The Sermon on the Mount
The Beatitudes
for they will be comforted.
for they will inherit the earth.
for they will be filled.
7
Blessed are the merciful,
8
Blessed are the pure in heart,
9
Blessed are the peacemakers,
10
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
11
“You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me.
Believers Are Salt and Light
14
“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.
5:14
Pr 4:18; Jn 8:12; Php 2:15
Christ Fulfills the Law
17
“Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
5:17
Mt 7:12; Rm 3:31; 10:4; 13:8; Gl 3:24
18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter5:18 Or not one iota; iota is the smallest letter of the Gk alphabet. or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished.
19Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.5:18–19 Mt 11:11; 24:35; Lk 16:17; Jms 2:10
20For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
Murder Begins in the Heart
21
“You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder,
5:21
Ex 20:13; Dt 5:17
5:21
Ex 20:13; Dt 5:17
and whoever murders will be subject to judgment.5:21 Mt 19:18; 23:31,35; Mk 10:19; Lk 18:20; Rm 13:9; Jms 2:11
22But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister5:22 Other mss add without a cause will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults5:22 Lit Whoever says ‘Raca’; an Aramaic term of abuse that puts someone down, insulting one’s intelligence his brother or sister, will be subject to the court.5:22 Lit Sanhedrin Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hellfire.5:22 Lit the gehenna of fire5:22 Mt 18:9; Mk 9:43; Jms 3:6; 1Jn 3:15
23So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.
25Reach a settlement quickly with your adversary while you’re on the way with him to the court, or your adversary will hand you over to the judge, and the judge to 5:25 Other mss read judge will hand you over to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. 5:25 Pr 25:8; Lk 12:58
26Truly I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny. 5:26 Lit quadrans, the smallest and least valuable Roman coin, worth 1/64 of a daily wage
Adultery Begins in the Heart
27
“You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery.
5:27
Ex 20:14; Dt 5:18
5:27
Ex 20:14; Dt 5:18
28But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.5:28 2Sm 11:2; Jb 31:1; Pr 6:25
29If your right eye causes you to sin,5:29 Mt 18:9; Mk 9:47 gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.5:29 Mt 10:28; 23:15,33; Lk 12:5
30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Divorce Practices Censured
Tell the Truth
33
“Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors, You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord.
5:33
Lv 19:12; Nm 30:2; Dt 23:21
5:33
Lv 19:12; Nm 30:2; Dt 23:21; Mt 23:16
34But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either 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.5:34–35 Ps 48:2; Is 66:1; Mt 23:22; Ac 7:49; Jms 5:12
36Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Go the Second Mile
38
“You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
5:38
Ex 21:24; Lv 24:20; Dt 19:21
5:38
Ex 21:24; Lv 24:20; Dt 19:21
39But I tell you, don’t resist5:39 Or don’t set yourself against, or don’t retaliate against an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.5:39 Lk 6:29–30; Rm 12:17; 1Co 6:7; 1Pt 3:9
40As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well.
41And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
Love Your Enemies
43
“You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor
5:43
Lv 19:18
5:43
Lv 19:18; Dt 23:6; Lk 10:29
and hate your enemy.
44But I tell you, love your enemies5:44 Other mss add bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who5:44 Other mss add mistreat you and persecute you, 5:44 Lk 6:27; 23:34; Ac 7:60; Rm 12:20; 1Co 4:12; 1Pt 2:23
45so that you may be 5:45 Or may become, or may show yourselves to be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.5:45 Jb 25:3; Mt 5:9; Lk 6:35; Ac 14:17
46For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
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