Matthew 5
1 When Jesus saw the crowds following him he went up a mountain. There he sat down together with his disciples.
Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 He began teaching them, saying:
He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
3 “Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually poor, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are those who are kind for they will own the whole world.
Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those whose greatest desire is to do what is right, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are those who have pure minds, for they will see God.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are those who work to bring peace, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those persecuted for what is right, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
11 Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and accuse you of all kinds of evil things because of me.
“Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Be glad, be really glad, for you will receive a great reward in heaven—for they persecuted the prophets who came before you in just the same way.
Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt becomes tasteless, how can you make it salty again? It's good for nothing, so it's thrown out and trodden down.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.
14 You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill can't be hidden.
You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.
15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a bucket. No, it's placed on a lamp-stand and it provides light to everyone in the house.
Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.
16 In the same way you should let your light shine before everyone so they can see the good things you do and praise your heavenly Father.
Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17 Don't think I came to abolish the law or the writings of the prophets. I didn't come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.
“Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18 I assure you, until heaven and earth come to an end, not a single letter, not a single dot of the law will come to an end before everything is fulfilled.
For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.
19 So whoever disregards the least important commandment, and teaches people to do so, will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches the commandments will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
20 I tell you, unless your moral rightness is more than that of the religious teachers and the Pharisees, you can never enter the kingdom of heaven.
For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
21 You've heard that the law said to the people of long ago: ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who commits murder will be condemned as guilty.’
“You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’
22 But I tell you, anyone who is angry with his brother will be condemned as guilty. Whoever calls his brother an idiot has to answer to the council, but whoever verbally abuses others is liable to the fire of judgment. (Geenna g1067)
But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna. (Geenna g1067)
23 If you're at the altar making an offering, and remember that your brother has something against you,
“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,
24 leave your offering on the altar and go and make peace with him first, and afterwards come back and make your offering.
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 While you're on the way to court with your opponent, make sure you settle things quickly. Otherwise your opponent might hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the court official, and you will be thrown into jail.
Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.
26 I tell you the truth: you won't get out of there until you've paid every last penny.
Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny.
27 You've heard that the law said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’
28 But I tell you that everyone who looks lustfully at a woman has already committed adultery with her in his mind.
but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 If your right eye leads you to sin, then tear it out and throw it away, because it's better to lose one part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into the fire of judgment. (Geenna g1067)
If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. (Geenna g1067)
30 If your right hand leads you to sin, then cut it off and throw it away, for it's better for you to lose one of your limbs than for your whole body to go into the fire of judgment. (Geenna g1067)
If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. (Geenna g1067)
31 The law also said, ‘If a man divorces his wife, he should give her a certificate of divorce.’
“It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’
32 But I tell you that any man who divorces his wife except for sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.
33 And again, you've heard that the law said to the people of long ago, ‘You shall not perjure yourself. Instead make sure you keep the oaths you swear to the Lord.’
“Again you have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’
34 But I tell you, don't swear at all. Don't swear by heaven, because it's the throne of God.
but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;
35 Don't swear by the earth, because it's God's footstool. Don't swear by Jerusalem, because it's the city of the great King.
nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36 Don't even swear by your head, because you're not able to make a single hair white or black.
Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black.
37 Simply say yes or no—more than this comes from the evil one.
But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.
38 You've heard that the law said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’
39 But I tell you, don't resist someone who is evil. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other cheek to them as well.
But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 If someone wants to sue you in court and takes your shirt, give them your coat too.
If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also.
41 If someone demands that you go one mile, go with them two.
Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
42 Give to those who ask you, and don't turn away those who want to borrow from you.
Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you.
43 You've heard that the law said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,
45 so you may become children of your heavenly Father. For his sun shines on both the good and the bad; and he makes the rain fall on both those who do right and those who do wrong.
that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.
46 For if you only love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don't even the tax-collectors do that?
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
47 If you only speak kindly to your family, what more are you doing than anyone else? Even the heathen do that!
If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
48 Grow up and become completely trustworthy, just as your heavenly Father is trustworthy.
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
