; so in the Talmudic writings, with thieves f362 , and are reckoned as thieves, with murderers, and robbers f363 ; they were not allowed as witnesses in any of their courts of judicature; nor were they to be kept company with in private houses. Now our Lord instances in these men who were the most profligate part of the nation, and had in greatest contempt by the rest; and yet these, by the very dictates of nature, loved such as loved them: wherefore it must be shameful and scandalous in the Pharisees, and others, who pretended to great sanctity and religion, to do no more than these persons did.
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
εαν 1437 COND γαρ 1063 CONJ αγαπησητε 25 5661 V-AAS-2P τους 3588 T-APM αγαπωντας 25 5723 V-PAP-APM υμας 5209 P-2AP τινα 5101 I-ASM μισθον 3408 N-ASM εχετε 2192 5719 V-PAI-2P ουχι 3780 PRT-I και 2532 CONJ οι 3588 T-NPM τελωναι 5057 N-NPM το 3588 T-ASN αυτο 846 P-ASN ποιουσιν 4160 5719 V-PAI-3P
