THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

5 When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain,f and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 ThenC he began to teach them, saying:g

THE BEATITUDES

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,h

for the kingdom of heaveni is theirs.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,j

for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the humble,k

for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,l

for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.m

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.n

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God.o

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for the kingdom of heavenp is theirs.

11 “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecutedq the prophets who were before you.r

BELIEVERS ARE SALT AND LIGHT

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty?D It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.s

14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.t 15 No one lights a lampu and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.v 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.w

CHRIST FULFILLS THE LAW

17 “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.x 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letterE or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.y 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

MURDER BEGINS IN THE HEART

21 “You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder,F,z and whoever murders will be subject to judgment.aa 22 But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sisterG will be subject to judgment. Whoever insultsH his brother or sister, will be subject to the court.I Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hellfire.J,ab 23 So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Reach a settlement quickly with your adversary while you’re on the way with him to the court, or your adversary will hand you over to the judge, and the judge toK the officer, and you will be thrown into prison.ac 26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny.L

ADULTERY BEGINS IN THE HEART

27 “You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery.A,a 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 divorcese his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.B,f 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.C,h 34 But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne; 35 or 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. 37 But 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.D,k 39 But I tell you, don’t resistE 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. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give 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 neighborF,n and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemiesG and pray for those whoH persecute you,o 45 so that you may beI 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? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary?J,q Don’t even the GentilesK do the same? 48 Be perfect,r therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.