Matthew 5:42

Matthew 5:42 is the forty-second verse of the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This is the fifth and last verse of the antithesis on the command: "Eye for an eye".

Matthew 5:42
← 5:41 5:43 →
"Sermon on the Mount". Alsace, Bas-Rhin, Rœschwoog, Église Saint-Barthélemy.
Book	Gospel of Matthew
Christian Bible part	New Testament

Content

The Greek text of Matthew 5:42-45 with a decorated headpiece in Folio 51 recto of Lectionary 240 (12th century)

In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him

that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

The World English Bible translates the passage as:

Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn

away him who desires to borrow from you.

For a collection of other versions see BibleRef Matthew 5:42

Analysis

This verse is most often seen as a command to be charitable and it is quite similar to Luke 6:40, but while that verse commands believers to give, this one simply states that they should not refuse requests ("lend, hoping for nothing again").[1] As with other parts of the Sermon on the Mount it is difficult to apply this verse literally, and no major Christian groups advocate such unrestricted charity. Luther argued the verse is restricted only to those who need assistance. Calvin states that generosity is important, but one should never be profligate.

A second interpretation of this verse is that it is not about charity, but rather against usury. The word borrow here is seen by some as a reference to the lending industry. Jesus is not stating that one should give money to anyone that asks, but rather that it is wrong to demand interest. Albright and Mann translate the last portion as "do not refuse one who is unable to pay interest."[2]

See also

• Christian anarchism
• Gift economy

References

1. Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Matthew 5. Accessed 28 April 2019.
2. Albright, W.F.; C.S. Mann. "Matthew." The Anchor Bible Series. New York: Doubleday & Co. 1971.

Further reading

• France, R. T. The Gospel According to Matthew: an Introduction and Commentary. Leicester: Inter-Varsity, 1985.
• Schweizer, Eduard. The Good News According to Matthew. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1975.

Preceded by Matthew 5:41

Gospel of Matthew Chapter 5

Succeeded by Matthew 5:43