Matthew 5:46

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

For if you love [only] those who love you, what reward will you get for that? Do not even the publicans [Note: These were people with a bad reputation for their dishonest tax collecting activities] do that much?

Cross References

Matthew 11:19

[Then] the Son of man came eating and drinking [at festive occasions] and they said, ‘Look, He is a glutton and a drunkard and a friend of tax collectors and worldly people.’ It proves that [God’s] wise counsel is right by the way things turn out.”

Matthew 18:17

And if he refuses to listen to them [i.e., the witnesses], explain the [whole] matter to the church [i.e., probably a specially called meeting of mature Christians to resolve the matter]. And if he refuses to listen to the church also, [i.e., to acknowledge his sin and repent of it], consider him like an [unconverted] Gentile or tax collector [i.e., do not have fellowship with him].

Matthew 5:47

And if you greet [cordially] your brothers only, what are you doing more than other people? Do not even the [unconverted] Gentiles do that much?

Matthew 6:1

“Be careful that you do not do your good deeds in front of people for the purpose of being seen by them, for [if you do] you will not have a reward from your Father in heaven.

Mark 2:15

And it happened that Jesus was having a meal at Levi’s house and many tax collectors and worldly people sat down with Him and His disciples, for many [of these kinds of people] became His followers.

Mark 2:16

And when the experts in the Law of Moses, being Pharisees [i.e., a strict sect of the Jewish religion], saw that He was eating with tax collectors and worldly people, they said to His disciples, “Why does Jesus eat and drink with tax collectors and worldly people?”

Luke 15:1

Now the tax collectors and worldly people were all gathering around Jesus to listen to Him.

Luke 18:13

But the tax collector stood at a distance [i.e., inconspicuously] and would not even look up to heaven, but struck his chest [i.e., in remorse], saying, ‘God, [please] have mercy on a sinner like me [i.e., “cover over” or forgive my sins].’

Luke 19:2

Just then, there appeared a man named Zacchaeus, who was a wealthy, chief tax collector.

Luke 19:7

And when the crowd saw this, they began complaining [i.e., because Zacchaeus was a despised tax collector] and said, “He is going to lodge with a sinful man.”

Luke 3:12

Then some tax collectors came to him to be immersed and asked him, “Teacher, what must we do [i.e., to demonstrate our repentance]?”

Luke 5:29

Then Levi prepared a lavish dinner for Jesus at his house. A large number of [other] tax collectors were [also] having dinner with them.

Luke 5:30

Now the Pharisees and their experts in the Law of Moses complained to Jesus’ disciples, saying, “Why do you men eat and drink with tax collectors and worldly people?”

Luke 7:29

And when all the people, together with the tax collectors, heard this they praised God for being so just, and were immersed with the immersion [preached] by John.

Luke 7:34

[Then] the Son of man came eating and drinking [at festive occasions] and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and worldly people.’