Matthew 5

1Seeing the crowds, he went up the mountain; and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

2And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

3Blessed are the poor in spirit, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

4Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted.

5Blessed are the meek, because they will inherit the earth.

6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be filled.

7Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

8Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God.

9Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God.

10Blessed are those who have been persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me.

12Rejoice and be very glad, because your reward is great in the heavens; for in this way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

13You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt becomes tasteless, with what will it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

14You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

15Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

16In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in the heavens.

17Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

18For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one iota or one stroke will ever pass away from the law until all is accomplished.

19Therefore, whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them, this one will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

21You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’

22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to the judgment; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘Fool,’ will be liable to the Gehenna of fire.

23Therefore, if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

24leave your gift there before 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, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

26Truly I tell you, you will certainly not 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 in order to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

29But if your right eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your members should perish than that your whole body should be thrown into Gehenna.

30And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better for you that one of your members should perish than that your whole body should go into Gehenna.

31But it was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’

32But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

33Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but you shall fulfill your oaths to the Lord.’

34But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, because it is the throne of God;

35nor by the earth, because it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King;

36Nor shall you swear by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black.

37But let your word be, ‘Yes, yes,’ or ‘No, no.’ Anything beyond these is 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 evil person. Instead, if anyone slaps you on the 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 also.

41And whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

42Give to the one who asks 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 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 in heaven, because he makes his sun rise on evil and good, and sends rain on righteous and unrighteous.

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 perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.