43 “You’ve all heard it said that you should love your neighbour and hate your enemy, 44 but I’m telling you to love your enemies and to pray for anyone who’s persecuting you, 45 so that you might become children of your father in the heavens, because he causes his sun to rise on both evil and good people, and sends the rain for both godly and ungodly people. 46 If you people just love people who love you, what reward would you expect for that? Don’t even the tax collectors do that? 47 And if you’re only polite to your own circle, how is that achieving anything? Aren’t non-Jews just the same? 48 Instead you should all aim to be perfect just like your heavenly father is perfect.[ref]

27 “But I’ll tell all of you who are listening: Love your enemies and be kind to those who hate you. 28 Give a blessing to those who curse you and pray for those who mistreat you. 29 When someone slaps you on the face, offer them the other side, and when someone forces you to hand over your coat, don’t resist if they want your shirt as well. 30 Give to everyone who asks you for something, and when someone takes your stuff, don’t go demanding it back. 31 However you’d all like people to treat you, that’s how you should be treating them.[ref]

32 “And if you only love those who love you, how good is that? Even those who disobey God love those who love them. 33 If you only do good things to people who are good to you, how good is that? Even those who disobey God do that. 34 And if you only lend money to people that you’re expecting to repay you, how good is that? Even those who disobey God lend to others like them, knowing they’ll get their money back. 35 Instead, you all should love your enemies and do good and lend out even when you expect to get nothing back. Then your reward will be large and you’ll all be children of the highest God because he is good to ungrateful and evil people. 36 You should be compassionate towards others, because your father is compassionate.