Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 5:43

"Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy:" — Matthew 5:43 (ASV)

The command “Love your neighbor” is found in Lev 19:18; no OT Scripture adds “and hate your enemies,” though this seems to be the result of popular reasoning. Such reasoning seems to have said that if God commands love for “neighbor,” then hatred for “enemies” is implicitly conceded and perhaps even authorized.