Matthew 5:43-48 Meaning: Did God Really Say Hate Your Enemy?
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
44But 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,
45that 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.
46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
47If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
43Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy:
44but I say unto you, Love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;
45that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.
46For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?
48Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
43`Ye heard that it was said: Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and shalt hate thine enemy;
44but I--I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those cursing you, do good to those hating you, and pray for those accusing you falsely, and persecuting you,
45that ye may be sons of your Father in the heavens, because His sun He doth cause to rise on evil and good, and He doth send rain on righteous and unrighteous.
46`For, if ye may love those loving you, what reward have ye? do not also the tax-gatherers the same?
47and if ye may salute your brethren only, what do ye abundant? do not also the tax-gatherers so?
48ye shall therefore be perfect, as your Father who is in the heavens is perfect.
43Ye have heard that it has been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy.
44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, [bless those who curse you,] do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who [insult you and] persecute you,
45that ye may be [the] sons of your Father who is in [the] heavens; for he makes his sun rise on evil and good, and sends rain on just and unjust.
46For if ye should love those who love you, what reward have ye? Do not also the tax-gatherers the same?
47And if ye should salute your brethren only, what do ye extraordinary? Do not also the Gentiles the same?
48Be ye therefore perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus corrects the idea that God commands hating enemies.
Context
This passage comes from the heart of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. He has already corrected misunderstandings about murder, adultery, and divorce. Now He turns to the command to love your neighbor, which the Jewish teachers had twisted by adding 'and hate your enemy.' Jesus sets the record straight: God never commanded hatred. Instead, He calls His followers to a love that goes beyond natural affection, love for enemies, blessings for those who curse, prayer for those who persecute. This reflects the character of the Father, who gives sunshine and rain to everyone, good and bad alike. The passage ends with a call to be perfect, meaning complete in love, as the Father is perfect.
Key Words
Three words from the original Greek carry the weight of this passage. Agapaō is the love Jesus commands. It is not a feeling of affection, but a deliberate choice to seek the good of another, even someone who wishes you harm. This love is the family trait of God's children. Echthros means enemy, one who is hostile. Jesus names them directly: we are to love, bless (eulogeō, speak well of, ask God's favor on), and pray (proseuchomai, bring to God in prayer) for those who curse, hate, mistreat, and persecute us. These are actions, not emotions. Finally, teleios in verse 48 means perfect in the sense of complete, mature, whole. It is the same root used for a full-grown person. Jesus is not demanding sinless perfection, but a love that has grown to full stature, holding back nothing, loving as the Father loves, without partiality.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions agree that the command to hate enemies was never part of God's law but a human addition. Protestant commentators like Calvin and Wesley note it was a scribal gloss. Catholic and Orthodox readings also emphasize Jesus' authority to reinterpret the Law. On the call to be perfect, some Western traditions understand it as perfect love, while Eastern traditions see it as completeness or mature love. Both focus on becoming like the Father. The heart of this passage, loving enemies as evidence of being God's children, is a universally recognized Christian standard, though all confess it requires divine help.
A common misunderstanding
People often read verse 43 and think the Old Testament commanded hatred of enemies. In fact, the law only said 'Love your neighbor' (Leviticus 19:18). The phrase 'hate your enemy' was a human addition by Jewish teachers. Jesus corrects this misinterpretation, showing that God has always desired love for all, even enemies.
Living This Out
This week, someone will cross you. Maybe a coworker undermines you, or a family member says something hurtful. Your first impulse is to strike back or withdraw. Jesus offers another way: bless them with your words, do something good for them, and pray for them. Not because they deserve it, but because this is how the Father acts. He sends rain on everyone's fields. Try this: before you respond, pause and pray for that person by name. Then choose one small act of kindness, a quiet favor, a kind word, a moment of patience. That is not weakness. It is the family likeness of God showing through you.
Main takeaway: Jesus commands His followers to love enemies, because that is how the Father loves all people without partiality.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God wants us to be kind to people who are not kind to us. When someone is mean, we can pray for them. That makes us like our Father in heaven.
For ages 9, 12
This is hard, but Jesus says to love your enemies. That doesn't mean you have to be best friends with someone who hurts you. It means you choose not to hate them. You can pray for them and ask God to help them. That's what it means to be like your Father, who is kind to everyone, even people who ignore Him.
Questions People Ask
Did the Old Testament really command hating enemies?
No, the Old Testament does not command that. The command to love your neighbor is from Leviticus 19:18. The phrase 'hate your enemy' was an addition by scribes. Jesus corrects this misunderstanding by showing that love must extend even to enemies.
What does it mean to love your enemies?
In this passage, loving enemies includes blessing those who curse you, doing good to those who hate you, and praying for those who persecute you. It is not about having warm feelings, but about choosing actions that seek the good of others, even when they oppose you.
Does 'be perfect' mean I have to be sinless?
The Greek word teleios means complete, mature, or whole. In context, Jesus is talking about love that is complete, reaching everyone, not just friends. It does not mean flawless perfection, but a love that has grown to its full measure, like the Father's love for all people.
Why does Jesus mention tax collectors and Gentiles here?
Tax collectors were despised as traitors, and Gentiles were considered outsiders. Jesus uses them to show that even people considered 'bad' love those who love them. His followers are called to a higher love that goes beyond ordinary human kindness.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study