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Matthew 5
Lexham English Bible

The Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes

5 Now when he[a] saw the crowds, he went up the mountain and after he[b] sat down, his disciples approached him. 2 And opening his mouth he began to teach them, saying,

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are the ones who mourn,
    because they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
    because they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are the ones who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    because they will be satisfied.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
    because they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
    because they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
    because they will be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you
    when they insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you, lying on account of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

The Sermon on the Mount: Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, by what will it be made salty? It is good for nothing any longer except to be thrown outside and[c] trampled under foot by people. 14 You are the light of the world. A city located on top of a hill cannot be hidden, 15 nor do they light a lamp and place it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it shines on all those in the house. 16 In the same way let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

The Sermon on the Mount: The Law and the Prophets Fulfilled

17 “Do not think that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets. I have not come to destroy them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one tiny letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all takes place. 19 Therefore whoever abolishes one of the least of these commandments and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever keeps them and teaches them, this person will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you that unless your righteousness greatly surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The Sermon on the Mount: Anger Toward Others

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people of old,[d] ‘Do not commit murder,’[e] and ‘whoever commits murder will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry at his brother will be subject to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Stupid fool!’[f] will be subject to the council, and whoever says, ‘Obstinate fool!’[g] will be subject to fiery hell. 23 Therefore if you present your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and first go be reconciled to your brother, and then come and[h] present your gift. 25 Settle the case quickly with your accuser[i] while you are with him on the way, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I say to you, you will never come out of there until you have paid back the last penny!

The Sermon on the Mount: Adultery and Lust

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’[j] 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 And if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it from you! For it is better for you that one of your members be destroyed than your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it from you! For it is better for you that one of your limbs be destroyed than your whole body go into hell.

The Sermon on the Mount: Divorce

31 “And it was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’[k] 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for a matter of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

The Sermon on the Mount: Taking Oaths

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to the people of old,[l] ‘Do not swear falsely,[m] but fulfill your oaths to the Lord.’[n] 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all, either by heaven, because it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, because it is the footstool of his feet, or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great king. 36 And do not swear by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. 37 But let your statement be ‘Yes, yes; no, no,’ and anything beyond these is from the evil one.[o]

The Sermon on the Mount: Retaliation

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’[p] 39 But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer, but whoever strikes you on the right cheek,[q] turn the other to him also. 40 And the one who wants to go to court with you and take your tunic, let him have[r] your outer garment also. 41 And whoever forces you to go one mile,[s] go with him two. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

The Sermon on the Mount: Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’[t] and ‘Hate your enemy.’[u] 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven, because he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not the tax collectors also do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing that is remarkable? Do not the Gentiles also do the same? 48 Therefore you be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:1 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
  2. Matthew 5:1 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“sat down”) which is understood as temporal
  3. Matthew 5:13 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“thrown”) has been translated as a finite verb
  4. Matthew 5:21 Literally “ancients”
  5. Matthew 5:21 A quotation from Exod 20:13; Deut 5:17
  6. Matthew 5:22 Greek “Raca,” a term of verbal abuse involving lack of intelligence
  7. Matthew 5:22 Perhaps with the idea of obstinate, godless foolishness; some take the word to be a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew word for “rebel” (Deut 21:18, 20)
  8. Matthew 5:24 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“come”) has been translated as a finite verb
  9. Matthew 5:25 Literally “be making friends quickly with your accuser”
  10. Matthew 5:27 A quotation from Exod 20:14; Deut 5:17
  11. Matthew 5:31 A quotation from Deut 24:1
  12. Matthew 5:33 Literally “ancients”
  13. Matthew 5:33 Or “do not break your oath”
  14. Matthew 5:33 A quotation from Lev 19:12
  15. Matthew 5:37 Or “is of evil”
  16. Matthew 5:38 A quotation from Exod 21:24; Lev 24:20
  17. Matthew 5:39 Some manuscripts have “your right cheek”
  18. Matthew 5:40 Literally “leave to him”
  19. Matthew 5:41 A Roman mile was originally a thousand paces, but was later fixed at eight stades (1,478.5 meters)
  20. Matthew 5:43 A quotation from Lev 19:18
  21. Matthew 5:43 An allusion to Deut 23:3–6
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Matthew 5
New International Version

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes(A)

He said:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(B)
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.(C)
5 Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.(D)
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.(E)
7 Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.(F)
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,(G)
    for they will see God.(H)
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,(I)
    for they will be called children of God.(J)
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,(K)
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(L)

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you,(M) persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.(N) 12 Rejoice and be glad,(O) because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.(P)

Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.(Q)

14 “You are the light of the world.(R) A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.(S) 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others,(T) that they may see your good deeds(U) and glorify(V) your Father in heaven.

The Fulfillment of the Law

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.(W) 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.(X) 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands(Y) and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.(Z)

Murder(AA)

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[a](AB) and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry(AC) with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment.(AD) Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’[d] is answerable to the court.(AE) And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.(AF)

23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there 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 to them; then come and offer your gift.

25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Adultery

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[e](AG) 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.(AH) 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble,(AI) gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble,(AJ) cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Divorce

31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’[f](AK) 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.(AL)

Oaths

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath,(AM) but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’(AN) 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all:(AO) either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;(AP) 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.(AQ) 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;(AR) anything beyond this comes from the evil one.[g](AS)

Eye for Eye

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[h](AT) 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.(AU) 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.(AV)

Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i](AW) and hate your enemy.’(AX) 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,(AY) 45 that you may be children(AZ) of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.(BA) 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?(BB) Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.(BC)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:21 Exodus 20:13
  2. Matthew 5:22 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woman; also in verse 23.
  3. Matthew 5:22 Some manuscripts brother or sister without cause
  4. Matthew 5:22 An Aramaic term of contempt
  5. Matthew 5:27 Exodus 20:14
  6. Matthew 5:31 Deut. 24:1
  7. Matthew 5:37 Or from evil
  8. Matthew 5:38 Exodus 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21
  9. Matthew 5:43 Lev. 19:18
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