Matthew 5

1Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up onto the mountain. He sat down, and his disciples came to him. 2And he began to teach them: 3“Blessed are those who are poor in spirit: the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 4Blessed are those who mourn: they will be comforted. 5Blessed are the gentle: they will inherit the earth. 6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: they will be satisfied. 7Blessed are the merciful: mercy will be shown to them. 8Blessed are the pure in heart: they will see God. 9Blessed are those who make peace: they will be called children of God. 10Blessed are those who suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness: the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 11You are blessed when people abuse you and persecute you and spread all sorts of evil lies about you for my sake. 12Rejoice and celebrate, because a great reward is waiting for you in heaven. That is how they persecuted the prophets who came before you.

13You are the salt for the earth. But if salt goes flat, what can give it back its saltiness? It is good for nothing anymore but to be thrown out and walked on.

14You are the light of the world. A town built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. 15No one lights a lamp and hides it under a basket; it goes on a lampstand, where it shines for everyone in the house. 16In the same way, your light must shine where people can see it, so that they will see your good deeds and give glory to your Father in heaven.

17Do not suppose that I have come to do away with the law or the prophets. I have not come to do away with them but to fulfill them. 18Truly I tell you, as long as heaven and earth last, not one tiny letter or even part of a letter will vanish from the law until all of it comes about. 19So anyone who loosens even the smallest of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But anyone who obeys them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes far beyond that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

21You have heard what our ancestors were told: ‘Do not commit murder. Whoever commits murder must answer for it in court.’ 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will have to answer for it in court. Anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘You empty-head,’ will answer to the high council. And anyone who says, ‘You fool,’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23So if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there you remember that a brother or sister has something against you, 24leave your offering there in front of the altar. Go and make peace with them first, and then come back and offer your gift. 25If someone is taking you to court, settle with them quickly while you are still on the way there. Otherwise your accuser may hand you over to the judge, the judge may hand you over to the guard, and you may be thrown into prison. 26Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

27You have heard the commandment, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28But I tell you, a man who looks at a woman with the aim of wanting her for himself has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye leads you into sin, pull it out and get rid of it. You are better off losing one part of your body than having all of you thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand leads you into sin, cut it off and get rid of it. You are better off losing one part of your body than having all of you go into hell.

31It was also said, ‘A man who sends his wife away must give her a written notice of divorce.’ 32But I tell you that a man who divorces his wife for any reason other than sexual unfaithfulness causes her to commit adultery, and anyone who marries a woman who has been divorced commits adultery.

33You have also heard what our ancestors were told: ‘Do not swear falsely. Do what you have promised the Lord with an oath.’ 34But I tell you, do not take an oath at all, not by heaven, because it is God’s throne, 35or by the earth, because it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. 36Do not swear by your own head either, since you cannot turn a single hair white or black. 37Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Whatever you add to that comes from the evil one.

38You have heard the saying, ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ 39But I tell you, do not fight back against an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other cheek to them as well. 40If someone wants to take you to court and take your shirt, let them have your coat as well. 41If someone forces you to carry a load one mile, go two miles with them. 42Give to anyone who asks you, and do not turn your back on someone who wants to borrow from you.

43You have heard the saying, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you: love your enemies, and pray for the people who persecute you, 45so that you will be children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on evil people and good people alike, and he sends rain on those who do right and those who do wrong. 46If you love the people who love you, what reward is there in that? Even tax collectors do that, do they not? 47And if you greet only your own brothers and sisters, what are you doing that is out of the ordinary? Even the Gentiles do that, do they not? 48You, then, are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.