Mat 05:43-48. v. 44 Love … pray … bless (3 imperatives)

Mat 5:44  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Greek?
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Imperative: Mat 05:43-48. v. 44 Love … pray … bless (3 imperatives)

Context: 

Mat 05:43  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

Mat 5:44  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Mat 5:45  so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46  For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47  And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48  You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

 Advocated behaviors, therefore, a command

We are not called to be less but more than we are.

Shall be, must be perfect … not an imperative verb.

KJV is closer to the Greek text. Are there textual problems?

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

GREEK VERBS:  No imperative verbs are present.

GREEK VERBS:  No imperative verbs are present other than “Behold.”

V-PMA-2P = Verb – Tense: Present/Mood: Imperative/Voice: Active – Person: 2nd Person Plural

44

3004 [e] legō λέγω say V-PIA-1S

4771 [e] hymin ὑμῖν  , to you PPro-D2P

25 [e] agapate ἀγαπᾶτε Love V-PMA-2P

3588 [e] tous τοὺς  –  Art-AMP

2190 [e] echthrous ἐχθροὺς enemies Adj-AMP

4771 [e] hymōn ὑμῶν  , of you PPro-G2P

2532 [e] kai καὶ and Conj

4336 [e] proseuchesthe προσεύχεσθε pray V-PMM/P-2P

5228 [e] hyper ὑπὲρ for Prep

3588 [e] tōn τῶν those Art-GMP

1377 [e] diōkontōn διωκόντων persecuting V-PPA-GMP

4771 [e] hymas ὑμᾶς  ; you PPro-A2P

2127 [e] eulogeite ⧼εὐλογεῖτε bless V-PMA-2P

3588 [e] tous τοὺς those Art-AMP

V-AMA-2S = Verb – Tense: Aorist/Mood: Imperative/Voice: Active – Person: 2nd Person Singular

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NOTE (my commentary)

DISCERNMENT QUESTIONS
What does this quote say?
What does it say that I should obey?
What is the wish? What are the outcomes?
What are the basic steps?
What are the obstacles?
Who needs to hear this?

RESOURCES

SOURCE – Footnotes:
Link to text:
Link to Greek Interlinear text: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/matthew/5.htm

A sermon was preached on this command:

04-15-18

Love, Pray, Bless! Matthew 5:43-48, John 20:19-23

Audio

Slides

Last post revision: 9/05/18.

Last revision: 01-07-2023
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