Matthew 5:33–48

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.