Matthew 5:46-48 "For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
As we consider these verses of scripture this morning, one thing stood out to me in a way that it had not before. When Jesus asked the question, “what do ye more than others?” there is an implied expectation of those who are His disciples. Remember that He is still addressing His disciples from the mount. The implication is that we should do more (love better) than those who do not follow Him.
The publicans of Jesus’s day were tax collectors. In that day, being a tax collector was a license to steal. You had to collect whatever the government required, and then you could extort an extra amount to put in your pocket. These men were despised by the public. However, there was obviously a fellowship among themselves because Jesus said even, they loved those that loved them.
In verse forty-seven the word salute carries the idea of embracing. It is certainly reasonable to embrace our brethren (those who live and think like we do). Again, Jesus called attention to the fact that even a group as hated as the publicans had that much to their credit. For the disciple of Christ, that is not enough.
We are instructed to be mature (perfect) in our walk with Him. His examples should govern the choices we make. Jesus did not tell us to love the things our enemies were doing. He told us to love our enemies. While it is certainly reasonable that we have a special affection for those of like faith, that does not free us from loving our enemy.
In Galatians 6:10, Paul leaves us a very plain and simple instruction. We are told “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” We certainly should not follow men in their sinful actions, but we just as certainly should pray for them and do them good as God affords us the opportunity. We can do this without slighting those of our faith in the least.
Dear ones, let us always seek God’s guidance in our relationships. Let us remember that He is the Creator of all. Let us be careful not to overstep in judging the work of our Creator. Let us seek to be as our Father in heaven, who sends the rain on the just and the unjust.