Matthew 5:44 nasb — "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

NASB

""But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"

— Matthew 5:44, NASB

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Matthew 5:44 in Other Translations

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KJVA
“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;”
King James Version with Apocrypha · Read this chapter in KJVA

Matthew 5 — Context

"Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

"Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.'

"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

"For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

"If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

Matthew 5:44 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions

What does Matthew 5:44 say?

Matthew 5:44 in the NASB reads: “"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”

Where is Matthew 5:44 in the Bible?

Matthew 5:44 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Matthew, chapter 5, verse 44.

Who wrote Matthew?

Matthew is traditionally attributed to Matthew (Levi), tax-collector turned apostle. It was written c. AD 50–70.

What is the book of Matthew about?

Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah — son of David, son of Abraham, fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Structured around five great teaching blocks including the Sermon on the Mount, it ends with the risen King commissioning his disciples to make disciples of all nations.

What are the major themes of Matthew?

Matthew explores themes including Kingdom of Heaven, Messiah, Fulfillment, Discipleship, Great Commission. These themes shape the meaning and context of Matthew 5:44.

What translation should I read Matthew 5:44 in?

Matthew 5:44 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.

How can I memorize Matthew 5:44?

Matthew 5:44 reads (NASB): “"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.

Matthew 5:44 nasb — "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Read in Another Translation

Matthew 5:44 in Other Translations

Matthew 5 — Context

Matthew 5:44 — Frequently Asked Questions

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