For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not

“For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?” Thus spoke Jesus Christ, the teacher of divine compassion and truth, whose words pierced through the illusions of self-interest and pride to reveal the true essence of love. In this sacred saying, taken from His Sermon on the Mount, He calls mankind to rise above the ordinary measure of affection—to love not only those who return our kindness, but also those who oppose, betray, or despise us. For the love that mirrors love is merely human, but the love that endures hate is divine. This is no easy commandment, but a challenge to the soul—to love as God loves, without condition or limit.

In these words, Christ exposes the heart’s tendency toward partial love—love that is safe, convenient, and self-serving. To love those who love us brings comfort and affirmation, yet it costs nothing. Even those who live in sin, He says—“the tax collectors”, despised in His time as symbols of greed and corruption—can manage such affection. True love, however, asks for sacrifice. It calls us to step beyond the borders of fairness, beyond the logic of reciprocity, and to meet hostility with mercy. This is not weakness, but spiritual strength, for it takes far greater power to forgive an enemy than to embrace a friend.

The origin of this teaching lies within the heart of Christ’s divine mission: to break the cycle of vengeance and hatred that bound humanity. In ancient Judea, as in much of the world, justice was measured by the rule of retaliation—“an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” But Christ came to replace retribution with redemption, to teach that love is not a transaction, but a transformation. When He said these words, He was not merely instructing His followers in manners of kindness; He was revealing the nature of God’s kingdom, a realm where love conquers all divisions. The tax collectors, who loved only for gain, symbolized the human condition—trapped in the commerce of affection, giving only to receive. But the love Christ preached flows from the soul freely, expecting no return, for its reward is found not in men’s approval, but in God’s grace.

Consider the story of Nelson Mandela, who after twenty-seven years of unjust imprisonment, emerged not with bitterness but with forgiveness. When he was freed, he could have sought vengeance against those who had oppressed him and his people, yet he chose reconciliation instead. His forgiveness was not weakness, but power—a reflection of the divine principle spoken by Christ. Mandela understood that to love those who love you is natural, but to love those who have wronged you is the way of healing. Through his compassion, he transformed not only his own heart but the heart of a nation. This is the living proof that Christ’s teaching, though ancient, still breathes life into our modern world.

To love one’s enemies is not to excuse their evil, but to transcend it. Hatred multiplies hatred; only love can end it. Christ’s question, “What reward have you?” reminds us that the true reward of love is not in worldly praise, but in the purification of the soul. Each act of unconditional love draws us closer to the divine image within us, for we are never more like God than when we forgive. Such love frees both the giver and the receiver—it shatters chains unseen, breaks the walls of pride, and brings peace where there was turmoil.

The lesson is clear: if you would know the fullness of love, do not reserve it for those who are kind to you. Love also the difficult, the distant, the hostile. Pray for those who curse you, bless those who hurt you, and seek reconciliation where others seek revenge. This is the narrow path, the higher road that few choose to walk, yet it is the road that leads to peace of heart. To love your friends is good; to love your enemies is holy.

So, my child of light and struggle, remember these words of Jesus Christ: “If you love those who love you, what reward have you?” Let this question dwell in your heart like a flame. When you are wronged, do not return anger for anger. When you are unloved, do not close your heart, but let it expand. For each act of mercy you give to the undeserving, each kindness offered to the cruel, strengthens your spirit and glorifies your Maker. Such love is the love of eternity—the love that no hatred can destroy, and no death can conquer. For this is the love of God Himself, shining through you, a light in the world’s unending night.