Matthew 5:47

Sunday, 22 December 2024

 

And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Matthew 5:47

 

“And if you embrace only your brothers, what extra do you do? And do not the taxmen, the ‘himself’ they do?” (CG).

 

In the previous verse, Jesus noted the pointless nature of expecting rewards when you love those who love you, noting that even tax collectors do that. Now, He continues that thought, saying, “And if you embrace only your brothers.”

 

He uses the word aspazomai. Strong’s Lexicon says, “Derived from a (as a particle of union) and a presumed form of spao (to draw); meaning to enfold in the arms, i.e., to greet or embrace.” Although most translations simply say greet, salute, hail, or something similar, the word indicates a hearty welcome where the arms enfold around someone.

 

Today, we might grab someone, pull him closer, put one arm around him, and then give him a pat on the back. It is a welcome that demonstrates felicity. When greeting a brother like this, Jesus questions them about it, asking, “what extra do you do?”

 

The obvious answer is, “nothing.” It is what everyone who greets a brother or a friend does. This is so obvious that He next says, “And do not the taxmen, the ‘himself’ they do?”

 

Some manuscripts use the word ethnikoi, those from non-Jewish ethnicity, rather than telonai, taxmen, as was seen in the previous verse. Either way, the point is made. Jesus uses an example of someone who is considered contemptible by the Jews, demonstrating that this is what everyone does, regardless of culture, social status, etc.

 

He will next finish the chapter with words that sum up His thoughts on the matter that He has been addressing.

 

Life application: There are various ways that manuscripts will wind up with differences in them. In the case of Matthew 5:47, what seems likely is that it was a case of dittography. This is where a letter or word is repeated by accident. In the Greek NT Text, the final sentence is almost identical except for one word, translated as tax collectors by the NKJV:

ἐὰν γὰρ ἀγαπήσητε τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας ὑμᾶς, τίνα μισθὸν ἔχετε; οὐχὶ καὶ οἱ τελῶναι τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦσιν;

καὶ ἐὰν ἀσπάσησθε τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὑμῶν μόνον, τί περισσὸν ποιεῖτε; οὐχὶ καὶ οἱ ἐθνικοὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦσιν;

 

46. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47. And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others?Do not even the tax collectors [ethnicities] do so?

 

When translating verse 47, the Greek copyist looked up, his eyes probably glanced at verse 46 by accident, thus writing taxmen a second time instead of pagans or ethnicities. This is obviously speculation, but somehow an error crept into one of the two texts.

 

To understand why there are various differences in the biblical texts, take time to read up on copyist errors. Along with dittography, some of the errors you will discover are haplography (omitting a repeated letter or word), metathesis (reversing letters or words), homeoteleuton (skipping a section due to similar line endings), and homeoarchy (skipping a section due to similar beginnings of lines).

 

These and other copyist mistakes frequently crept into texts. Does this mean that the word of God is tainted? Not at all. It is there, but we must spend time and careful consideration to determine why the error occurred and which is the original. Though disputed by various scholars, the original exists.

 

The Greek New Testament has thousands and thousands of manuscripts. Add in lectionaries, commentaries, and other ancient sources, and the originals can be determined. God has allowed fallen man to handle His word. Because of this, errors in transmission can be expected. But diligence and perseverance will lead to a fuller and closer understanding of what was originally given under inspiration of the Spirit.

 

Lord God, thank You for those who have carefully recorded Your word over the ages, passing down what You originally gave us so that we can understand what You have done in the giving of Jesus. Help us to diligently search out Your word and faithfully transmit it to those around us so that they, too, can know. Amen.