In order to fully understand the significance of today's Gospel passage, we have to place it in its proper context, that is, the second part of the Sermon of the Mount (5, 21-48). In this part, the Gospel writer makes a contrast between the scribes' ideal of holiness and Jesus' more radical and demanding teaching. This contrast is carried out by means of six antithesis in which the words of the Old Testament ("You have heard") is contrasted with the sayings of Jesus ("But I say to you").

The antithesis found in today's Gospel passage is the sixth and final one, namely that Jesus demands his followers to love not only their own national or religious group but even their enemies. This new demand is based not on human nature, but on the example of God. It is human nature to love those who love you and to greet only members of one's own family but God makes the sun rise on the good and the unjust. When God's love and care for all people is taken as the standard, the followers of Jesus cannot limit their love only to their group or their national groups. The disciples' perfection reflects and is measured by God's perfection.

As we enter more deeply into the Season of Lent, and more profoundly into the Holy Year of Mercy, we are challenged to evaluate our own ideals of holiness and love. Today would be a good time to ask ourselves whether we base our ideals of holiness and love on our own human standards, or on God's standard.