Matthew 5:46-47 NIV

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 5:46

what reward, &c. The Lord varies the wording of this when repeating it later in Luke 6:35 . not. Greek. ouchi. A strengthened form of ou. App-105 . Publicans = tax-gatherers. Hence, extortioners. Latin. = publicani. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 5:47

publicans. L. with Vulgate and some codices read "Gentiles". The publican was despised; Gentiles were detested. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 5:46

For if ye love them that love you, what reward have you? Do not even the publicans the same?Underlying these verses is the challenge that men shall be "like their Father who is in heaven." That is what it is really all about, that men should be like the pure and holy God whom they are taught to worship through Christ. God loves sinners, even dying for them while they were yet in sin; so Christians should love all men, sinners included, even their own personal enemies! To live the other way is... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 5:47

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?This is one of the most interesting statements Jesus ever made, "What do ye more than others?" The implications of this are positively profound. Implicit in these words is the proclamation that Christians are different; they love more than others, will do more than others, and are in fact better in every way than others. Their righteousness is a matter of going beyond, giving the cloak also,... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 5:46

Matthew 5:46. The publicans— These were the Roman tax-gatherers, some of whom were Jews: these were more extremely odious to their countrymen than those who were heathens. The other Jews would have no communication with them; Luke 3:12-13.Mark 2:16; Mark 2:16. Luke 7:35. They looked upon the profession as scandalous; and the professors were the more odious to them, on account of their great extortion. See chap. Matthew 9:10. Beausobre and Lenfant, and Calmet. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 5:47

Matthew 5:47. And if ye salute— The original word ασπασησθε denotes all outward signs of friendship, such as embracing, wishing well, &c. It is the word used by the apostles in their salutations, Romans 16:0 &c. The meaning of it seems to be the same with that of the word to bless, Matthew 5:44. See ch. Mat 10:12 and compare Luke 10:5. Instead of, your brethren, some copies read, your friends, which seems to have been added by way of explanation. The Jews embraced their own countrymen,... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:46

46. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?—The publicans, as collectors of taxes due to the Roman government, were ever on this account obnoxious to the Jews, who sat uneasy under a foreign yoke, and disliked whatever brought this unpleasantly before them. But the extortion practiced by this class made them hateful to the community, who in their current speech ranked them with "harlots." Nor does our Lord scruple to speak of them as others... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:47

47. And if ye salute your brethren only—of the same nation and religion with yourselves. what do ye more than others?—what do ye uncommon or extraordinary? that is, wherein do ye excel? do not even the publicans so?—The true reading here appears to be, "Do not even the heathens the same?" Compare :-, where the excommunicated person is said to be "as an heathen man and a publican." read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 5:17-48

Righteousness and the Scriptures 5:17-48In His discussion of righteousness (character and conduct that conforms to the will of God), Jesus went back to the revelation of God’s will, namely, God’s Word, the Old Testament. read more