Matthew 5
5
Jesus Teaches the Disciples and Crowds
1Jesus saw the crowds. So he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him. 2Then he began to teach them.
Jesus Gives Blessings
He said,
3“Blessed are those who are spiritually needy.
The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
4Blessed are those who are sad.
They will be comforted.
5Blessed are those who are humble.
They will be given the earth.
6Blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for what is right.
They will be filled.
7Blessed are those who show mercy.
They will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are those whose hearts are pure.
They will see God.
9Blessed are those who make peace.
They will be called children of God.
10Blessed are those who suffer for doing what is right.
The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
11“Blessed are you when people make fun of you and hurt you because of me. You are also blessed when they tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. 12Be joyful and glad. Your reward in heaven is great. In the same way, people hurt the prophets who lived long ago.
Salt and Light
13“You are the salt of the earth. But suppose the salt loses its saltiness. How can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything. It will be thrown out. People will walk all over it.
14“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill can’t be hidden. 15Also, people do not light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand. Then it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine so others can see it. Then they will see the good things you do. And they will bring glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Jesus Fulfills the Law
17“Do not think I have come to get rid of what is written in the Law or in the Prophets. I have not come to do this. Instead, I have come to fulfill what is written. 18What I’m about to tell you is true. Heaven and earth will disappear before the smallest letter disappears from the Law. Not even the smallest mark of a pen will disappear from the Law until everything is completed. 19Do not ignore even one of the least important commands. And do not teach others to ignore them. If you do, you will be called the least important person in the kingdom of heaven. Instead, practice and teach these commands. Then you will be called important in the kingdom of heaven. 20Here is what I tell you. You must be more godly than the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. If you are not, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Murder
21“You have heard what was said to people who lived long ago. They were told, ‘Do not commit murder. (Exodus 20:13) Anyone who murders will be judged for it.’ 22But here is what I tell you. Do not be angry with a brother or sister. Anyone who is angry with them will be judged. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ must stand trial in court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire in hell.
23“Suppose you are offering your gift at the altar. And you remember that your brother or sister has something against you. 24Leave your gift in front of the altar. First go and make peace with them. Then come back and offer your gift.
25“Suppose someone has a claim against you and is taking you to court. Settle the matter quickly. Do this while you are still together on the way. If you don’t, you may be handed over to the judge. The judge may hand you over to the officer to be thrown into prison. 26What I’m about to tell you is true. You will not get out until you have paid the very last penny!
Adultery
27“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ (Exodus 20:14) 28But here is what I tell you. Do not even look at a woman in the wrong way. Anyone who does has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, poke it out and throw it away. Your eye is only one part of your body. It is better to lose an eye than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. Your hand is only one part of your body. It is better to lose a hand than for your whole body to go into hell.
Divorce
31“It has been said, ‘Suppose a man divorces his wife. If he does, he must give her a letter of divorce.’ (Deuteronomy 24:1) 32But here is what I tell you. Anyone who divorces his wife makes her a victim of adultery. And anyone who gets married to the divorced woman commits adultery. A man may divorce his wife only if she has not been faithful to him.
Promises
33“Again, you have heard what was said to your people long ago. They were told, ‘Do not break the promises you make to the Lord. Keep your promises to the Lord that you have made.’ 34But here is what I tell you. Do not make any promises like that at all. Do not make them in the name of heaven. That is God’s throne. 35Do not make them in the name of the earth. That is the stool for God’s feet. Do not make them in the name of Jerusalem. That is the city of the Great King. 36And do not make a promise in your own name. You can’t make even one hair of your head white or black. 37All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ Anything more than this comes from the evil one.
Be Kind to Others
38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye must be put out for an eye. A tooth must be knocked out for a tooth.’ (Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21) 39But here is what I tell you. Do not fight against an evil person. Suppose someone slaps you on your right cheek. Turn your other cheek to them also. 40Suppose someone takes you to court to get your shirt. Let them have your coat also. 41Suppose someone forces you to go one mile. Go two miles with them. 42Give to the one who asks you for something. Don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow something from you.
Love Your Enemies
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor. (Leviticus 19:18) Hate your enemy.’ 44But here is what I tell you. Love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. 45Then you will be children of your Father who is in heaven. He causes his sun to shine on evil people and good people. He sends rain on those who do right and those who don’t. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Even the tax collectors do that. 47If you greet only your own people, what more are you doing than others? Even people who are ungodly do that. 48So be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
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Matthew 5: NIrV
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Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
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Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Matthew 5
5
1When Jesus saw the crowds following him he went up a mountain. There he sat down together with his disciples. 2He began teaching them, saying:
3“Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually poor, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 4Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5Blessed are those who are kind#5:5. Meaning meek, mild tempered. for they will own the whole world. 6Blessed are those whose greatest desire#5:6. Literally, “those who are hungry and thirsty.” is to do what is right, for they will be satisfied. 7Blessed are those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8Blessed are those who have pure minds, for they will see God. 9Blessed are those who work to bring peace, for they will be called children of God. 10Blessed are those persecuted for what is right, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 11Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and accuse you of all kinds of evil things because of me. 12Be 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.
13You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt becomes tasteless,#5:13. Or “useless.” how can you make it salty again? It's good for nothing, so it's thrown out and trodden down. 14You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill can't be hidden. 15No 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. 16In 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.
17Don'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. 18I 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. 19So whoever disregards#5:19. Or “invalidates.” 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. 20I tell you, unless your moral rightness#5:20 “Moral rightness”: Literally, “righteousness.” However, this term is little used in general non-church language and so in this translation it is replaced with phrases such as “those who live right” or “those who do good/right” etc. This is more than being correct, it means living a life that is morally right. is more than that of the religious teachers and the Pharisees, you can never enter the kingdom of heaven.
21You've heard that the law said#5:21. Literally, “You've heard that it was said.” This phrase is used often in this passage by Jesus to refer to the laws found in the Old Testament. to the people of long ago: ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who commits murder will be condemned as guilty.’#5:21. Or “liable to judgment.” Exodus 20:13 or Deuteronomy 5:17. 22But 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,#5:22. Probably the Sanhedrin council. but whoever verbally abuses others is liable to the fire of Gehenna.#5:22. “Gehenna” is sometimes translated “hell” or “hellfire.” However, “hell” is a concept that is derived from Nordic and Anglo-Saxon mythology and does not parallel the idea here. Gehenna was the place outside of Jerusalem where fires were lit to dispose of trash by burning. Also in verses 29 and 30. 23If you're at the altar making an offering, and remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your offering on the altar and go and make peace with him first, and afterwards come back and make your offering. 25While 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. 26I tell you the truth: you won't get out of there until you've paid every last penny.
27You've heard that the law said, ‘Don't commit adultery.’#5:27. Quoting Exodus 20:14 or Deuteronomy 5:18. 28But I tell you that everyone who looks lustfully at a woman has already committed adultery with her in his mind. 29If 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 Gehenna. 30If 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 Gehenna.
31The law also said, ‘If a man divorces his wife, he should give her a certificate of divorce.’#5:31. Quoting Deuteronomy 24:1. 32But 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.
33And 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.’#5:33. Quoting Numbers 30:2. 34But I tell you, don't swear at all. Don't swear by heaven, because it's the throne of God. 35Don'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. 36Don't even swear by your head, because you're not able to make a single hair white or black. 37Simply say yes or no—more than this comes from the evil one.
38You've heard that the law said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’#5:38. Quoting Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21. 39But 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. 40If someone wants to sue you in court and takes your shirt, give them your coat too.#5:40. The coat was a much more valuable article of clothing. 41If someone demands that you go one mile, go with them two.#5:41. Probably referring to a Roman soldier demanding his belongings be carried for him. 42Give to those who ask you, and don't turn away those who want to borrow from you. 43You've heard that the law said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’#5:43. Quoting Leviticus 19:18. 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so 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. 46For if you only love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don't even the tax collectors do that? 47If you only speak kindly to your family, what more are you doing than anyone else? Even the heathen#5:47 Literally, “nations,” or “Gentiles.” A common term used in the New Testament to identify non-Jews, those regarded as not following the true God. do that! 48Grow up and become completely trustworthy,#5:48. Literally, “perfect, complete, undivided, whole, mature.” The idea here is of a way of life totally dedicated to God rather than focusing on some abstract concept of perfection. The focus is on spiritual maturity which translates into being someone dependable, someone who can always be trusted. just as your heavenly Father is trustworthy.”
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com