Matthew 5:47

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?

American Standard Version (1901)

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?

Bible in Basic English

And if you say, Good day, to your brothers only, what do you do more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?

Douay-Rheims 1899

And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not also the heathens this?

Free Bible Version

If you only speak kindly to your family, what more are you doing than anyone else? Even the heathen do that!

Geneva Bible 1599

And if ye be friendly to your brethren onely, what singular thing doe ye? doe not euen the Publicanes likewise?

King James (Authorized) Version

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

One Unity Resource Bible

If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

Translation for Translators

If you want God to bless only your friends, ◄you are not acting any better than other people!/are you acting any better than other people?► [RHQ] Even the non-Jews, who you think sin very much (OR, you think are unacceptable to God), want God to bless their friends [RHQ], but God does not reward them for that.

Unlocked Literal Bible

If you greet only your brothers, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same thing?

Noah Webster Bible

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others ? do not even the publicans so?

World English Bible

If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

Young's Literal Translation

and if ye may salute your brethren only, what do ye abundant? do not also the tax-gatherers so?

Context

Love Your Enemies

⁴⁶If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?⁴⁷And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?

Sermons

(1 Samuel) Winning Back More Than You Lost

David Guzik

1.1K

What Do Ye More Than Others? (Put on the Provided Wedding Garment: Jesus in His Meekness and lowliness.)

Hans R. Waldvogel

Summary

In Matthew 5:47, Jesus challenges His followers to love not only those who love them in return but also their enemies. This teaching goes against the cultural norm of loving only those who treat us well. By loving our enemies, we reflect the unconditional love of God and demonstrate the transformative power of Christ in our lives. This verse calls believers to a higher standard of love that imitates the sacrificial love of Jesus, who loved even those who crucified Him. It reminds us that true love is not based on reciprocity but on selfless giving, mirroring the love that God has shown us.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

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 Mat 18:17, where the excommunicated person is said to be "as an heathen man and a publican."

John Gill Bible Commentary

And if you salute your brethren only,.... This does not mean salutation by embraces or kisses, but by words, asking of each other's welfare, and wishing prosperity and happiness to one another. "The manner of salutation among the wise men was this (e); he that salutes says, a good day to my lord; and he replies, saying, a good, and long day to my lord: always he that replies doubles the salutation.'' The persons they usually gave their salutations to were those of their own nation, their countrymen, relations, and friends; and who are here designed by "brethren"; meaning, not brethren in the strict sense, but any kindred, acquaintance, or any of their own nation. Some copies read it "friends", who, generally speaking, only partook of such favours. "A man, (says Maimonides (f),) might not salute his master, nor return a salutation to him in the manner they gave a salutation to "friends": and they return it to one another.'' They were not very free in saluting any persons, as strangers and Gentiles: such advice as this is indeed given (g), "prevent every man with a salutation", or be first in saluting every man; upon which passage their commentators (h) say, even a Gentile in the streets. Accordingly, it is elsewhere (i) observed, that "R. Abai used to say, let a man be always cunning with fear, for "a soft answer turns away wrath"; and multiply salutation with his brethren, and with his relations, and with every man, even with a stranger in the streets.'' But this proceeded not from any cordial hearty respect, but out of policy, and from fear; and in order to maintain peace; and for selfish ends, and with sinister views: otherwise their salutations were confined to their brethren and kinsfolk after the flesh. Now, this being the case, says Christ, what do ye more than others? do not even publicans so? Or, as some copies read it, Gentiles or Heathens; and accordingly the Ethiopic version, and the Vulgate Latin so render it: the Arabic renders it "idolaters". Now, what great matter was this to salute their brethren and their friends, when even the very Heathens, who had nothing but the light of nature to guide them, did the same? (e) Sepher Chasidim, fol. 5. col. 2. apud Buxtorf. Florileg. Heb. p. 300, 301. (f) Hilch. Talmud Tora, c. 5. sect. 5. (g) Pirke Abot, c. 4. sect. 15. (h) Jarchi & Bartenora in ib. (i) T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 17. 1.

Matthew 5:47

Love Your Enemies

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?

American Standard Version (1901)

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?

Bible in Basic English

And if you say, Good day, to your brothers only, what do you do more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?

Douay-Rheims 1899

And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not also the heathens this?

Free Bible Version

If you only speak kindly to your family, what more are you doing than anyone else? Even the heathen do that!

Geneva Bible 1599

And if ye be friendly to your brethren onely, what singular thing doe ye? doe not euen the Publicanes likewise?

King James (Authorized) Version

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

One Unity Resource Bible

If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

Translation for Translators

Unlocked Literal Bible

If you greet only your brothers, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same thing?

Noah Webster Bible

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others ? do not even the publicans so?

World English Bible

If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

Young's Literal Translation

and if ye may salute your brethren only, what do ye abundant? do not also the tax-gatherers so?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Matthew 5:47

Verse

Context

Love Your Enemies

Sermons

Summary

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Matthew 5:47

Love Your Enemies

(1 Samuel) Winning Back More Than You Lost

What Do Ye More Than Others? (Put on the Provided Wedding Garment: Jesus in His Meekness and lowliness.)

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes