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For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don`t even the tax collectors do the same?
Verse Takeaways
1
The 'Publican' Standard
Commentators explain that "publicans" were despised tax collectors, viewed as corrupt, oppressive, and the lowest members of society. Jesus's point is that loving only those who love you back is the bare minimum standard of behavior. It's a bar so low that even those considered the worst of sinners can meet it, making it an insufficient goal for a follower of Christ.
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Matthew
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13
18th Century
Presbyterian
What reward have you?, The word reward seems to be used in the sense of deserving of praise, or reward. If you only love…
19th Century
Anglican
The publicans—An account of the “publicans” of our Lord’s time will find a more fitting place in the notes on Matthew 9:9. Here, i…
Baptist
It is our part to persist in loving, even if people persist in enmity. We are to offer blessing for cursing, prayers for persecutions. Even in the …
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Jesus allowed no casuistry. The real direction indicated by the law is love, rich and costly, and extended even to enemies. Many take the verb and …
16th Century
Protestant
Do not even the publicans the same? In the same sense, Luke calls them sinners, that is, wicked and unprincipled men. Not that th…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
For if you love them who love you That is, if you only love such that love you; for that such who love should be lov…
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The Jewish teachers understood —neighbor' to mean only those who were of their own country, nation, and religion, whom they regarded as their frien…
13th Century
Catholic
You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor. Above, the Lord fulfilled the Law concerning permissi…
