43-44. Ye have heard that it hath been said,
Thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love
your enemies. Here the Lord has reached the very pinnacle of the virtues.
For what is greater than to love one's enemies? But it is not impossible to
accomplish. For Moses and Paul loved the Jews who were raging against them more
than they loved themselves, and all the saints have loved their enemies. Bless
them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you. We bless them because we must
consider them our benefactors. For anyone who persecutes us and puts us to the
test, lightens the punishment that we will suffer for our own sins. We will
also bless them when God gives us the great crown of the contest. For hear what
He says:
45. That ye may be the sons of your Father Who
is in heaven. For He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and
sendeth rain on the righteous and on the unrighteousness. Do you see how
good a gift is given to you by him who hates and abuses you, if only you will
endure it with patience? By rain and sun, understand knowledge and teaching,
for God enlightens and teaches all.
46. For if ye love them which love you, what
reward have ye? Do not even the publicans do the same? Let us tremble with
fear since we are not the equal of the publicans, but hate even those who love
us.
47-48. And if ye salute your friends only, what
do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect,
even as your Father Who is in heaven is perfect. To love some men, that is,
one's own friends, and to hate others, is imperfection. Perfection is to love
every one.
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