Matthew 5
5
Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount
1Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
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 children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
The Fulfillment of the Law
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Murder
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, # 5:21
Exodus 20:13
and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister#5:22 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woman; also in verse 23.#5:22 Some manuscripts brother or sister without cause will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’#5:22 An Aramaic term of contempt is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Adultery
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ # 5:27
Exodus 20:14
28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Divorce
31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ # 5:31
Deut. 24:1
32But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Oaths
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.#5:37 Or from evil
Eye for Eye
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ # 5:38
Exodus 21:24
; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21 39But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor # 5:43
Lev. 19:18
and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
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Matthew 5
5
1And having seen the multitudes, he went up to the mount, and he having sat down, his disciples came to him,
2and having opened his mouth, he was teaching them, saying:
3‘Happy the poor in spirit — because theirs is the reign of the heavens.
4‘Happy the mourning — because they shall be comforted.
5‘Happy the meek — because they shall inherit the land.
6‘Happy those hungering and thirsting for righteousness — because they shall be filled.
7‘Happy the kind — because they shall find kindness.
8‘Happy the clean in heart — because they shall see God.
9‘Happy the peacemakers — because they shall be called Sons of God.
10‘Happy those persecuted for righteousness' sake — because theirs is the reign of the heavens.
11‘Happy are ye whenever they may reproach you, and may persecute, and may say any evil thing against you falsely for my sake —
12rejoice ye and be glad, because your reward [is] great in the heavens, for thus did they persecute the prophets who were before you.
13‘Ye are the salt of the land, but if the salt may lose savour, in what shall it be salted? for nothing is it good henceforth, except to be cast without, and to be trodden down by men.
14‘Ye are the light of the world, a city set upon a mount is not able to be hid;
15nor do they light a lamp, and put it under the measure, but on the lamp-stand, and it shineth to all those in the house;
16so let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and may glorify your Father who [is] in the heavens.
17‘Do not suppose that I came to throw down the law or the prophets — I did not come to throw down, but to fulfil;
18for, verily I say to you, till that the heaven and the earth may pass away, one iota or one tittle may not pass away from the law, till that all may come to pass.
19‘Whoever therefore may loose one of these commands — the least — and may teach men so, least he shall be called in the reign of the heavens, but whoever may do and may teach [them], he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens.
20‘For I say to you, that if your righteousness may not abound above that of the scribes and Pharisees, ye may not enter to the reign of the heavens.
21‘Ye heard that it was said to the ancients: Thou shalt not kill, and whoever may kill shall be in danger of the judgment;
22but I — I say to you, that every one who is angry at his brother without cause, shall be in danger of the judgment, and whoever may say to his brother, Empty fellow! shall be in danger of the sanhedrim, and whoever may say, Rebel! shall be in danger of the gehenna of the fire.
23‘If, therefore, thou mayest bring thy gift to the altar, and there mayest remember that thy brother hath anything against thee,
24leave there thy gift before the altar, and go — first be reconciled to thy brother, and then having come bring thy gift.
25‘Be agreeing with thy opponent quickly, while thou art in the way with him, that the opponent may not deliver thee to the judge, and the judge may deliver thee to the officer, and to prison thou mayest be cast,
26verily I say to thee, thou mayest not come forth thence till that thou mayest pay the last farthing.
27‘Ye heard that it was said to the ancients: Thou shalt not commit adultery;
28but I — I say to you, that every one who is looking on a woman to desire her, did already commit adultery with her in his heart.
29‘But, if thy right eye doth cause thee to stumble, pluck it out and cast from thee, for it is good to thee that one of thy members may perish, and not thy whole body be cast to gehenna.
30‘And, if thy right hand doth cause thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast from thee, for it is good to thee that one of thy members may perish, and not thy whole body be cast to gehenna.
31‘And it was said, That whoever may put away his wife, let him give to her a writing of divorce;
32but I — I say to you, that whoever may put away his wife, save for the matter of whoredom, doth make her to commit adultery; and whoever may marry her who hath been put away doth commit adultery.
33‘Again, ye heard that it was said to the ancients: Thou shalt not swear falsely, but thou shalt pay to the Lord thine oaths;
34but I — I say to you, not to swear at all; neither by the heaven, because it is the throne of God,
35nor by the earth, because it is His footstool, nor by Jerusalem, because it is a city of a great king,
36nor by thy head mayest thou swear, because thou art not able one hair to make white or black;
37but let your word be, Yes, Yes, No, No, and that which is more than these is of the evil.
38‘Ye heard that it was said: Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth;
39but I — I say to you, not to resist the evil, but whoever shall slap thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other;
40and whoever is willing to take thee to law, and thy coat to take — suffer to him also the cloak.
41‘And whoever shall impress thee one mile, go with him two,
42to him who is asking of thee be giving, and him who is willing to borrow from thee thou mayest not turn away.
43‘Ye heard that it was said: Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and shalt hate thine enemy;
44but I — I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those cursing you, do good to those hating you, and pray for those accusing you falsely, and persecuting you,
45that ye may be sons of your Father in the heavens, because His sun He doth cause to rise on evil and good, and He doth send rain on righteous and unrighteous.
46‘For, if ye may love those loving you, what reward have ye? do not also the taxgatherers the same?
47and if ye may salute your brethren only, what do ye abundant? do not also the taxgatherers so?
48ye shall therefore be perfect, as your Father who [is] in the heavens is perfect.
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