The Beatitudes

1. Now seeing the crowds, he went up into the mountain, and when he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
2. And opening his mouth, he began to teach them, saying.
3. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4. Blessed are the ones mourning, for they shall be comforted.
5. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6. Blessed are those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
7. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10. Blessed are those persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom heaven.
11. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and speak every evil thing against you falsely because of me.
12. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in this way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Salt and Light

13. You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt becomes tasteless, with what will it be salted? It is no longer strong for anything except to be thrown out and to be trampled underfoot by men.
14. You are the light of the world; a city set upon a hill cannot be hidden.
15. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under the basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16. Thus let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Jesus and the Law

17. Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
18. For truly I say to you, until heaven and the earth pass away, not one smallest letter nor one tiny stroke shall pass from the Law until all comes to be.
19. Therefore whoever loosens one of the least of these commandments and teaches others likewise shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, this one shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20. For I say to you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

On Anger

21. You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’
22. But I say to you that everyone who is unjustly angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raka,’ shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You Fool,’ shall be liable to the hell fire.
23. Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you.
24. Leave your gift there before the altar and go away; first be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25. Be well-minded toward your opponent quickly while you are with him on the way, lest your opponent 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 shall certainly not come out from there until you have paid the last coin.

On Lust

27. You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
28. But I say to you that everyone looking at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29. And if your right eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of your members perish than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
30. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of your members perish than for your whole body to go into hell.

On Divorce

31. And it was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’
32. But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for a matter of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries one who has been divorced commits adultery.

On Oaths

33. Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘You shall not break an oath, but you shall give to the Lord your oaths.’
34. But I say to you, do not swear at all, neither by heaven, because it is the throne of God.
35. Nor by the earth, because it is his footstool, nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.
36. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black.
37. But let your word be ‘Yes, yes,’ and ‘No, no’; and what is more than these is from the evil one.

On Retaliation

38. You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’
39. But I say to you, do not resist the evil person; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40. And to the one wanting to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
41. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
42. Give to the one asking of you, and do not turn away from the one wanting to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies

43. You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’
44. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those persecuting you.
45. So that you may become sons of your Father who is in the heavens; because he makes his sun rise upon evil and good and sends rain upon righteous and unrighteous.
46. For if you love those loving you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47. And if you greet only your brethren, what extraordinary thing do you do? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48. Therefore, you shall be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.