38"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' [5:39] But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also. [5:40] And if anyone would sue you and take your undergarment, let him have your cloak as well. [5:41] And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. [5:42] Give to the one who asks you, and do not refuse the one who wants to borrow from you. [5:43] You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' [5:44] But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [5:45] so that you may be sons of your Father who is in the heavens. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. [5:46] For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? [5:47] And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? [5:48] You therefore must be complete, as your heavenly Father is complete."
MAT 5:38-48
Love Your Enemies
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Roman-occupied Jewish context, retaliation was deeply embedded in both cultural and legal norms. The principle of 'eye for an eye' (Exodus 21:24) was understood as a measure of justice, limiting excessive vengeance. Yet, Jesus’ instruction to 'not resist the evil [person]' subverts this expectation. Turning the other cheek, giving both tunic and cloak, and going the extra mile would have been shocking. Striking someone on the right cheek implied a backhanded slap, a gesture of insult and degradation. Offering the other cheek challenged the honor-shame dynamic, refusing to escalate violence. Surrendering both garments left the giver exposed, a radical act of vulnerability. Compulsory service referred to Roman soldiers forcing civilians to carry burdens for a mile—a humiliating reminder of occupation. Going two miles disrupted this power imbalance. Loving enemies, including Roman oppressors, countered the sectarian hatred common among Jewish groups resisting Rome. Jesus’ call to be (complete, mature) redefined righteousness as embodying God’s indiscriminate generosity.
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How other translations render this
MAT 5:38
- KJV
- Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
- BSB
- You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’
- Koinōnos
- You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
MAT 5:39
- KJV
- But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
- BSB
- But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;
- Koinōnos
- But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also.
MAT 5:40
- KJV
- And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
- BSB
- if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well;
- Koinōnos
- And if anyone would sue you and take your undergarment, let him have your cloak as well.
MAT 5:41
- KJV
- And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
- BSB
- and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
- Koinōnos
- And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
MAT 5:42
- KJV
- Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
- BSB
- Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
- Koinōnos
- Give to the one who asks you, and do not refuse the one who wants to borrow from you.
MAT 5:43
- KJV
- Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
- BSB
- You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’
- Koinōnos
- You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
MAT 5:44
- KJV
- But 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;
- BSB
- But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
- Koinōnos
- But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
MAT 5:45
- KJV
- That 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.
- BSB
- that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
- Koinōnos
- so that you may be sons of your Father who is in the heavens. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
MAT 5:46
- KJV
- For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
- BSB
- If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?
- Koinōnos
- For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
MAT 5:47
- KJV
- And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
- BSB
- And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?
- Koinōnos
- And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
MAT 5:48
- KJV
- Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
- BSB
- Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
- Koinōnos
- You therefore must be complete, as your heavenly Father is complete.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 5:39
- evil [person].:The word translated 'evil' here refers to someone who is not merely bad, but actively harmful and malicious, often with a sense of causing trouble or pain to others.
MAT 5:40
- tunic:The 'tunic' was an undergarment worn next to the skin, a basic and essential piece of clothing for everyone in that culture.
MAT 5:41
- will compel to go:The phrase 'will compel to go' refers to the practice of forcing someone into service, often by a government or military authority, to carry burdens or messages.
MAT 5:48
- perfect:The word translated 'perfect' here carries the sense of being complete, mature, or fully developed, rather than flawless in every respect.