Matthew 5
5
The Sermon on a Mountain: the Beatitudes
1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them:
3“Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually helpless.
The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
4Blessed are those who mourn.
They will be comforted.
5Blessed are those who are gentle.
They will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God’s approval.
They will be satisfied.
7Blessed are those who show mercy.
They will be treated mercifully.
8Blessed are those whose thoughts are pure.
They will see God.
9Blessed are those who make peace.
They will be called God’s children.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what God approves of.
The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
11“Blessed are you when people insult you,
persecute you,
lie, and say all kinds of evil things about you because of me.
12Rejoice and be glad because you have a great reward in heaven!
The prophets who lived before you were persecuted in these ways.
God’s People Make a Difference in the World
(Mark 4:21–23; Luke 11:33)
13“You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, how will it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people.
14“You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill. 15No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house. 16In the same way let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven.
Jesus Fulfills the Old Testament Scriptures
17“Don’t ever think that I came to set aside Moses’ Teachings or the Prophets. I didn’t come to set them aside but to make them come true. 18I can guarantee this truth: Until the earth and the heavens disappear, neither a period nor a comma will disappear from the Scriptures before everything has come true. 19So whoever sets aside any command that seems unimportant and teaches others to do the same will be unimportant in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches what the commands say will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20I can guarantee that unless you live a life that has God’s approval and do it more faithfully than the experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus Talks about Anger
21“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘Never murder. Whoever murders will answer for it in court.’ 22But I can guarantee that whoever is angry with another believer #5:22 Some manuscripts and translations add “without a cause.” will answer for it in court. Whoever calls another believer an insulting name will answer for it in the highest court. Whoever calls another believer a fool will answer for it in hellfire.
23“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and remember there that another believer has something against you, 24leave your gift at the altar. First go away and make peace with that person. Then come back and offer your gift.
25“Make peace quickly with your opponent while you are on the way to court with him. Otherwise, he will hand you over to the judge. Then the judge will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. 26I can guarantee this truth: You will never get out until you pay every penny of your fine.
About Sexual Sin
27“You have heard that it was said, ‘Never commit adultery.’ 28But I can guarantee that whoever looks with lust at a woman has already committed adultery in his heart.
29“So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand leads you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it go into hell.
31“It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice.’ 32But I can guarantee that any man who divorces his wife for any reason other than unfaithfulness makes her look as though she has committed adultery. Whoever marries a woman divorced in this way makes himself look as though he has committed adultery.
About Oaths
33“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘Never break your oath, but give to the Lord what you swore in an oath to give him.’ 34But I tell you don’t swear an oath at all. Don’t swear an oath by heaven, which is God’s throne, 35or by the earth, which is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, which is the city of the great King. 36And don’t swear an oath by your head. After all, you cannot make one hair black or white. 37Simply say yes or no. Anything more than that comes from the evil one.
Love Your Enemies
(Luke 6:27–36)
38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I tell you not to oppose an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn your other cheek to him as well. 40If someone wants to sue you in order to take your shirt, let him have your coat too. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go two miles with him. 42Give to everyone who asks you for something. Don’t turn anyone away who wants to borrow something from you.
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you this: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. 45In this way you show that you are children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on people whether they are good or evil. He lets rain fall on them whether they are just or unjust. 46If you love those who love you, do you deserve a reward? Even the tax collectors do that! 47Are you doing anything remarkable if you welcome only your friends? Everyone does that! 48That is why you must be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Matthew 5
5
The Sermon on the Mount
(Mt 5–7)
1#Mt 15:29; Mk 3:13Now seeing the crowds, He went up on a mountain. And when He sat down, His disciples came to Him.
The Beatitudes
Lk 6:20–23
2#Mt 13:35; Ac 8:35And He began speaking and taught them, saying:
3#Isa 61:1; 66:2 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4#Isa 61:2–3; Rev 21:4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.
5#Ps 37:11; Ro 4:13 Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.
6#Jn 4:14; 6:48–58 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be filled.
7#2Sa 22:26; Pr 11:17 Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.
8#Ps 24:4; Heb 12:14 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God.
9#Mt 5:45; Lk 6:35 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called the sons of God.
10#Mt 5:3; Lk 6:22 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11#1Pe 4:14; Lk 6:22“Blessed are you when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12#Lk 6:23; Ac 5:41; 1Th 2:15Rejoice and be very glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in this manner they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Salt and Light
Mk 9:50; Lk 14:34–35
13#Lev 2:13; Lk 14:34–35“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how shall it be made salty? It is from then on good for nothing but to be thrown out and to be trampled underfoot by men.
14#Jn 8:12; Pr 4:18“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15#Mk 4:21; Lk 8:16Neither do men light a candle and put it under a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the house. 16#1Pe 2:12; Mt 9:8; Jn 15:8Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Teaching About the Law
17#Ro 3:31; Mt 7:12“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18#Lk 16:17For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one dot or one mark will pass from the law until all be fulfilled. 19#Mt 11:11Whoever, therefore, breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20#Php 3:9; Heb 12:14For I say to you that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will in no way enter the kingdom of heaven.
Teaching About Anger
21#Ex 20:13; Dt 5:17“You have heard that it was said by the ancients, ‘You shall not murder,’#Ex 20:13; Dt 5:17. and ‘Whoever murders shall be in danger of the judgment.’ 22#Mt 10:28; 26:59But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ shall be in danger of the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be in danger of hell fire.
23#Mt 8:4; 23:19“Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24#Mk 9:50; Ro 12:17–18leave your gift there before the altar and go on your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25#Pr 25:8; Lk 12:58–59“Reconcile with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26#Mt 18:34; Lk 12:59Truly I say to you, you will by no means come out of there until you have paid the last penny.#Gk. kodrantes.
Teaching About Adultery
27#Ex 20:14; Dt 5:18“You have heard that it was said by the ancients, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’#Ex 20:14; Dt 5:18. 28#Job 31:1; 2Sa 11:2But I say to you that whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29#Mt 18:8–9; Mk 9:43–48And if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away. For it is profitable that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30#Mt 5:29And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body be thrown into hell.
Teaching About Divorce
Mt 19:9; Mk 10:11–12; Lk 16:18
31#Jer 3:1; Mt 19:7“It was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’#Dt 24:1, 3. 32#Lk 16:18; 1Co 7:10–11; Mt 5:28But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.
Teaching About Oaths
33#Lev 19:12; Dt 23:21“Again, you have heard that it was said by the ancients, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall fulfill your oaths to the Lord.’#Lev 19:12; Nu 30:2; Dt 23:21. 34#Isa 66:1; Jas 5:12But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35#Ps 48:2nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37#Jas 5:12; Mt 13:19But let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these comes from the evil one.
Teaching About Revenge
Lk 6:29–30
38#Dt 19:21“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’#Ex 21:24; Lev 24:20; Dt 19:21. 39#1Co 6:7; Isa 50:6But I say to you, do not resist an evil person. But whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other as well. 40And if anyone sues you in a court of law and takes away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41#Mt 27:32And whoever compels you to go a mile,#Jnh 3:5. go with him two. 42#Ps 37:21; Pr 19:17Give to him who asks you, and from him who would borrow from you do not turn away.
Love for Enemies
Lk 6:27–28, 32–36
43#Lev 19:18; Dt 23:6“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor#Lev 19:18. and hate your enemy.’ 44#Lk 23:34; Ac 7:60But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45#Mt 5:9; Lk 6:35that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47#Mt 5:20And if you greet your brothers only, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48#Lev 19:2; Col 1:28Therefore be perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
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