Matthew 5:46 (YLT)

Passage

`For, if ye may love those loving you, what reward have ye? do not also the tax-gatherers the same?

Nearby Context

Matthew 5:44 but 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,

Matthew 5:45 that 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.

Matthew 5:46 `For, if ye may love those loving you, what reward have ye? do not also the tax-gatherers the same?

Matthew 5:47 and if ye may salute your brethren only, what do ye abundant? do not also the tax-gatherers so?

Matthew 5:48 ye shall therefore be perfect, as your Father who <FI>is<Fi> in the heavens is perfect.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "love", "loving", "reward", "tax-gatherers", and "same". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "love" and "loving", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 45's "that ye may be sons of your..." into verse 47's "and if ye may salute your brethren...", so "love" and "loving" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "love" and "loving" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.