Texts in Conversation
Sirach portrays caring for orphans and widows as a path to being called a son of God, describing mercy toward the vulnerable as a reflection of divine character. Matthew depicts Jesus similarly connecting generosity with divine character, teaching that those who show love resemble their divine Father.
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Sirach 4:10
Ben Sira, Ecclesiasticus
Deuterocanon
8 Give a hearing to the poor, and return their greeting politely. 9 Rescue the oppressed from the oppressor; and do not be hesitant in giving a verdict. 10 Be a father to orphans, and be like a husband to their mother; you will then be like a son of the Most High, and he will love you more than does your mother. 11 Wisdom teaches her children and gives help to those who seek her. 12 Whoever loves her loves life, and those who seek her from early morning are filled with joy.
Date: 195-175 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Matthew 5:45
New Testament
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? 47 And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they?
Date: 70-90 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
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Notes and References
"... The passage includes traditional Jewish proverbs—the golden rule and the “measure for measure” logion — and conventional Jewish motifs: the good and the bad/wicked, the just and unjust, God as the cause of sun and rain, the righteous as sons of God, (For example, Proverbs 3:12; Jeremiah 3:19; Hosea 11:1; Sirach 4:10; Wisdom of Solomon 2:18; Bava Batra 17b ...) and the imitation of divine attributes. The central part of the Sermon on the Plain also features striking images: someone turning the other cheek, a person going the extra mile, a log jutting from an eye; as well as provocative imperatives: love your enemy, pray for those persecuting you, give away your remaining garment. It further exhibits parallelism, balance, alliteration, and repetition, as one can see ..."
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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