Matthew 5
5
Jesus Teaches the People
1Jesus saw the crowds who were there. He went up on a hill and sat down. His followers came to him. 2Jesus taught the people and said:
3“Those people who know they have great spiritual needs are happy.
The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
4Those who are sad now are happy.
God will comfort them.
5Those who are humble are happy.
The earth will belong to them.
6Those who want to do right more than anything else are happy.
God will fully satisfy them.
7Those who give mercy to others are happy.
Mercy will be given to them.
8Those who are pure in their thinking are happy.
They will be with God.
9Those who work to bring peace are happy.
God will call them his sons.
10Those who are treated badly for doing good are happy.
The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
11“People will say bad things about you and hurt you. They will lie and say all kinds of evil things about you because you follow me. But when they do these things to you, you are happy. 12Rejoice and be glad. 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. It must be thrown out for people to walk 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 the light on a lampstand. Then 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. Live so that they 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 their teachings but to do what they said. 18I tell you the truth. Nothing will disappear from the law until heaven and earth are gone. The law will not lose even the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter until all 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 law and teaches other people to obey the law will be great in the kingdom of heaven. 20I tell you that you must do better than the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. If you are not better than they are, you will not 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.# Quotation from Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17. Anyone who murders another will be judged.’ 22But I tell you, if you are angry with your brother,# Some Greek copies continue, “without a reason.” you will be judged. And if you say bad things to your brother, you will be judged by the Jewish council. And if you call your brother a fool, then 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 has something against you, 24leave your gift there at the altar. Go and make peace with him. Then come and offer your gift.
25“If your enemy is taking you to court, become friends with him quickly. You should do that before you go to court. If you don’t become his friend, he might turn you over to the judge. And the judge might give you to a guard to put you in jail. 26I tell you that you will not leave that jail until you have paid everything you owe.
Jesus Teaches About Adultery
27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You must not be guilty of adultery.’# Quotation from Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18. 28But I tell you that if anyone looks at a woman with lust, he has already committed adultery with her in his mind. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, then 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, then 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.’# Quotation from Deuteronomy 24:1. 32But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife is causing his wife to be guilty of adultery. The only reason for a man to divorce his wife is if she has been unfaithful to him. 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, ‘When you make a promise, don’t break your promise. Keep the promises that you make to the Lord.’# Quotation from Leviticus 19:12; Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21. 34But I tell you, never make an oath. Don’t make an oath using the name of heaven, because heaven is God’s throne. 35Don’t make an oath using the name of the earth, because the earth belongs to God. Don’t make an oath using the name of Jerusalem, because that is the city of the great King. 36And don’t even say that your own head is proof that you will keep your oath. You cannot make one hair on your head become white or black. 37Say only ‘yes’ if you mean ‘yes,’ and say only ‘no’ if you mean ‘no.’ If you must 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.’# Quotation from Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21. 39But I tell you, don’t stand up against an evil person. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, then turn and let him slap the other cheek too. 40If someone wants to sue you in court and take your shirt, then let him have your coat too. 41If a soldier forces you to go with him one mile, then go with him two miles. 42If a person asks you for something, then give it to him. Don’t refuse to give to a person who wants to borrow from you.
Love All People
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor# Quotation from Leviticus 19:18. and hate your enemies.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you.# Some Greek copies continue, “Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you.” Compare Luke 6:28. 45If you do this, then you will be true sons of your Father in heaven. Your Father causes the sun to rise on good people and on bad people. Your Father sends rain to those who do good and to those who do wrong. 46If you love only the people who love you, then you will get no reward. Even the tax collectors do that. 47And if you are nice only to your friends, then you are no better than other people. Even people without God are nice to their friends. 48So you must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Currently Selected:
Matthew 5: ICB
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Matthew 5
5
The Beatitudes
1When Jesus#5.1 Gk he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
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 receive 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 for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely#5.11 Other ancient authorities lack falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great 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 salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
14“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
The Law and the Prophets
17“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter,#5.18 Gk one iota not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19Therefore, whoever breaks#5.19 Or annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Concerning Anger
21“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ 22But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister,#5.22 Gk a brother!; other ancient authorities add without cause you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult#5.22 Gk say Raca to (an obscure term of abuse) a brother or sister,#5.22 Gk a brother you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell#5.22 Gk Gehenna of fire. 23So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister#5.23 Gk your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister,#5.24 Gk your brother and then come and offer your gift. 25Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court#5.25 Gk lacks to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
Concerning Adultery
27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.#5.29 Gk Gehenna 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.#5.30 Gk Gehenna
Concerning Divorce
31“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Concerning Oaths
33“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ 34But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 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 one hair white or black. 37Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.#5.37 Or evil
Concerning Retaliation
38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
Love for Enemies
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers and sisters,#5.47 Gk your brothers what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.