Matthew 5:17–37

Jesus Fulfills the Law

^17v“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. ¹⁸For assuredly, I say to you, ^wtill heaven and earth pass away, one ²jot or one ³tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. ^19xWhoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds ^ythe righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Murder

²¹“You have heard that it was said to those ⁴of old, ^z‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ ²²But I say to you that ^awhoever is angry with his brother ⁵without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ^b‘Raca!’ ⁶shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ⁷‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of ⁸hell fire. ²³Therefore ^cif you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, ^24dleave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. ^25eAgree with your adversary quickly, ^fwhile you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. ²⁶Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

Adultery

²⁷“You have heard that it was said ⁹to those of old, ^g‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸But I say to you that whoever ^hlooks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ⁱIf your right eye causes you to ¹sin, ^jpluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. ³⁰And if your right hand causes you to ²sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Divorce

³¹“Furthermore it has been said, ^k‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ ³²But I say to you that ^lwhoever divorces his wife for any reason except ³sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

Oaths

³³“Again you have heard that ^mit was said to those of ⁴old, ⁿ‘You shall not swear falsely, but ^oshall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ ³⁴But I say to you, ^pdo not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is ^qGod’s throne; ³⁵nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of ^rthe great King. ³⁶Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. ^37sBut let ⁵your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.