Matthew 5

1At the sight of the crowds, Jesus went up the mountain, and when he had taken his seat, his disciples came to him.

2Then he began to speak, and he taught them:

3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

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 satisfied.

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 have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

11Blessed are you when people heap insults on you and persecute you and lie about you, charging you with every kind of evil because of me.

12Be glad and celebrate, since your reward in heaven is great. After all, they persecuted the prophets who lived before you in the very same way.

13You are the salt of the earth. But if salt goes flat, what will make it salty again? It is no longer fit for anything except to be tossed out and walked on by people.

14You are the light of the world. A city that sits on a hill cannot be hidden.

15People do not light a lamp and then set it under a measuring basket, but on the lampstand, where it shines for everyone in the house.

16In the same way, your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and give glory to your Father in heaven.

17Do not suppose that I came to tear down the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to tear them down, but to fulfill them.

18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one tiny letter or one small stroke of a letter will in any way pass from the law until everything has happened.

19So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches people to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But anyone who keeps them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20For I tell you, if your righteousness does not far surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

21You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will face judgment.’

22But I tell you that everyone who is angry with a brother or sister will face judgment. Whoever calls a brother or sister ‘Empty-head’ will answer to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will deserve the fire of hell.

23So when you are presenting your gift at the altar and you recall there that your brother or sister holds something against you,

24leave the gift right there before the altar and go. Make peace with your brother or sister first, and then come back and present your gift.

25Be quick to make friends with your opponent in court while you are still on the road with him, so that your opponent does not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the court officer, and you are thrown into prison.

26Truly I tell you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last quadrans.

27You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’

28But I tell you that every man who gazes at a woman to lust for her has in his heart already committed adultery with her.

29If your right eye trips you up, tear it out and throw it away from you. You are better off losing one part of your body than having your whole body thrown into hell.

30And if your right hand trips you up, cut it off and throw it away from you. You are better off losing one part of your body than having your whole body go into hell.

31It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife is to hand her a certificate of divorce.’

32But I tell you that everyone who divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery, and anyone who marries a woman who has been divorced commits adultery.

33Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘Do not go back on your oath, but keep the oaths you swore to the Lord.’

34But I tell you, make no oath at all—neither by heaven, since it is the throne of God,

35nor by the earth, since it is the footstool for his feet, nor by Jerusalem, since it is the city of the great King.

36Do not make an oath by your own head either, since you do not have the power to turn one hair white or black.

37Instead, your word should be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’ Whatever goes beyond these comes from the evil one.

38You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’

39But I tell you, do not set yourself against the one who does evil. Instead, if someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well.

40If someone wishes to take you to court to get your tunic, let your cloak go to him too.

41If someone presses you into service for one mile, go along with him for two.

42Give to anyone who asks of you, and when someone wants to borrow from you, do not turn your back on him.

43You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

45so that you will become children of your Father in heaven, because he causes his sun to come up over both the wicked and the good, and he sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.

46For if you love the people who love you, what reward do you earn? Do the tax collectors not do the very same?

47And if you greet no one but your own brothers and sisters, what are you doing that is out of the ordinary? Do the Gentiles not do the very same?

48So you must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.