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
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.