Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Yoʋ shall love yoʋr neighbor and hate yoʋr enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, [fn]bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who [fn]mistreat you and persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your [fn]friends, what are you doing that is out of the ordinary? Do not even the [fn]tax collectors do that? 48 You therefore shall be perfect, just as your [fn]Father in heaven is perfect.