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®
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Matthew 5
5
The Beatitudes
1And seeing the multitudes, #Matt. 14:23; 15:29; 17:1; Mark 3:13; Luke 6:17; 9:28; John 6:3, 15He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2Then He opened His mouth and #(Matt. 7:29); Mark 10:1; 12:35; John 8:2taught them, saying:
3“Blessed#Prov. 16:19; Is. 66:2; Luke 6:20–23 are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4#Is. 61:2, 3; Luke 6:21; (John 16:20); Acts 16:34; (2 Cor. 1:7); Rev. 21:4Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
5#Ps. 37:11; Is. 29:19Blessed are the meek,
For #(Rom. 4:13)they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who #Luke 1:53; Acts 2:4hunger and thirst for righteousness,
#(Is. 55:1; 65:13; John 4:14; 6:48; 7:37)For they shall be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
#Ps. 41:1; Mark 11:25For they shall obtain mercy.
8#Ps. 15:2; 24:4; Heb. 12:14Blessed are the pure in heart,
For #Acts 7:55, 56; 1 Cor. 13:12they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
10#(2 Cor. 4:17); 1 Pet. 3:14Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11#Luke 6:22“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of #1 Pet. 4:14evil against you falsely for My sake. 12#Luke 6:23; Acts 5:41; 1 Pet. 4:13, 14Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for #2 Chr. 36:16; Neh. 9:26; Matt. 23:37; Acts 7:52; 1 Thess. 2:15; Heb. 11:35–37; James 5:10so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Believers Are Salt and Light
13“You are the salt of the earth; #Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14#(Prov. 4:18; John 8:12); Phil. 2:15“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Nor do they #Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16; Phil. 2:15light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, #1 Pet. 2:12that they may see your good works and #(John 15:8); 1 Cor. 14:25glorify your Father in heaven.
Christ Fulfills the Law
17#Rom. 10:4“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18For assuredly, I say to you, #Matt. 24:35; Luke 16:17till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19#(James 2:10)Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds #(Rom. 10:3)the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Murder Begins in the Heart
21“You have heard that it was said to those of old, #Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22But I say to you that #(1 John 3:15)whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, #(James 2:20; 3:6)‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. 23Therefore #Matt. 8:4if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24#(Job 42:8; 1 Tim. 2:8; 1 Pet. 3:7)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#(Prov. 25:8); Luke 12:58, 59Agree with your adversary quickly, #(Ps. 32:6; Is. 55:6)while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.
Adultery in the Heart
27“You have heard that it was said to those of old, #Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28But I say to you that whoever #2 Sam. 11:2–5; Job 31:1; Prov. 6:25; (Matt. 15:19; James 1:14, 15)looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29#Mark 9:43If your right eye causes you to sin, #(Col. 3:5)pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Marriage Is Sacred and Binding
31“Furthermore it has been said, #Deut. 24:1; (Jer. 3:1); Mark 10:2‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32But I say to you that #(Matt. 19:9; Mark 10:11; Luke 16:18; Rom. 7:3); 1 Cor. 7:11whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
Jesus Forbids Oaths
33“Again you have heard that #Matt. 23:16it was said to those of old, #(Ex. 20:7); Lev. 19:12; Num. 30:2‘You shall not swear falsely, but #Deut. 23:23shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34But I say to you, #Matt. 23:16; James 5:12do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is #Is. 66:1God’s throne; 35nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of #Ps. 48:2; (Matt. 5:2, 19; 6:10)the great King. 36Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37#(Col. 4:6); James 5:12But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
Go the Second Mile
38“You have heard that it was said, #Ex. 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39#(Prov. 20:22); Luke 6:29; (Rom. 12:17; 1 Cor. 6:7; 1 Pet. 3:9)But I tell you not to resist an evil person. #Is. 50:6; Lam. 3:30But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41And whoever #Matt. 27:32compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42Give to him who asks you, and #Deut. 15:7–11; Luke 6:30–34; 1 Tim. 6:18from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
Love Your Enemies
43“You have heard that it was said, #Lev. 19:18‘You shall love your neighbor #Deut. 23:3–6; Ps. 41:10and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, #Luke 6:27; Rom. 12:14love your enemies, bless those who curse you, #(Rom. 12:20)do good to those who hate you, and pray #Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60; 1 Cor. 4:12; 1 Pet. 2:23for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for #Job 25:3; Ps. 65:9–13; Luke 12:16, 17; Acts 14:17He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46#Luke 6:32For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48#Gen. 17:1; Lev. 11:44; 19:2; Luke 6:36; (Col. 1:28; 4:12); James 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:15Therefore you shall be perfect, just #Eph. 5:1as your Father in heaven is perfect.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.