If you love only those who love you, what reward will you get?

November 8, 2009 - If you love only those who love you, what reward will you get? - Matthew 5:46 The Sermon on the Mount in many ways serves as a corrective to the interpretation and application of the law and prophets by the Pharisees. What had they done? In the words of theologian John Stott: “[The Pharisees] made the law’s demands less demanding and the law’s permissions more permissive.” So we come to the question that Jesus’ asks today: "If you love only those who love you, what reward will you get?" And we find that the demands of the law have been made less demanding. So Jesus' word to us serves as a powerful corrective to our own selfish tendencies.