Matthew 5:47 Meaning and Explanation
“And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus asks what is exceptional about greeting only your own people, as anyone does.
What Does Matthew 5:47 Mean?
Jesus extends his challenge to the everyday courtesy of greeting. If we welcome only our own people, what are we doing more than anyone else? Even those scorned as outsiders show kindness to their own.
The question exposes how easily our love stays within comfortable bounds. To greet and embrace only those like us is no real mark of grace. Jesus calls his followers to a wider kindness that reaches across every barrier. The life he describes is meant to be visibly different, marked by a love and welcome that go beyond what comes naturally to all. Such openness reflects the boundless welcome of God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 5:47
What does Matthew 5:47 mean?
Jesus asks what is exceptional about greeting only your own people, as anyone does.