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
MATTHEW 5
The Sermon on the Mount
1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the side of a mountain and sat down.tBlessings
(Luke 6.20-23)
Jesus' disciples gathered around him,
2 and he taught them:
3 God blesses those people
who depend only on him.
They belong to the kingdom
of heaven!t
4 t God blesses those people
who grieve.
They will find comfort!
5 t God blesses those people
who are humble.
The earth will belong
to them!
6 t God blesses those people
who want to obey himt
more than to eat or drink.
They will be given
what they want!
7 God blesses those people
who are merciful.
They will be treated
with mercy!
8 t God blesses those people
whose hearts are pure.
They will see him!
9 God blesses those people
who make peace.
They will be called
his children!
10 t God blesses those people
who are treated badly
for doing right.
They belong to the kingdom
of heaven.t
11 t God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me.
12 t Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago.Salt and Light
(Mark 9.50; Luke 14.34,35)
13 t You are the salt for everyone on earth. But if salt no longer tastes like salt, how can it make food salty? All it is good for is to be thrown out and walked on.
14 t You are the light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, 15 t and no one lights a lamp and puts it under a clay pot. Instead, it is placed on a lampstand, where it can give light to everyone in the house.
16 t Make your light shine, so others will see the good you do and will praise your Father in heaven.The Law of Moses
17 Don't suppose I came to do away with the Law and the Prophets.t I did not come to do away with them, but to give them their full meaning.
18 t Heaven and earth may disappear. But I promise you not even a period or comma will ever disappear from the Law. Everything written in it must happen.
19 If you reject even the least important command in the Law and teach others to do the same, you will be the least important person in the kingdom of heaven. But if you obey and teach others its commands, you will have an important place in the kingdom.
20 You must obey God's commands better than the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law obey them. If you don't, I promise you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.Anger
21 t You know our ancestors were told, “Do not murder” and “A murderer must be brought to trial.”
22 But I promise you if you are angry with someone, t you will have to stand trial. If you call someone a fool, you will be taken to court. And if you say that someone is worthless, you will be in danger of the fires of hell.
23 So if you are about to place your gift on the altar and remember that someone is angry with you,
24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. Make peace with that person, then come back and offer your gift to God.
25 Before you are dragged into court, make friends with the person who has accused you of doing wrong. If you don't, you will be handed over to the judge and then to the officer who will put you in jail.
26 I promise you will not get out until you have paid the last cent you owe.Marriage
27 t You know the commandment which says, “Be faithful in marriage.” 28 But I tell you if you look at another woman and want her, you are already unfaithful in your thoughts. 29 t If your right eye causes you to sin, poke it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body, than for your whole body to end up in hell.
30 t If your right hand causes you to sin, chop it off and throw it away! It is better to lose one part of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.Divorce
(Matthew 19.9; Mark 10.11,12; Luke 16.18)
31 t You have been taught that a man who divorces his wife must write out divorce papers for her.t
32 t But I tell you not to divorce your wife unless she has committed some terrible sexual sin.t If you divorce her, you will cause her to be unfaithful, just as any man who marries her is guilty of taking another man's wife.Promises
33 t You know our ancestors were told, “Don't use the Lord's name to make a promise unless you are going to keep it.” 34 t But I tell you not to swear by anything when you make a promise! Heaven is God's throne, so don't swear by heaven. 35 t The earth is God's footstool, so don't swear by the earth. Jerusalem is the city of the great king, so don't swear by it. 36 Don't swear by your own head. You cannot make one hair white or black.
37 When you make a promise, say only “Yes” or “No.” Anything else comes from the devil.Revenge
(Luke 6.29,30)
38 t You know you have been taught, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” 39 But I tell you not to try to get even with a person who has done something to you. When someone slaps your right cheek, t turn and let that person slap your other cheek. 40 If someone sues you for your shirt, give up your coat as well. 41 If a soldier forces you to carry his pack one kilometer , carry it two kilometers .t
42 When people ask you for something, give it to them. When they want to borrow money, lend it to them.Love
(Luke 6.27,28,32-36)
43 t You have heard people say, “Love your neighbors and hate your enemies.” 44 But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you. 45 t Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong. 46 If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for this? Even tax collectorst love their friends. 47 If you greet only your friends, what's so great about this? Don't even unbelievers do that? 48 t But you must always act like your Father in heaven.