13“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. (Mr 9:50; Lu 14:34)14“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. (Joh 8:12; Eph 5:8; Php 2:15)15Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. (Mr 4:21; Lu 8:16; Lu 11:33)16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[2] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Mt 9:8; Joh 15:8; 2Co 9:13; Php 1:11; Phm 1:6; 1Pe 2:12)
Christ Came to Fulfill the Law
17“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (Mt 7:12; Ro 3:31; Ro 10:4; Ro 13:8; Ga 3:24)18For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (Mt 24:35; Lu 16:17)19Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 11:11; Mt 18:1; 1Co 3:12; Ga 3:10; Jas 2:10)20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Joh 3:5; Ro 10:3; Php 3:9)
Anger
21“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ (Ex 20:13; De 5:17; De 16:18; Mt 5:27; Mt 5:31; Mt 5:33; Mt 5:38; Mt 5:43; Mt 19:18; Mr 10:19; Lu 18:20; Ro 13:9; Jas 2:11)22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother[3] will be liable to judgment; whoever insults[4] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell[5] of fire. (Mt 5:21; Mt 5:29; Mt 18:9; Mr 9:43; Jas 3:6; 1Jo 3:15)23So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, (Mt 6:15; Mt 8:4; Mt 23:18; Mr 11:25)24leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.25Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. (Lu 12:58)26Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.[6] (Mt 18:34)
Lust
27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ (Ex 20:14; De 5:18; Mt 5:21)28But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (2Sa 11:2; Job 31:1; Pr 6:25)29If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. (Mt 5:22; Mt 10:28; Mt 13:41; Mt 18:8; Mt 23:15; Mt 23:33; Mr 9:43; Lu 12:5; Lu 17:1)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 your members than that your whole body go into hell. (Mt 5:29)
Divorce
31“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ (De 24:1; Jer 3:1; Mt 5:27; Mt 19:7)32But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (Mt 19:9; Mr 10:11; Lu 16:18; Ro 7:3; 1Co 7:10)
Oaths
33“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ (Le 19:12; Nu 30:2; De 23:21; Ec 5:4; Mt 5:27; 1Ti 1:10)34But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, (Isa 66:1; Mt 23:22; Ac 7:49; Jas 5:12; Re 4:2)35or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. (Ps 48:2)36And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.37Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.[7] (Pr 10:19)
Retaliation
38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ (Ex 21:24; Le 24:20; De 19:21; Mt 5:27)39But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Isa 50:6; La 3:30; Mt 26:67; Lu 6:29; Ro 12:17; 1Pe 2:23)40And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,[8] let him have your cloak as well. (Mt 5:39)41And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. (Mt 27:32)42Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. (De 15:8; Ps 37:21; Ps 37:26; Ps 112:5; Pr 21:26; Lu 6:34)
Love Your Enemies
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ (Le 19:18; Mt 5:21; Mt 19:19)44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Ex 23:4; Job 31:29; Ps 7:4; Lu 6:27; Lu 23:34; Ac 7:60; Ro 12:20; 2Ti 4:16; 1Pe 3:9)45so that 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. (Lu 6:35; Ac 14:17; Eph 5:1; Php 2:15)46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? (Lu 6:32)47And if you greet only your brothers,[9] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? (Mt 6:7; Mt 6:32)48You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Ge 17:1; Le 19:2; Mt 19:21; Lu 6:36; 1Co 2:6; Php 3:15; Col 1:28; Col 4:12; Jas 1:4; Jas 3:2; 1Pe 1:15)
Matthew 5
New International Version
Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount
1Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him,
The Beatitudes
2and he began to teach them. He said:3‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.7Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11‘Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Salt and light
13‘You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.14‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.16In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
The fulfilment of the law
17‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.19Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practises and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Murder
21‘You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.” (Ex 20:13)22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[1] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, “Raca,”[2] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, “You fool!” will be in danger of the fire of hell.23‘Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you,24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.25‘Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.26Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Adultery
27‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” (Ex 20:14)28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.29If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.30And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Divorce
31‘It has been said, “Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.” (De 24:1)32But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Oaths
33‘Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “Do not break your oath, but fulfil to the Lord the oaths you have made.”34But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;35or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.37All you need to say is simply “Yes,” or “No”; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.[4]
Eye for eye
38‘You have heard that it was said, “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.”[5] (Ex 21:24; Le 24:20; De 19:21)39But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.40And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.41If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Love for enemies
43‘You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” (Le 19:18)44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,45that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?47And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.