Matius 5:46

5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors ¹  do the same, don’t they?

Matius 21:35

21:35 But the tenants seized his slaves, beat one, ²  killed another, and stoned another.

[5:46]  ¹ sn The tax collectors would bid to collect taxes for the Roman government and then add a surcharge, which they kept. Since tax collectors worked for Rome, they were viewed as traitors to their own people and were not well liked.

[21:35]  ² sn The image of the tenants mistreating the owner’s slaves pictures the nation’s rejection of the prophets and their message.