Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
And if you salute your brethren ... - The word "salute" here means to show the customary tokens of civility, or to treat with the common marks of friendship. See the notes at Luke 10:4. The Saviour says that the worst men, the very publicans, would do this. Christians should do more; they should show that they have a different spirit; they should treat their "enemies" as well as wicked people do their "friends." This should be done:
1.Because it is "right;" it is the only really amiable spirit; and,
2.We should show that religion is not selfish, and is superior to all other principles of action.
Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Matthew 5:47:
Micah 4:3
Matthew 9:9
Matthew 9:10
Matthew 18:17
Mark 2:15
Luke 3:12
Luke 6:20-49
Ephesians 5:1
1 John 4:19
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