But I say unto you, Love your enemies—The word here used denotes moral love, as distinguished from the other word, which expresses personal affection. Usually, the former denotes "complacency in the character" of the person loved; but here it denotes the benignant, compassionate outgoings of desire for another's good.

bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you—The best commentary on these matchless counsels is the bright example of Him who gave them. (See I Peter 2:21-24; and compare Romans 12:20-21; I Corinthians 4:12; I Peter 3:9). But though such precepts were never before expressed—perhaps not even conceived—with such breadth, precision, and sharpness as here, our Lord is here only the incomparable Interpreter of the law in force from the beginning; and this is the only satisfactory view of the entire strain of this discourse.

Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Matthew 5:44:

Exodus 17:4
Job 31:30
Job 42:9
Proverbs 24:29
Proverbs 25:21-22
Song of Solomon 3:4
Jeremiah 29:7
Jeremiah 50:15
Matthew 5:42
Luke 6:27-36
John 19:18
Romans 12:14
1 Corinthians 4:13
Ephesians 5:1
Philippians 2:15
Colossians 3:14
1 Thessalonians 3:13
1 Peter 3:16

 

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