Do You Love Like Everyone Else? What Jesus Meant About Tax Collectors and Radical Love
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“Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” — Matthew 5:46b (NIV)
The Day Jesus Questioned My Love
Jesus has a way of asking questions that hit harder than any sermon ever could.
When I read Matthew 5:46 — “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” — it was the second question that stopped me in my tracks: “Are not even the tax collectors doing that?”
I had to pause. Because if Jesus is comparing my love to tax collectors, something must be off.
This question challenges more than our kindness. It questions our motives, boundaries, and spiritual maturity. And as I began to understand what tax collectors represented in Jesus’ culture, the message hit even deeper.
Who Were the Tax Collectors — and Why Did Jesus Bring Them Up?
In today’s world, tax collectors are just government employees. But in first-century Israel, tax collectors were social pariahs, considered the worst kind of sinner.
Here’s why:
They were Jewish men hired by the Roman oppressors.
They extorted their own people for profit.
They were ritually unclean and considered traitors to both faith and family.
They were grouped with prostitutes and sinners (see Matthew 21:31–32).
So, when Jesus said, “Even the tax collectors do that,” He was drawing a sharp line. He was saying: even the most morally bankrupt people love those who love them back.
If that’s the standard you’re living by… congratulations — you’ve reached tax collector level.
Ouch.
The Broader Message: Kingdom Love Looks Different
Jesus was teaching during the Sermon on the Mount, where He turned conventional thinking upside down:
Blessed are the poor in spirit.
Love your enemies.
Pray for those who persecute you.
And then this: Don’t just love those who love you. Even the worst sinners do that.
His point? Kingdom people don’t love like the world. They love like their Father in heaven.
This kind of love isn’t convenient. It’s countercultural, costly, and sacrificial. But it’s also the kind of love that changes the world.
Old Testament Echoes: Love Beyond Borders
Jesus didn’t make up this idea of radical love. He was revealing the heart of God that had always been present.
In Leviticus 19:18, God commands:
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge… but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”
And just a few verses later in Leviticus 19:34:
“The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself…”
God’s people were never meant to show love based on convenience, tribe, or return on investment. They were called to reflect God’s character — a God who is "gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love" (Psalm 103:8).
When My Love Looked a Lot Like the World’s
I’d love to tell you I’ve always loved like Jesus. But I haven’t.
I remember a season where I kept my circle tight. If someone loved me, encouraged me, or blessed me — I poured into them. But if they were cold? Distant? Judgmental? I cut them off with a smile and told myself, “God wants me to guard my peace.”
And while healthy boundaries are important, I began to realize something uncomfortable:
My love looked a lot like the world’s love.
Jesus wasn’t calling me to emotional self-preservation. He was calling me to be salt and light — and sometimes that means loving people who’ll never say thank you.
What Makes Kingdom Love Different?
Jesus didn’t tell us to tolerate our enemies. He told us to love them.
He didn’t say bless your friends. He said bless those who curse you (Matthew 5:44).
So what does that look like?
1. Love without Payback
Romans 12:17 says, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.”
Kingdom love doesn’t keep score.
2. Love without Limits
Luke 6:35: “Love your enemies… lend to them without expecting to get anything back.”
That’s impossible on our own — but not with the Holy Spirit.
3. Love that Looks Like the Cross
“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
Jesus didn’t wait for us to be lovable. He loved us when we were broken, rebellious, and undeserving.
And now, He’s calling us to that same kind of love.
Recommended Books to Further Study the Subject
✍️ Reflection Questions
Do I love people based on how they treat me?
Who have I labeled “unworthy” of my time, attention, or affection?
Does my love look different from the world — or exactly like it?
What would it take to love someone this week who can give me nothing in return?
🙏 A Prayer for Radical Love
Lord, help me to love like You do. Not just when it’s easy — but especially when it’s hard. Forgive me for the times I’ve withheld love based on hurt or pride. Teach me to bless, forgive, and serve those who may never repay me. Make me more like You, even in my relationships.
📣 Call to Action: Let’s Go Beyond Tax Collector Love
Today, I invite you to love someone who isn’t easy to love. Maybe it’s:
A coworker who frustrates you
A family member who keeps letting you down
A stranger who cuts in line or says something rude
Don’t just love like everyone else. Love like Jesus.
👉 Challenge: Send a kind message, pray for them, or serve them in a tangible way — and ask God to stretch your heart in the process.
