Matthew 5
5
The Sermon on the Mount
1When He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain, # Mk 3:13; Lk 9:28; Jn 6:3,15 and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2Then # Lit Then opening His mouth He began to teach them, saying: # Ac 8:35; 10:34; 18:14
The Beatitudes
3“The poor in spirit are blessed, # Is 57:15; 66:2
for the kingdom of heaven # Mt 19:14; 25:34; Mk 10:14; Lk 6:20 is theirs.
4Those who mourn are blessed, # Is 61:2; Mt 11:29; 21:5; Jn 16:20; Rv 7:17
for they will be comforted.
5The gentle are blessed, # Ps 37:11; Rm 4:13; Rv 21:7
for they will inherit the earth.
6Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, # Is 55:1-2; Jn 4:14; 6:48; 7:37
for they will be filled.
7The merciful are blessed,
for they will be shown mercy. # Pr 11:17; Mt 18:33; Lk 6:36; 2Tm 1:16
8The pure in heart are blessed,
for they will see God. # Ps 24:4; Heb 12:14; 1Jn 3:2; Rv 22:4
9The peacemakers are blessed,
for they will be called sons of God. # Mt 5:45; Lk 6:35; Rm 8:14; Jms 3:18; 1Jn 3:1
10Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed,
for the kingdom of heaven # Mt 19:14; 25:34; Mk 10:14; Lk 6:20; 22:29 is theirs.
11“You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. 12Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted # Mt 2:23; 2Tm 3:12 the prophets who were before you. # Mt 23:37; Ac 7:52; 1Th 2:15
Believers Are Salt and Light
13“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men. # Mk 9:50; Lk 14:34
14“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. # Pr 4:18; Jn 8:12; Php 2:15 15No one lights a lamp # Jn 5:35; Rv 21:23 and puts it under a basket, # A large basket used to measure grain but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. # Mk 4:21; Lk 8:16; 11:33 16In the same way, let your light shine # Or way, your light must shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. # Mt 9:8; Jn 15:8; 1Pt 2:12
Christ Fulfills the Law
17“Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. # Mt 7:12; Rm 3:31; 10:4; 13:8; Gl 3:24 18For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter # Or not one iota ; iota is the smallest letter of the Gk alphabet. or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished. 19Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches people to do so 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. # Mt 11:11; 24:35; Lk 16:17; Jms 2:10 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Murder Begins in the Heart
21“You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, # Lit to the ancients Do not murder, # Ex 20:13; Dt 5:17 # Ex 20:13; Dt 5:17 and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. # Mt 19:18; 23:31,35; Mk 10:19; Lk 18:20; Rm 13:9; Jms 2:11 22But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother # Other mss add without a cause will be subject to judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Fool! ’ # Lit Raca, an Aram term of abuse similar to “airhead” will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, ‘You moron! ’ will be subject to hellfire. # Lit the gehenna of fire # Mt 18:9; Mk 9:43; Jms 3:6; 1Jn 3:15 23So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25Reach a settlement quickly with your adversary while you’re on the way with him, or your adversary will hand you over to the judge, the judge to # Other mss read judge will hand you over to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. # Pr 25:8; Lk 12:58 26I assure you: You will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny! # Lit quadrans, the smallest and least valuable Roman coin, worth 1/64 of a daily wage
Adultery in the Heart
27“You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. # Ex 20:14; Dt 5:18 # Ex 20:14; Dt 5:18 28But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. # 2Sm 11:2; Jb 31:1; Pr 6:25 29If your right eye causes you to sin, # Mt 18:9; Mk 9:47 gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. # Mt 10:28; 23:15,33; Lk 12:5 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell!
Divorce Practices Censured
31“It was also said, Whoever divorces # Jr 3:1; Mt 19:7; Mk 10:4 his wife must give her a written notice of divorce. # Dt 24:1 # Dt 24:1 32But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, # Gk porneia = fornication, or possibly a violation of Jewish marriage laws causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. # Mt 19:9; Mk 10:11; Lk 16:18; Rm 7:3; 1Co 7:11
Tell the Truth
33“Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors, # Lit to the ancients You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord. # Lv 19:12; Nm 30:2; Dt 23:21; Mt 23:16 # Lv 19:12; Nm 30:2; Dt 23:21 34But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne; 35or by the earth, because it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. # Ps 48:2; Is 66:1; Mt 23:22; Ac 7:49; Jms 5:12 36Neither should you swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37But let your word ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no.’ # Say what you mean and mean what you say Anything more than this is from the evil one. # Mt 6:13; 13:19,38; Jn 17:15; 2Th 3:3
Go the Second Mile
38“You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. # Ex 21:24; Lv 24:20; Dt 19:21 # Ex 21:24; Lv 24:20; Dt 19:21 39But I tell you, don’t resist # Or don’t set yourself against, or don’t retaliate against an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. # Lk 6:29-30; Rm 12:17; 1Co 6:7; 1Pt 3:9 40As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, # Lit tunic ; = inner garment let him have your coat # Or garment ; lit robe ; = outer garment as well. 41And if anyone forces # Roman soldiers could require people to carry loads for them. you to go one mile, go with him two. 42Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. # Dt 15:8; Lk 6:34
Love Your Enemies
43“You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor # Lv 19:18; Dt 23:6; Lk 10:29 # Lv 19:18 and hate your enemy. 44But I tell you, love your enemies # Other mss add bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who # Other mss add mistreat you and persecute you, # Lk 6:27; 23:34; Ac 7:60; Rm 12:20; 1Co 4:12; 1Pt 2:23 45so that you may be # Or may become, or may show yourselves to be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. # Jb 25:3; Mt 5:9; Lk 6:35; Ac 14:17 46For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? # Or doing that is superior ; lit doing more # Mt 5:37; Mk 6:51; Jn 10:10; Rm 3:1; 2Co 9:1 Don’t even the Gentiles # Other mss read tax collectors do the same? 48Be perfect, # Gn 17:1; Lv 19:2; Php 3:15; Col 4:12; Jms 1:4; 1Pt 1:15 therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
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© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Matthew 5
5
The Sermon on the Mount
5.1—7.29
1Jesus saw the crowds and went up a hill, where he sat down. His disciples gathered round him, 2and he began to teach them:
True Happiness
(Lk 6.20–23)
3 “Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor;
the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!
4 #
Is 61.2
Happy are those who mourn;
God will comfort them!
5 #
Ps 37.11
Happy are those who are humble;
they will receive what God has promised!
6 #
Is 55.1–2
Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires;
God will satisfy them fully!
7 Happy are those who are merciful to others;
God will be merciful to them!
8 #
Ps 24.3–4
Happy are the pure in heart;
they will see God!
9 Happy are those who work for peace;
God will call them his children!
10 #
1 Pet 3.14
Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires;
the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!
11 #
1 Pet 4.14
“Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. 12#2 Chr 36.16; Acts 7.52Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. This is how the prophets who lived before you were persecuted.
Salt and Light
(Mk 9.50; Lk 14.34–35)
13 “You are like salt for the whole human race. But if salt loses its saltiness, there is no way to make it salty again. It has become worthless, so it is thrown out and people trample on it.
14 #
Jn 8.12; 9.5 “You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15#Mk 4.21; Lk 8.16; 11.33No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead he puts it on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house. 16#1 Pet 2.12In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.
Teaching about the Law
17 “Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets. I have not come to do away with them, but to make their teachings come true. 18#Lk 16.17Remember that as long as heaven and earth last, not the least point nor the smallest detail of the Law will be done away with — not until the end of all things.#5.18 the end of all things; or all its teachings come true. 19So then, whoever disobeys even the least important of the commandments and teaches others to do the same, will be least in the Kingdom of heaven. On the other hand, whoever obeys the Law and teaches others to do the same, will be great in the Kingdom of heaven. 20I tell you, then, that you will be able to enter the Kingdom of heaven only if you are more faithful than the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees in doing what God requires.
Teaching about Anger
(Lk 12.57–59)
21 #
Ex 20.13; Deut 5.17 “You have heard that people were told in the past, ‘Do not commit murder; anyone who does will be brought to trial.’ 22But now I tell you: whoever is angry#5.22 whoever is angry; some manuscripts have whoever without cause is angry. with his brother will be brought to trial, whoever calls his brother ‘You good-for-nothing!’ will be brought before the Council, and whoever calls his brother a worthless fool will be in danger of going to the fire of hell. 23So if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God.
25 “If someone brings a lawsuit against you and takes you to court, settle the dispute with him while there is time, before you get to court. Once you are there, he will hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to the police, and you will be put in jail. 26There you will stay, I tell you, until you pay the last penny of your fine.
Teaching about Adultery
27 #
Ex 20.14; Deut 5.18 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28But now I tell you: anyone who looks at a woman and wants to possess her is guilty of committing adultery with her in his heart. 29#Mt 18.9; Mk 9.47So if your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose a part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell. 30#Mt 18.8; Mk 9.43If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose one of your limbs than for your whole body to go to hell.
Teaching about Divorce
(Mt 19.9; Mk 10.11–12; Lk 16.18)
31 #
Deut 24.1–4; Mt 19.7; Mk 10.4 “It was also said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.’ 32#Mt 19.9; Mk 10.11–12; Lk 16.18; 1 Cor 7.10–11But now I tell you: if a man divorces his wife, for any cause other than her unfaithfulness, then he is guilty of making her commit adultery if she marries again; and the man who marries her commits adultery also.
Teaching about Vows
33 #
Lev 19.12; Num 30.2; Deut 23.21 “You have also heard that people were told in the past, ‘Do not break your promise, but do what you have vowed to the Lord to do.’ 34#Jas 5.12; Is 66.1; Mt 23.22But now I tell you: do not use any vow when you make a promise. Do not swear by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35#Is 66.1; Ps 48.2nor by earth, for it is the resting place for his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36Do not even swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37Just say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ — anything else you say comes from the Evil One.
Teaching about Revenge
(Lk 6.29–30)
38 #
Ex 21.24; Lev 24.20; Deut 19.21 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But now I tell you: do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too. 40And if someone takes you to court to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well. 41And if one of the occupation troops forces you to carry his pack one kilometre, carry it two kilometres. 42When someone asks you for something, give it to him; when someone wants to borrow something, lend it to him.
Love for Enemies
(Lk 6.27–28, 32–36)
43 #
Lev 19.18
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies.’ 44But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. 46Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that! 47And if you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary? Even the pagans do that! 48#Lev 19.2; Deut 18.13You must be perfect — just as your Father in heaven is perfect!
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.