Matthew 5

1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him.

2 He taught them, saying:

Happy people

3 “Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

4 “Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad.

5 “Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.

6 “Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full.

7 “Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy.

8 “Happy are people who have pure hearts, because they will see God.

9 “Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.

10 “Happy are people whose lives are harassed because they are righteous, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
11 “Happy are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all because of me.

12 Be full of joy and be glad, because you have a great reward in heaven. In the same way, people harassed the prophets who came before you.

Salt and light

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? It’s good for nothing except to be thrown away and trampled under people’s feet.14 You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden.15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house.

16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.

Jesus and the Law

17 “Don’t even begin to think that I have come to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I haven’t come to do away with them but to fulfill them.18 I say to you very seriously that as long as heaven and earth exist, neither the smallest letter nor even the smallest stroke of a pen will be erased from the Law until everything there becomes a reality.19 Therefore, whoever ignores one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called the lowest in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps these commands and teaches people to keep them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 I say to you that unless your righteousness is greater than the righteousness of the legal experts and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Law of murder

21 “You have heard that it was said to those who lived long ago, Don’t commit murder, t and all who commit murder will be in danger of judgment.22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with their brother or sister will be in danger of judgment. If they say to their brother or sister, ‘You idiot,’ they will be in danger of being condemned by the governing council. And if they say, ‘You fool,’ they will be in danger of fiery hell.23 Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you,24 leave your gift at the altar and go. First make things right with your brother or sister and then come back and offer your gift.25 Be sure to make friends quickly with your opponents while you are with them on the way to court. Otherwise, they will haul you before the judge, the judge will turn you over to the officer of the court, and you will be thrown into prison.

26 I say to you in all seriousness that you won’t get out of there until you’ve paid the very last penny.

Law of adultery

27 “You have heard that it was said, Don’t commit adultery. t28 But I say to you that every man who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery in his heart.29 And if your right eye causes you to fall into sin, tear it out and throw it away. It’s better that you lose a part of your body than that your whole body be thrown into hell.

30 And if your right hand causes you to fall into sin, chop it off and throw it away. It’s better that you lose a part of your body than that your whole body go into hell.

Law of divorce

31 “It was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a divorce certificate.’ t

32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife except for sexual unfaithfulness forces her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Law of solemn pledges

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those who lived long ago: Don’t make a false solemn pledge, but you should follow through on what you have pledged to the Lord. t34 But I say to you that you must not pledge at all. You must not pledge by heaven, because it’s God’s throne.35 You must not pledge by the earth, because it’s God’s footstool. You must not pledge by Jerusalem, because it’s the city of the great king.36 And you must not pledge by your head, because you can’t turn one hair white or black.

37 Let your yes mean yes, and your no mean no. Anything more than this comes from the evil one.

Law of retaliation

38 “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth .t39 But I say to you that you must not oppose those who want to hurt you. If people slap you on your right cheek, you must turn the left cheek to them as well.40 When they wish to haul you to court and take your shirt, let them have your coat too.41 When they force you to go one mile, go with them two.

42 Give to those who ask, and don’t refuse those who wish to borrow from you.

Law of love

43 “You have heard that it was said, You must love your neighbor t and hate your enemy.44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who harass you45 so that you will be acting as children of your Father who is in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both the evil and the good and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.46 If you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same?

48 Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete.

Matthew 5

The Beatitudes

1 Whent he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain.ts After he sat down his disciples came to him.

2 Thent he began to teacht them by saying:

3 “Blesseds are the poor in spirit,s for the kingdom of heaven belongss to them.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.s

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hungers and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the childrent of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
11 “Blessed are you when peoplet insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falselys on account of me.

12 Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.

Salt and Light

13 “You are the salts of the earth. But if salt loses its flavor,s how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people.14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Peoplet do not light a lamp and put it under a baskett but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.

16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.

Fulfillment of the Law and Prophets

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them.t18 It tell you the truth,t until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letterts will pass from the law until everything takes place.19 So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches otherst to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the lawt and the Pharisees,s you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Anger and Murder

21 “You have heard that it was said to an older generation,t ‘Do not murder,’s and ‘whoever murders will be subjected to judgment.’22 But I say to you that anyone who is angry with a brothers will be subjected to judgment. And whoever insultst a brother will be brought beforet the council,t and whoever says ‘Fool’t will be sentt to fiery hell.ts23 So then, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come and present your gift.25 Reach agreementt quickly with your accuser while on the way to court,t or het may hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the warden, and you will be thrown into prison.

26 I tell you the truth,t you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny!ts

Adultery

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’s28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into hell.s

30 If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into hell.

Divorce

31 “It was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a legal document.’s

32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to an older generation,t ‘Do not break an oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’s34 But I say to you, do not take oaths at all – not by heaven, because it is the throne of God,35 not by earth, because it is his footstool, and not by Jerusalem,s because it is the city of the great King.36 Do not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black.

37 Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’ More than this is from the evil one.t

Retaliation

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’s39 But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer.t But whoever strikes you on thes right cheek, turn the other to him as well.40 And if someone wants to sue you and to take your tunic,t give him your coat also.41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile,s go with him two.

42 Give to the one who asks you,s and do not rejectt the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’s and ‘hate your enemy.’44 But I say to you, love your enemy ands pray for those who persecute you,45 so that you may be liket 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 collectorss 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?

48 So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.s