Matthew 5
1When he saw the crowds, he went up onto the mountain. After he sat down, his disciples approached him. 2Opening his mouth, he began to teach them, saying:
3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them. 4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5Blessed are those who are gentle in their strength, for they will inherit the earth. 6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. 7Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. 10Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of justice, for the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them.
11Blessed are you whenever people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because your reward is great in the heavens; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should become foolish and lose its savor, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people. 14You are the light of the world. A city situated on top of a mountain cannot be hidden. 15Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a bushel basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in the heavens.
17Do not think that I came to dismantle the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to dismantle them but to bring them to completion. 18Truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one iota and not one stroke of a letter will pass away from the Law until everything has happened. 19Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called 'least' in the kingdom of the heavens; but whoever practices and teaches them, this person will be called 'great' in the kingdom of the heavens. 20For I tell you that unless your justice exceeds that of the scholars and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of the heavens.
21You have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'You shall not murder', and 'Whoever murders will be subject to the local judgment.' 22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to the local judgment; and whoever says to his brother, 'Raka,' will be subject to the high council; and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be subject to the Gehenna of fire. 23So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25Come to terms with your accuser quickly while you are with him on the way to court, so that the accuser does not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26Truly I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last quadrans.
27You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with the intent to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away from you; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into Gehenna. 30And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into Gehenna.
31It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of dismissal.' 32But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife—except on the grounds of sexual unfaithfulness—makes her a victim of adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'You shall not swear falsely, but you shall fulfill your oaths to the Lord.' 34But I say to you, do not swear an oath at all: not by heaven, because it is the throne of God; 35nor by the earth, because it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the Great King. 36Nor should you swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
38You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. Instead, whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him as well. 40And to the one who wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41And whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor' and 'You shall hate your enemy.' 44But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may become sons of your Father who is in the heavens; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing that is extraordinary? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48You, therefore, shall be whole, just as your heavenly Father is whole."