Matthew 5
5
The Beatitudes
1And seeing the multitudes, #Matt. 14:23; 15:29; 17:1; Mark 3:13; Luke 6:17; 9:28; John 6:3, 15He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2Then He opened His mouth and #(Matt. 7:29); Mark 10:1; 12:35; John 8:2taught them, saying:
3“Blessed#Prov. 16:19; Is. 66:2; Luke 6:20–23 are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4#Is. 61:2, 3; Luke 6:21; (John 16:20); Acts 16:34; (2 Cor. 1:7); Rev. 21:4Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
5#Ps. 37:11; Is. 29:19Blessed are the meek,
For #(Rom. 4:13)they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who #Luke 1:53; Acts 2:4hunger and thirst for righteousness,
#(Is. 55:1; 65:13; John 4:14; 6:48; 7:37)For they shall be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
#Ps. 41:1; Mark 11:25For they shall obtain mercy.
8#Ps. 15:2; 24:4; Heb. 12:14Blessed are the pure in heart,
For #Acts 7:55, 56; 1 Cor. 13:12they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
10#(2 Cor. 4:17); 1 Pet. 3:14Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11#Luke 6:22“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of #1 Pet. 4:14evil against you falsely for My sake. 12#Luke 6:23; Acts 5:41; 1 Pet. 4:13, 14Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for #2 Chr. 36:16; Neh. 9:26; Matt. 23:37; Acts 7:52; 1 Thess. 2:15; Heb. 11:35–37; James 5:10so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Believers Are Salt and Light
13“You are the salt of the earth; #Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14#(Prov. 4:18; John 8:12); Phil. 2:15“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Nor do they #Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16; Phil. 2:15light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, #1 Pet. 2:12that they may see your good works and #(John 15:8); 1 Cor. 14:25glorify your Father in heaven.
Christ Fulfills the Law
17#Rom. 10:4“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18For assuredly, I say to you, #Matt. 24:35; Luke 16:17till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19#(James 2:10)Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds #(Rom. 10:3)the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Murder Begins in the Heart
21“You have heard that it was said to those of old, #Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22But I say to you that #(1 John 3:15)whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, #(James 2:20; 3:6)‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. 23Therefore #Matt. 8:4if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24#(Job 42:8; 1 Tim. 2:8; 1 Pet. 3:7)leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25#(Prov. 25:8); Luke 12:58, 59Agree with your adversary quickly, #(Ps. 32:6; Is. 55:6)while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.
Adultery in the Heart
27“You have heard that it was said to those of old, #Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28But I say to you that whoever #2 Sam. 11:2–5; Job 31:1; Prov. 6:25; (Matt. 15:19; James 1:14, 15)looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29#Mark 9:43If your right eye causes you to sin, #(Col. 3:5)pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Marriage Is Sacred and Binding
31“Furthermore it has been said, #Deut. 24:1; (Jer. 3:1); Mark 10:2‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32But I say to you that #(Matt. 19:9; Mark 10:11; Luke 16:18; Rom. 7:3); 1 Cor. 7:11whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
Jesus Forbids Oaths
33“Again you have heard that #Matt. 23:16it was said to those of old, #(Ex. 20:7); Lev. 19:12; Num. 30:2‘You shall not swear falsely, but #Deut. 23:23shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34But I say to you, #Matt. 23:16; James 5:12do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is #Is. 66:1God’s throne; 35nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of #Ps. 48:2; (Matt. 5:2, 19; 6:10)the great King. 36Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37#(Col. 4:6); James 5:12But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
Go the Second Mile
38“You have heard that it was said, #Ex. 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39#(Prov. 20:22); Luke 6:29; (Rom. 12:17; 1 Cor. 6:7; 1 Pet. 3:9)But I tell you not to resist an evil person. #Is. 50:6; Lam. 3:30But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41And whoever #Matt. 27:32compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42Give to him who asks you, and #Deut. 15:7–11; Luke 6:30–34; 1 Tim. 6:18from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
Love Your Enemies
43“You have heard that it was said, #Lev. 19:18‘You shall love your neighbor #Deut. 23:3–6; Ps. 41:10and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, #Luke 6:27; Rom. 12:14love your enemies, bless those who curse you, #(Rom. 12:20)do good to those who hate you, and pray #Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60; 1 Cor. 4:12; 1 Pet. 2:23for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for #Job 25:3; Ps. 65:9–13; Luke 12:16, 17; Acts 14:17He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46#Luke 6:32For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48#Gen. 17:1; Lev. 11:44; 19:2; Luke 6:36; (Col. 1:28; 4:12); James 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:15Therefore you shall be perfect, just #Eph. 5:1as your Father in heaven is perfect.
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Matthew 5: NKJV
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Matthew 5
5
1But seeing the crowds, he went up into the mountain, and having sat down, his disciples came to him; 2and, having opened his mouth, he taught them, saying,
3Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens. 4Blessed they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5Blessed the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6Blessed they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7Blessed the merciful, for they shall find mercy. 8Blessed the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9Blessed the peace-makers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10Blessed they who are persecuted on account of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens. 11Blessed are ye when they may reproach and persecute you, and say every wicked thing against you, lying, for my sake. 12Rejoice and exult, for your reward is great in the heavens; for thus have they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have become insipid, wherewith shall it be salted? It is no longer fit for anything but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot by men. 14Ye are the light of the world: a city situated on the top of a mountain cannot be hid. 15Nor do men light a lamp and put it under the bushel, but upon the lamp-stand, and it shines for all who are in the house. 16Let your light thus shine before men, so that they may see your upright works, and glorify your Father who is in the heavens.
17Think not that I am come to make void the law or the prophets; I am not come to make void, but to fulfil. 18For verily I say unto you, Until the heaven and the earth pass away, one iota or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all come to pass. 19Whosoever then shall do away with one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of the heavens; but whosoever shall practise and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of the heavens. 20For I say unto you, that unless your righteousness surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
21Ye have heard that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not kill; but whosoever shall kill shall be subject to the judgment. 22But I say unto you, that every one that is lightly angry with his brother shall be subject to the judgment; but whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be subject to be called before the sanhedrim; but whosoever shall say, Fool, shall be subject to the penalty of the hell of fire. 23If therefore thou shouldest offer thy gift at the altar, and there shouldest remember that thy brother has something against thee, 24leave there thy gift before the altar, and first go, be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25Make friends with thine adverse party quickly, whilst thou art in the way with him; lest some time the adverse party deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26Verily I say to thee, Thou shalt in no wise come out thence till thou hast paid the last farthing.
27Ye have heard that it has been said, Thou shalt not commit adultery. 28But I say unto you, that every one who looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29But if thy right eye be a snare to thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell. 30And if thy right hand be a snare to thee, cut it off and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell. 31It has been said too, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a letter of divorce. 32But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, except for cause of fornication, makes her commit adultery, and whosoever marries one that is put away commits adultery.
33Again, ye have heard that it has been said to the ancients, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt render to the Lord what thou hast sworn. 34But I say unto you, Do not swear at all; neither by the heaven, because it is the throne of God; 35nor by the earth, because it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. 36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37But let your word be Yea, yea; Nay, nay; but what is more than these is from evil.
38Ye have heard that it has been said, Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. 39But I say unto you, not to resist evil; but whoever shall strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other; 40and to him that would go to law with thee and take thy body coat, leave him thy cloak also. 41And whoever will compel thee to go one mile, go with him two. 42To him that asks of thee give, and from him that desires to borrow of thee turn not away.
43Ye have heard that it has been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy. 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who insult you and persecute you, 45that ye may be the sons of your Father who is in the heavens; for he makes his sun rise on evil and good, and sends rain on just and unjust. 46For if ye should love those who love you, what reward have ye? Do not also the tax-gatherers the same? 47And if ye should salute your brethren only, what do ye extraordinary? Do not also the Gentiles the same? 48Be ye therefore perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.