What is the meaning of Matthew 5:43? You have heard that it was said, • Jesus signals a commonly accepted teaching, not His own command. • This phrase mirrors earlier contrasts in the Sermon on the Mount (cf. Matthew 5:21, 27, 31, 33, 38), showing He is about to correct or deepen their understanding. • The statement respects the historical fact that Israel’s leaders did pass along truths from Moses, yet also acknowledges the possibility of distortion over time (see Mark 7:8-13). • Scripture itself foresees the danger of merely “hearing” tradition without testing it against God’s Word (Jeremiah 23:16-17; Acts 17:11). Love your neighbor • Directly quotes Leviticus 19:18: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” • God’s intent was always comprehensive love: – Applied to fellow Israelites (Leviticus 19:34). – Extended even to society’s vulnerable (Deuteronomy 10:18-19; James 1:27). • Jesus later confirms this as the second great commandment, inseparable from loving God (Matthew 22:37-40; Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:14). • Literal obedience means practical acts—caring, protecting, speaking truth—toward those God places near us (1 John 3:17-18). and • The conjunction welds “love” to an additional idea the people had accepted. • By wording it this way, Jesus highlights the subtle shift from God-given law to man-added license. • Scripture often warns that a single small addition can distort the whole (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19). • The lesson: examine every “and” we add to God’s commands. Hate your enemy. • Nowhere does the Law command hatred; this was a human inference—possibly drawn from God’s instructions to separate from pagan practices, but misapplied to personal relationships. • The Old Testament actually restrains vengeance and enables kindness: – “If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, you must return it to him” (Exodus 23:4-5). – “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat” (Proverbs 25:21-22), later echoed in Romans 12:20. • By attributing hatred to tradition rather than Scripture, Jesus exposes how cultural bias can slip into theology. • His next words (Matthew 5:44) will overturn the distortion, commanding love even for foes, aligning with God’s own character (Luke 6:27-36). summary Matthew 5:43 reveals a two-part saying the crowds had absorbed: the genuine command to “Love your neighbor” coupled with the illegitimate add-on “Hate your enemy.” Jesus affirms the original Scripture yet prepares to correct the man-made addition. The verse reminds us to measure every teaching against the literal Word of God, love those around us faithfully, and refuse any tradition that would excuse bitterness or revenge. |
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