09/09/2026
Matthew 5:42 — Interpretation
“Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” — Matthew 5:42 (KJV)
Jesus is teaching His disciples about a generous and open-hearted attitude toward people in need. This verse is part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus challenges His followers to live by a standard higher than ordinary human retaliation and self-interest.
1. “Give to him that asketh thee”
This speaks of compassion and generosity. When someone genuinely has a need and asks for help, the believer should not automatically respond with suspicion, selfishness, or indifference.
It reflects the character of God:
“He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” — Luke 6:35
However, this does not mean that Christians must give everything to everyone who asks, regardless of circumstances. Scripture also teaches wisdom and responsible stewardship (2 Thessalonians 3:10; Proverbs 22:3).
The emphasis is on having a heart that is willing to help rather than eager to withhold.
2. “From him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away”
Jesus is addressing the tendency to close our hearts when helping someone becomes inconvenient or costly.
Deuteronomy 15:7–8 gives a similar principle:
“Thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother.”
The believer should not become so attached to possessions that another person’s legitimate need means nothing to him.
3. The deeper meaning
Matthew 5:42 is ultimately about the condition of the heart.
Jesus is not merely saying, “Give money whenever somebody asks.” He is teaching:
Do not allow selfishness, greed, or fear to make you insensitive to the needs of others.
The Christian life is not simply about protecting what belongs to us; it is also about becoming a channel through which God’s love reaches others.
A necessary balance
Biblical generosity must be accompanied by wisdom. You can love someone without enabling destructive behavior. You can refuse a request without becoming hard-hearted. Sometimes the wisest form of help is not giving the person what they requested, but helping them in a way that genuinely addresses their need.
So Matthew 5:42 can be summarized as:
“Keep your heart open to people in need. Be generous, compassionate, and willing to sacrifice, while allowing wisdom to govern how you give.”
And the principle behind it is beautifully captured in Proverbs 19:17:
“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”
