MAT 5
5
The Sermon on the Mount
Matt. 5-7
1 When Jesus saw the large crowds gathering, He climbed up the mountainside. After He settled into a teaching position, His disciples gathered around Him.
The Beatitudes
Lk. 6:20-23
2 Opening His mouth to teach them, He declared:
3 "How blessed are those who recognise their spiritual poverty and need for God, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
4 How blessed are those who grieve over sin and brokenness, for God Himself will comfort them.
5 How blessed are the gentle and humble-hearted, for they will inherit the earth as God's gift.
6 How blessed are those who have an intense spiritual hunger and thirst for right living, for they will be completely satisfied.
7 How blessed are those who show mercy to others, for they themselves will receive mercy.
8 How blessed are those whose hearts are undivided and pure in their devotion to God, for they will see Him face to face.
9 How blessed are those who actively work to bring peace and reconciliation, for God will acknowledge them as His true children.
10 How blessed are those who face persecution because they live righteously, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
11 How blessed you are when people insult your character, persecute you, and spread malicious lies about you because of your allegiance to Me.
12 Respond with joy and great celebration, for your reward in heaven is substantial. This is exactly how they persecuted the prophets who came before you.
Salt of the Earth and Light of the World
Mk. 9:50; Lk. 14:34-35
13 "You are the preserving salt of the earth. But if salt loses its distinctive quality and flavour, how can it be made salty again? It becomes worthless—fit only to be discarded and trampled underfoot.
14 You are the illuminating light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden from view.
15 No one lights a lamp only to cover it with a container; instead, they place it on a stand where it provides light for everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine openly before people, so they can observe your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Concerning the Law
17 "Do not assume for a moment that I came to abolish or set aside the Law or the prophetic writings. I did not come to destroy them but to fulfil and complete them.
18 I tell you with absolute certainty: Until the present heaven and earth pass away, not even the smallest letter or the tiniest stroke of a pen will disappear from the Law until God's entire purpose is accomplished.
19 Therefore, anyone who disregards even the least significant of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered least important in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practises and teaches them will be regarded as great in the kingdom.
20 For I assure you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the religious scholars and Pharisees—going beyond their external rule-keeping to genuine heart transformation—you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Concerning Anger
21 "You have heard that it was taught to the ancients, 'You must not commit murder,'* and 'whoever commits murder will face judicial consequences.'*
22 But I tell you that everyone who harbours anger against his brother will face God's judgment; whoever speaks contemptuously to his brother, calling him worthless, will be brought before the high court; and whoever calls him a fool worthy of damnation will be in danger of hell's fire.
23 Therefore, if you are in the act of presenting your offering at the altar and suddenly remember that your brother has something against you—some unresolved conflict—
24 leave your gift right there at the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother, restoring the relationship, and then return to present your gift.
25 Settle matters quickly with your legal opponent while you are still on the way to court, before your opponent hands you over to the judge, who hands you to the officer, and you are thrown into prison.
26 I assure you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent of what you owe.
Concerning Adultery
27 "You have heard the commandment: 'You must not commit adultery.'*
28 But I tell you that everyone who looks at a woman with the intent to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart—in his thoughts and desires.
29 If your right eye causes you to stumble into sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is far better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than for your entire body to end up in hell.
Concerning Divorce
31 "It has also been taught: 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a formal certificate of divorce.'*
32 But I tell you that everyone who divorces his wife, except in cases of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery when she remarries; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Concerning Taking of Oaths
33 "Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, 'You must not break your oaths, but must fulfil whatever vows you make to the Lord.'*
34 But I tell you, do not swear oaths at all—not by heaven, because it is God's throne,
35 nor by the earth, because it serves as His footstool, nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.
36 Do not even swear by your own head, because you lack the power to make a single hair white or black.
37 Simply let your word be trustworthy: say 'Yes' when you mean yes, and 'No' when you mean no. Anything beyond this simple honesty comes from the evil one.
Concerning Retaliation
38 "You have heard it said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth'*—the principle of proportional justice.
39 But I tell you, do not retaliate against the evildoer seeking revenge; instead, if someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn and offer him the other one as well, showing restraint rather than revenge.
40 If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your outer cloak as well, demonstrating generosity instead of arguing.
41 If someone forces you into service to carry his load one mile, willingly go with him two, showing willingness to serve beyond what is demanded.
42 Give generously to the one who asks you for help, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you, embodying generosity and compassion in every encounter.
Love of Enemies
43 "You have heard it taught, 'You shall love your neighbour* and hate your enemy.'
44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so that you may demonstrate that you are truly children of your Father in heaven. He makes His sun rise on both the evil and the good, and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.
46 For if you only love those who love you in return, what reward do you deserve? Do not even the tax collectors—society's outcasts—do the same?
47 And if you only greet and show kindness to your brothers and friends, what are you doing that is extraordinary? Do not even the Gentiles do that much?
48 Therefore, you must be perfect—complete and mature in love—just as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Notes
21 Quoted from Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17
21 See Deut. 16:18
27 Quoted from Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18
31 Quoted from Deut. 24:1
33 See Lev. 19:12
38 Quoted from Ex. 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21
43 Quoted from Lev. 19:18
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MAT 5: AFINT
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
