“For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”
- 6-4 BC – 30 or 33 AD
- From Judea (present-day Israel/Palestine)
- Religious leader and evangelist
- Founder of Christianity, who had a major impact on religions and cultures around the world
table of contents
Quote
“For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”
Explanation
In this quote, Jesus challenges his followers to go beyond conventional love and demonstrate a deeper, more transformative kind of love. The question “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?” suggests that it is easy and natural to love those who treat us well or show affection toward us. However, this kind of love does not distinguish followers of Jesus from others, as even those considered morally corrupt, like the “tax collectors” (who were often seen as dishonest and despised by society), show affection to those who return it. Jesus is urging his disciples to love not just those who love them, but also those who may not show affection or even treat them poorly, pushing them toward a radical love that reflects God’s grace.
Historically, this teaching comes from the Gospel of Matthew, part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus calls his followers to a higher standard of conduct that reflects God’s love for all people, regardless of their behavior. The tax collectors, in Jesus’ time, were often seen as corrupt individuals who collaborated with the Roman authorities, and thus were looked down upon. By referencing them, Jesus illustrates that loving those who are easy to love does not set his followers apart; true love is shown when one loves even their enemies or those who might not offer anything in return.
In modern contexts, this teaching encourages believers to practice unconditional love, forgiveness, and kindness, not just to friends or family, but to everyone, including those who may be difficult to love. In a world that often emphasizes transactional relationships—where love and kindness are given in exchange for something—it challenges people to break away from such patterns. For example, in a workplace environment, where competition or rivalry may occur, this quote urges individuals to show kindness and generosity even to those who may not support them in return, fostering an atmosphere of love and reconciliation rather than division.
