Matthew 5:27–48

Adultery in the Heart

²⁷“You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. ^za28But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ^b29If your right eye ^•causes you to sin, ^cgouge 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. ^d30And 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 ^ehis wife must give her a written notice of divorce. ^fg32But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, ^hcauses her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. ⁱ

Tell the Truth

³³“Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors, ^jYou must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord. ^kl34But 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. ^m36Neither should you swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. ³⁷But let your word ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no.’ ⁿAnything more than this is from the evil one. ^o

Go the Second Mile

³⁸“You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. ^pq39But I tell you, don’t resist ^ran evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. ^s40As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, ^tlet him have your coat ^uas well. ⁴¹And if anyone forces ^vyou 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. ^w

Love Your Enemies

⁴³“You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor ^xyand hate your enemy. ⁴⁴But I tell you, love your enemies ^zand pray for those who ^apersecute you, ^b45so that you may be ^csons 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. ^d46For 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, what are you doing out of the ordinary? ^efDon’t even the Gentiles ^gdo the same? ⁴⁸Be perfect, ^htherefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.