Matthew 5:27–48

ADULTERY BEGINS IN THE HEART

²⁷“You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery.^{Ja 28}But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.^{b 29}If your right eye causes you to sin,^c 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.^{d 30}And 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

³¹“It was also said, Whoever divorces^e his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.^{Af 32}But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.^g

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.^{Bh 34}But 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.^{i 36}Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. ³⁷But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.^j

GO THE SECOND MILE

³⁸“You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.^{Ck 39}But I tell you, don’t resist^D an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.^{l 40}As 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. ⁴²Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.^m

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

⁴³“You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor^En and hate your enemy. ⁴⁴But I tell you, love your enemies^F and pray for those who^G persecute you,^{o 45}so that you may be^H 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.^{p 46}For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary?^Iq Don’t even the Gentiles^J do the same? ⁴⁸Be perfect,^r therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.