²²But I tell you, if you are angry with a brother or sister, ⁿ you will be judged. If you say bad things to a brother or sister, you will be judged by the council. And if you call someone a fool, you will be in danger of the fire of hell.

²³“So when you offer your gift to God at the altar, and you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴leave your gift there at the altar. Go and make peace with that person, and then come and offer your gift.

²⁵“If your enemy is taking you to court, become friends quickly, before you go to court. Otherwise, your enemy might turn you over to the judge, and the judge might give you to a guard to put you in jail. ²⁶I tell you the truth, you will not leave there until you have paid everything you owe.

Jesus Teaches About Sexual Sin

²⁷“You have heard that it was said, ‘You must not be guilty of adultery.’ ⁿ ²⁸But I tell you that if anyone looks at a woman and wants to sin sexually with her, in his mind he has already done that sin with the woman. ²⁹If your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell. ³⁰If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Jesus Teaches About Divorce

³¹“It was also said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a written divorce paper.’ ⁿ ³²But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife forces her to be guilty of adultery. The only reason for a man to divorce his wife is if she has sexual relations with another man. And anyone who marries that divorced woman is guilty of adultery.

Make Promises Carefully

³³“You have heard that it was said to our people long ago, ‘Don’t break your promises, but keep the promises you make to the Lord.’ ⁿ ³⁴But I tell you, never swear an oath. Don’t swear an oath using the name of heaven, because heaven is God’s throne. ³⁵Don’t swear an oath using the name of the earth, because the earth belongs to God. Don’t swear an oath using the name of Jerusalem, because that is the city of the great King. ³⁶Don’t even swear by your own head, because you cannot make one hair on your head become white or black. ³⁷Say only yes if you mean yes, and no if you mean no. If you say more than yes or no, it is from the Evil One.

Don’t Fight Back

³⁸“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ ⁿ ³⁹But I tell you, don’t stand up against an evil person. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other cheek also. ⁴⁰If someone wants to sue you in court and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. ⁴¹If someone forces you to go with him one mile, go with him two miles. ⁴²If a person asks you for something, give it to him. Don’t refuse to give to someone who wants to borrow from you.

Love All People

⁴³“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor ⁿ and hate your enemies.’ ⁴⁴But I say to you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. ⁿ

Read in Logos

Matthew 5:44–45: But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Footnotes

nsister Some Greek copies continue, “without a reason.”
n‘You … adultery.’ Quotation from Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18.
n‘Anyone … divorce paper.’ Quotation from Deuteronomy 24:1.
n‘Don’t … Lord.’ This refers to Leviticus 19:12; Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21.
n‘An eye … tooth.’ Quotation from Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21.
n‘Love your neighbor’ Quotation from Leviticus 19:18.
nyou Some Greek copies continue, “Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you.” Compare Luke 6:28.