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
Jesus Teaches the People
1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a hill and sat down. His followers came to him, 2and he began to teach them, saying:
3“They are blessed who realize their spiritual poverty,
for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
4They are blessed who grieve,
for God will comfort them.
5They are blessed who are humble,
for the whole earth will be theirs.
6They are blessed who hunger and thirst after justice,
for they will be satisfied.
7They are blessed who show mercy to others,
for God will show mercy to them.
8They are blessed whose thoughts are pure,
for they will see God.
9They are blessed who work for peace,
for they will be called God’s children.
10They are blessed who are persecuted for doing good,
for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
11“People will insult you and hurt you. They will lie and say all kinds of evil things about you because you follow me. But when they do, you will be blessed. 12Rejoice and be glad, because you have a great reward waiting for you in heaven. People did the same evil things to the prophets who lived before you.
You Are Like Salt and Light
13“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its salty taste, it cannot be made salty again. It is good for nothing, except to be thrown out and walked on.
14“You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden.15And people don’t hide a light under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand so the light shines for all the people in the house. 16In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven.
The Importance of the Law
17“Don’t think that I have come to destroy the law of Moses or the teaching of the prophets. I have not come to destroy them but to bring about what they said. 18I tell you the truth, nothing will disappear from the law until heaven and earth are gone. Not even the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will be lost until everything has happened. 19Whoever refuses to obey any command and teaches other people not to obey that command will be the least important in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys the commands and teaches other people to obey them will be great in the kingdom of heaven. 20I tell you that if you are no more obedient than the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus Teaches About Anger
21“You have heard that it was said to our people long ago, ‘You must not murder anyone. Anyone who murders another will be judged.’ 22But I tell you, if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be judged. If you say bad things to a brother or sister, you will be judged by the council. And if you call someone a fool, you will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23“So when you offer your gift to God at the altar, and you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24leave your gift there at the altar. Go and make peace with that person, and then come and offer your gift.
25“If your enemy is taking you to court, become friends quickly, before you go to court. Otherwise, your enemy might turn you over to the judge, and the judge might give you to a guard to put you in jail. 26I tell you the truth, you will not leave there until you have paid everything you owe.
Jesus Teaches About Sexual Sin
27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You must not be guilty of adultery.’ 28But I tell you that if anyone looks at a woman and wants to sin sexually with her, in his mind he has already done that sin with the woman. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell. 30If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Jesus Teaches About Divorce
31“It was also said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a written divorce paper.’ 32But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife forces her to be guilty of adultery. The only reason for a man to divorce his wife is if she has sexual relations with another man. And anyone who marries that divorced woman is guilty of adultery.
Make Promises Carefully
33“You have heard that it was said to our people long ago, ‘Don’t break your promises, but keep the promises you make to the Lord.’ 34But I tell you, never swear an oath. Don’t swear an oath using the name of heaven, because heaven is God’s throne. 35Don’t swear an oath using the name of the earth, because the earth belongs to God. Don’t swear an oath using the name of Jerusalem, because that is the city of the great King. 36Don’t even swear by your own head, because you cannot make one hair on your head become white or black. 37Say only yes if you mean yes, and no if you mean no. If you say more than yes or no, it is from the Evil One.
Don’t Fight Back
38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I tell you, don’t stand up against an evil person. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other cheek also. 40If someone wants to sue you in court and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. 41If someone forces you to go with him one mile, go with him two miles. 42If a person asks you for something, give it to him. Don’t refuse to give to someone who wants to borrow from you.
Love All People
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemies.’ 44But I say to you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. 45If you do this, you will be true children of your Father in heaven. He causes the sun to rise on good people and on evil people, and he sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong. 46If you love only the people who love you, you will get no reward. Even the tax collectors do that. 47And if you are nice only to your friends, you are no better than other people. Even those who don’t know God are nice to their friends. 48So you must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.