Bible Strands
Matthew 5:46
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses His disciples during the Sermon on the Mount, contrasting their required love with the limited reciprocity practiced by tax collectors. He frames this command within the immediate context of imitating the Father’s impartial provision in Matthew 5:45.
The words — The text employs ἀγαπὴσητε (agapēsēte, "you shall love") and μισθὸν (misthon, "reward"). ἐὰν (ean) establishes the conditional clause, while γὰρ (gar) introduces the explanatory question that follows.
The thread — The same rhetorical question about reciprocal love appears in Luke 6:32, while 1 Peter 2:20 contrasts enduring punishment for wrongdoing with enduring it for doing good. Matthew 9:10 notes Jesus dining with tax collectors, illustrating the social group Jesus references.
Why it lands — The text states that loving only those who love you yields no moral reward, as even tax collectors practice this exchange. It requires the reader to abandon transactional relationships and act without expecting a return.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Cross-references
- Luke 6:32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
- 1 Peter 2:20 How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
- Matthew 9:10 Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples.
- Matthew 11:19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”
- Matthew 18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
- Luke 15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.
- Luke 18:13 But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’
- Matthew 6:1 “Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
- Matthew 21:31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
- Luke 19:2 And there was a man named Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, who was very wealthy.