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"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
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But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
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so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
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For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
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And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
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You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (Revised Standard Version)
