5Matthew 5

The Sermon on the Mount

1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the side of a mountain and sat down. Jesus' disciples gathered around him,Select Matthew 5:1

Blessings

2and he taught them:Select Matthew 5:2

3God blesses those people who depend only on him. They belong to the kingdom of heaven!Select Matthew 5:3

4God blesses those people who grieve. They will find comfort!Select Matthew 5:4

5God blesses those people who are humble. The earth will belong to them!Select Matthew 5:5

6God blesses those people who want to obey him more than to eat or drink. They will be given what they want!Select Matthew 5:6

7God blesses those people who are merciful. They will be treated with mercy!Select Matthew 5:7

8God blesses those people whose hearts are pure. They will see him!Select Matthew 5:8

9God blesses those people who make peace. They will be called his children!Select Matthew 5:9

10God blesses those people who are treated badly for doing right. They belong to the kingdom of heaven.Select Matthew 5:10

11God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me.Select Matthew 5:11

12Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago.Select Matthew 5:12

Salt and Light

13You are the salt for everyone on earth. But if salt no longer tastes like salt, how can it make food salty? All it is good for is to be thrown out and walked on.Select Matthew 5:13

14You are the light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden,Select Matthew 5:14

15and no one lights a lamp and puts it under a clay pot. Instead, it is placed on a lampstand, where it can give light to everyone in the house.Select Matthew 5:15

16Make your light shine, so others will see the good you do and will praise your Father in heaven.Select Matthew 5:16

The Law of Moses

17Don't suppose I came to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I did not come to do away with them, but to give them their full meaning.Select Matthew 5:17

18Heaven and earth may disappear. But I promise you not even a period or comma will ever disappear from the Law. Everything written in it must happen.Select Matthew 5:18

19If you reject even the least important command in the Law and teach others to do the same, you will be the least important person in the kingdom of heaven. But if you obey and teach others its commands, you will have an important place in the kingdom.Select Matthew 5:19

20You must obey God's commands better than the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law obey them. If you don't, I promise you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.Select Matthew 5:20

Anger

21You know our ancestors were told, “Do not murder” and “A murderer must be brought to trial.”Select Matthew 5:21

22But I promise you if you are angry with someone, you will have to stand trial. If you call someone a fool, you will be taken to court. And if you say that someone is worthless, you will be in danger of the fires of hell.Select Matthew 5:22

23So if you are about to place your gift on the altar and remember that someone is angry with you,Select Matthew 5:23

24leave your gift there in front of the altar. Make peace with that person, then come back and offer your gift to God.Select Matthew 5:24

25Before you are dragged into court, make friends with the person who has accused you of doing wrong. If you don't, you will be handed over to the judge and then to the officer who will put you in jail.Select Matthew 5:25

26I promise you will not get out until you have paid the last cent you owe.Select Matthew 5:26

Marriage

27You know the commandment which says, “Be faithful in marriage.”Select Matthew 5:27

28But I tell you if you look at another woman and want her, you are already unfaithful in your thoughts.Select Matthew 5:28

29If your right eye causes you to sin, poke it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body, than for your whole body to end up in hell.Select Matthew 5:29

30If your right hand causes you to sin, chop it off and throw it away! It is better to lose one part of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.Select Matthew 5:30

Divorce

31You have been taught that a man who divorces his wife must write out divorce papers for her.Select Matthew 5:31

32But I tell you not to divorce your wife unless she has committed some terrible sexual sin. If you divorce her, you will cause her to be unfaithful, just as any man who marries her is guilty of taking another man's wife.Select Matthew 5:32

Promises

33You know our ancestors were told, “Don't use the Lord's name to make a promise unless you are going to keep it.”Select Matthew 5:33

34But I tell you not to swear by anything when you make a promise! Heaven is God's throne, so don't swear by heaven.Select Matthew 5:34

35The earth is God's footstool, so don't swear by the earth. Jerusalem is the city of the great king, so don't swear by it.Select Matthew 5:35

36Don't swear by your own head. You cannot make one hair white or black.Select Matthew 5:36

37When you make a promise, say only “Yes” or “No.” Anything else comes from the devil.Select Matthew 5:37

Revenge

38You know you have been taught, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”Select Matthew 5:38

39But I tell you not to try to get even with a person who has done something to you. When someone slaps your right cheek, turn and let that person slap your other cheek.Select Matthew 5:39

40If someone sues you for your shirt, give up your coat as well.Select Matthew 5:40

41If a soldier forces you to carry his pack one kilometer, carry it two kilometers.Select Matthew 5:41

42When people ask you for something, give it to them. When they want to borrow money, lend it to them.Select Matthew 5:42

Love

43You have heard people say, “Love your neighbors and hate your enemies.”Select Matthew 5:43

44But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you.Select Matthew 5:44

45Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong.Select Matthew 5:45

46If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for this? Even tax collectors love their friends.Select Matthew 5:46

47If you greet only your friends, what's so great about this? Don't even unbelievers do that?Select Matthew 5:47

48But you must always act like your Father in heaven.Select Matthew 5:48