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Mat 5:44. Ἀγαπᾶτε, love ye-εὐλογεῖτε, bless ye-καλῶς ποιεῖτε, do ye good to-καὶ προσεύχεσθε ὑπὲρ, and pray ye for) Here are four clauses, the second and third of which are wanting in some of the ancients-the second in the Vulgate, the third in Tertullian,[231] De Patientia, ch. 6. Four clauses ought, therefore, to be read, although the third is almost contained in the first, and the second in the fourth by Chiasmus:[232] on which account St Luke transposes them.[233] In Mat 5:46, the verb ἀγαπάω, to love, occurs again, and in Mat 5:47, the word ἀσπάσησθε, salute, corresponds with εὐλογεῖτε in the present verse.-τῶν ἐπηρεαζόντων ὑμᾶς, them which despitefully use you) ἐπήρεια, [the substantive from which the verb ἐπηρεάζω is derived] signifies an injury inflicted, not for the benefit of the injurer, but for the damage of the injured party.-See my notes to Chrysostom on the Priesthood, p. 429. It is, therefore, a sign of extreme hatred. A striking contrast. Pray for such persons as these: obtain by your prayers blessings for those, who take blessings from you.
[231] Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, a native of Carthage, where he became a Presbyter, the earliest of the Latin fathers, flourished in the third century.-(I. B.)
[232] See explanation of technical terms in Appendix.-(I. B.)
[233] Vulg. Memph. Versions, Orig. 4,329c; 351a; Cypr. 248, 260, 319, Hil. 303 omit εὐλογεὶτε τ. καταρωμένους ὑμᾶς, καλῶς ποιεῖτε τοῖς μισοῦσιν ὑμᾶς. Dcd Lucif. insert these words with Rec. Text (which, however, has τ. μισοῦντας.)-ED.