387 : The Love Of Enemies
"YOU have heard that it has been said, 'You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.
' But I say to You, love your enemies, bless those who curse you,
do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who persecute you,
so that you may be the children of your Father in heaven.
For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good alike, and sends his rain on the just and on the unjust.
"For if you love those who love you, what reward do you deserve?
Do not even tax-collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others?
Do not even tax-collectors do so? Be therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
"Take care that you do not do your good deeds before men, to be seen by them.
Otherwise you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
When you give charity,
do not sound a trumpet before yourself as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets,
to have the praise of men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in that.
But when you give alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand does,
so that your charity may be in secret.
And your Father who sees what you do in secret shall reward you openly.
( Link to free online Bible to view where this event takes place in the Bible )
