Mattityahu 5
5
1When Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach saw the multitudes, he ALAH HAHAR#5:1 Ex 19:3 (went up the mountain) and when he sat down, his talmidim came to him.
2Then Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach began to speak, and gave them this torah (teaching), saying,
3Ashrey ANIYEI HARUACH#5:3 Isa 66:2 (Blessed, Happy are the poor in spirit) for theirs is the Malchut HaShomayim.
4Ashrey are the AVELIM#5:4 Isa 61:2 (the ones mourning), for they will be comforted.
5Ashrey are the ANAVIM#5:5 Isa 29:19; Zeph 2:3 (humble), for YIRESHU ARETZ#5:5 Ps 37:11 (they will inherit the land).
6Ashrey are the ones hungering and thirsting for Tzidkat Hashem#5:6 Dan 9:24 (Tzedek Olamim, Everlasting Righteousness), for they will be satisfied.
7Ashrey are the merciful, for they will be shown rachamim (mercy).
8Ashrey are those of LEV TAHOR#5:8 Ps 51:10 [12] (pure heart), for they will see Hashem.
9Ashrey are the peace-makers, for they will be called bnei haElohim (sons of G-d).
10Ashrey are the ones being persecuted because of Tzidkat Hashem#5:10 Dan 9:24 (righteousness), for theirs is the Malchut HaShomayim.
11Ashrey are you when they reproach you and persecute you and speak all kinds of lashon horah against you, speaking sheker (falsehood, lies) because of me.#5:11 Moshiach
12Have simcha (joy) and lev sameach (glad heart), for your sachar (reward) is great in Shomayim, for thus they persecuted the Neviim before you.
13You are the melach haaretz (salt of the earth), but if the salt becomes tasteless, in what way will it become salty again? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled by men.
14You are the Ohr HaOlam (the Light of the World). A city lying on a mountaintop cannot be nistar (hidden).
15No one, after lighting a menorah, places it under a measuring basket, but on the shulchan (table), and it gives ohr (light) to kol anshei habais (all in the house).
16In like manner, let your light so shine before Bnei Adam, that they may see your ma'asim tovim (good works) and give kavod (glory) to your Av shbaShomayim (Father in Heaven).
17Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Neviim. I did not come to abolish but to complete.
18For, omein, truly I say to you, until Shomayim and haaretz pass away, not one yod, not one tag (ornamental flourish), will pass from the Torah until everything is accomplished.
19Therefore, whoever annuls one of the least of these mitzvot (divine commandments given by Hashemto Moshe Rabbenu) and so teaches Bnei Adam, shall be called katon (least) in the Malchut HaShomayim; but whoever practices and teaches them, this one will be called gadol (great) in the Malchut HaShomayim.
20For I say unto you that unless the Tzedek (Righteousness) of you exceeds that of the Sofrim and Perushim, you will certainly not enter the Malchut HaShomayim.
21You have heard that it was said to the ancients, LO TIRTZACH#5:21 Ex 20:13; Dt 5:17 (Do not murder), and every rotzeach (murderer) shall be liable before the Bet Din (Court).
22But I say to you, that everyone who harbors kaas (anger) against his Ach,#5:22 b'Moshiach his chaver, shall be subject to mishpat (judgment); and whoever shall say to his Ach,#5:22 b'Moshiach Reyka! (Good for nothing!) will be subject to the Sanhedrin; and whoever shall say Shoteh! (Fool) shall be subject to Eish Gehinnom (Fire of Hell).
23Therefore, if you bring your korban (sacrifice) to the Mizbeach (altar), and there you remember that your Ach#5:23 b'Moshiach has something against you,
24leave your korban there before the Mizbeach, and go and first be reconciled to your Ach;#5:24 b'Moshiach and then come offer your korban.
25Come to terms quickly with your ish riv (opponent in a lawsuit), while you are a fellow-traveler on the derech eretz, lest the ish riv might deliver you to the shofet (judge), and the shofet might deliver you to the shoter (law official), and the shoter might deliver you to the beit hasohar (prison house).
26For, omein, truly I say to you, you may never come out from there until you repay the last peruta (small coin).
27You have heard that it was said, LO TINAF#5:27 Ex 20:14 (Do not commit adultery).
28But I say to you that everyone looking upon a woman with taavah (lust) for her has already committed niuf (adultery) with her in his heart.
29And if your right eye causes you to commit chet (sin), tear it out and throw it from you, for it is better for you that one of your evarim (members) be lost and not your whole basar (body, flesh) be thrown into Gehinnom.
30And if your right hand causes you to commit chet, cut it off and throw it from you, for it is better for you that one of your evarim (members) be lost and not that your whole basar may go into Gehinnom.
31It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife, let him give to her a “get,” a SEFER KERITUT#5:31 Dt 24:1 (bill of divorce).
32But I say to you that everyone divorcing his wife, except for the DVAR#5:32 Dt 24:1 (indecent thing) of zenut (fornication), makes her become a noefet (adulteress), and whoever marries a gerusha (divorcee) commits niuf (adultery).
33Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, You shall not break your nederim (vows), but you shall repay your vows to Hashem.#5:33 See Lv 19:12; Num 30:3; Dt 23:22
34But I say to you, Do not swear shevuot (oaths) at all, neither by Shomayim, for it is the kes malchut of Hashem (throne of G-d),
35nor by haaretz, for it is the hadom (footstool) of his feet, nor by Yerushalayim, for it is the kiryat melech rav#5:35 Ps 48:2[3] (city of the great king).
36Neither are you to swear by your rosh, for you are not able to make one hair turn white or black.
37But let your word be ken, ken (yes, yes) or lo, lo (no, no), but anything beyond this is lashon horah.
38You have heard that it was said, AYIN TAKHAT AYIN, SHEN TAKHAT SHEN#5:38 Ex 21:24 (An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth).
39But I say to you, Do not set yourself against the rasha (evil person), but whoever hits you on your right cheek, turn to him also the other cheek.
40And the one wishing to sue you and take your tunic, give to him also your kaftan.
41And whoever will force you to go one mile, go with him two.
42And the one asking you to give and the one wishing to borrow from you, from these do not turn away.
43You have heard that it was said, VAHAVTAH LREIACHAH#5:43 Lv 19:18 (You shall love your neighbor), and you shall hate your oyev (enemy).
44But I say to you, Love your enemies, and offer tefillos (prayers) for the ones bringing redifah (persecution) upon you.
45Do this so that you may become banim of your Av shbaShomayim, for His shemesh (sun) He makes to rise on the ra'im (evil ones) and the tovim (good ones), and He sends His geshem (rain) upon the tzaddikim (righteous ones) and the resha'im (unrighteous ones).
46For if you have ahavah (love) for the ones who have ahavah for you, what sachar (reward) do you have? Even the mochesim (tax collectors) do that, don't they?
47And if you give Drishat Shalom (greetings) only to your Achim,#5:47 b'Moshiach what extraordinary thing are you doing? Don't even the Goyim do the same?
48Therefore, be shlemim (complete), even as is your Av shbaShomayim.
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Mattityahu 5: TOJB2011
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THE ORTHODOX JEWISH BIBLE
FOURTH EDITION © Artists For Israel Intl Inc., 2002-2011, 2021.
Matthew 5
5
You’re Blessed
1-2When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
3“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
4“You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
5“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.
6“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.
7“You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.
8“You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
9“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.
10“You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.
11-12“Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.
Salt and Light
13“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
14-16“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
Completing God’s Law
17-18“Don’t suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures—either God’s Law or the Prophets. I’m not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. God’s Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God’s Law will be alive and working.
19-20“Trivialize even the smallest item in God’s Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won’t know the first thing about entering the kingdom.
Murder
21-22“You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.
23-24“This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.
25-26“Or say you’re out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don’t lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him. After all, if you leave the first move to him, knowing his track record, you’re likely to end up in court, maybe even jail. If that happens, you won’t get out without a stiff fine.
Adultery and Divorce
27-28“You know the next commandment pretty well, too: ‘Don’t go to bed with another’s spouse.’ But don’t think you’ve preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those ogling looks you think nobody notices—they also corrupt.
29-30“Let’s not pretend this is easier than it really is. If you want to live a morally pure life, here’s what you have to do: You have to blind your right eye the moment you catch it in a lustful leer. You have to choose to live one-eyed or else be dumped on a moral trash pile. And you have to chop off your right hand the moment you notice it raised threateningly. Better a bloody stump than your entire being discarded for good in the dump.
31-32“Remember the Scripture that says, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him do it legally, giving her divorce papers and her legal rights’? Too many of you are using that as a cover for selfishness and whim, pretending to be righteous just because you are ‘legal.’ Please, no more pretending. If you divorce your wife, you’re responsible for making her an adulteress (unless she has already made herself that by sexual promiscuity). And if you marry such a divorced adulteress, you’re automatically an adulterer yourself. You can’t use legal cover to mask a moral failure.
Empty Promises
33-37“And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.
Love Your Enemies
38-42“Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
43-47“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
48“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.