Matthew 5

The Beatitudes

1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain and sat down. His disciples came to him,

2 and he began to teach them:
3 “Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually helpless.The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.4 Blessed are those who mourn.They will be comforted.5 Blessed are those who are gentle.They will inherit the earth.6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God’s approval.They will be satisfied.7 Blessed are those who show mercy.They will be treated mercifully.8 Blessed are those whose thoughts are pure.They will see God.9 Blessed are those who make peace.They will be called God’s children.10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what God approves of.The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.11 “Blessed are you when people insult you,persecute you,lie, and say all kinds of evil things about you because of me.12 Rejoice and be glad because you have a great reward in heaven!The prophets who lived before you were persecuted in these ways.

God’s People Make a Difference in the World—Mark 4:21–23; Luke 11:33

13 “You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, how will 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 light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill.15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house.

16 In the same way let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven.

Jesus Fulfills the Old Testament Scriptures

17 “Don’t ever think that I came to set aside Moses’ Teachings or the Prophets. I didn’t come to set them aside but to make them come true.18 I can guarantee this truth: Until the earth and the heavens disappear, neither a period nor a comma will disappear from Moses’ Teachings before everything has come true.19 So whoever sets aside any command that seems unimportant and teaches others to do the same will be unimportant in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches what the commands say will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 I can guarantee that unless you live a life that has God’s approval and do it more faithfully than the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus Talks About Anger

21 “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘Never murder. Whoever murders will answer for it in court.’

22 But I can guarantee that whoever is angry with another believert will answer for it in court. Whoever calls another believer an insulting name will answer for it in the highest court. Whoever calls another believer a fool will answer for it in hellfire.
23 “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and remember there that another believer has something against you,

24 leave your gift at the altar. First go away and make peace with that person. Then come back and offer your gift.
25 “Make peace quickly with your opponent while you are on the way to court with him. Otherwise, he will hand you over to the judge. Then the judge will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison.

26 I can guarantee this truth: You will never get out until you pay every penny of your fine.

About Sexual Sin

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Never commit adultery.’

28 But I can guarantee that whoever looks at a woman and desires her has already committed adultery in his heart.
29 “So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it thrown into hell.

30 And if your right hand leads you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it go into hell.
31 “It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice.’

32 But I can guarantee that any man who divorces his wife for any reason other than unfaithfulness makes her look as though she has committed adultery. Whoever marries a woman divorced in this way makes himself look as though he has committed adultery.

About Oaths

33 “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘Never break your oath, but give to the Lord what you swore in an oath to give him.’34 But I tell you don’t swear an oath at all. Don’t swear an oath by heaven, which is God’s throne,35 or by the earth, which is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, which is the city of the great King.36 And don’t swear an oath by your head. After all, you cannot make one hair black or white.

37 Simply say yes or no. Anything more than that comes from the evil one.

Love Your Enemies—Luke 6:27–36

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’39 But I tell you not to oppose an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn your other cheek to him as well.40 If someone wants to sue you in order to take your shirt, let him have your coat too.41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go two miles with him.

42 Give to everyone who asks you for something. Don’t turn anyone away who wants to borrow something from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’44 But I tell you this: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.45 In this way you show that you are children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on people whether they are good or evil. He lets rain fall on them whether they are just or unjust.46 If you love those who love you, do you deserve a reward? Even the tax collectors do that!47 Are you doing anything remarkable if you welcome only your friends? Everyone does that!

48 That is why you must be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5

1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain: and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him:2 and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you.

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.14 Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.15 Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house.16 Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

17 Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.20 For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.

21 Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:22 but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire.23 If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee,24 leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art with him in the way; lest haply the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.26 Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the last farthing.

27 Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery:28 but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.29 And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell.30 And if thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body go into hell.31 It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:32 but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.

33 Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:34 but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God;35 nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black.37 But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one.

38 Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:39 but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.40 And if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

43 Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy:44 but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;45 that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.46 For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?48 Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.