5:1  When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.

5:2  He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,

5:3  "The poor in spirit receive blessings, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

5:4  "Those who mourn receive blessings, for they shall receive comfort.

5:5  "The gentle will receive blessings, for they shall inherit the earth.

5:6  Those hungering and thirsting for righteousness shall receive blessings. They will find satisfaction.

5:7  "The merciful shall receive blessings, for they shall receive mercy.

5:8  "The pure in heart shall receive blessings, for they shall see God.

5:9  "The peacemakers shall receive blessings, for God shall call them sons of God.

5:10  "Those who have received persecution for the sake of righteousness shall receive blessings, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

5:11  "When people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me, you will receive blessings.

5:12  "Rejoice and feel glad, for your reward in heaven has become great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who lived before you.

5:13  "You represent the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can we make it salty again? We find it no longer good for anything, except to throw it out where men will trample it under foot.

5:14  "You symbolize the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot hide in the darkness;

5:15  nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who live in the house.

5:16  "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who dwells in heaven.

5:17  "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

5:18  "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all becomes accomplished.

5:19  "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall have the least value in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, will have greatness in the kingdom of heaven.

5:20  "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

5:21  "You have heard that the ancients received the warning, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and 'Whoever commits murder shall become liable to the court.'

5:22  "But I say to you that everyone who has anger with his brother shall have guilt before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall have guilt before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall have guilt enough to go into the fiery hell.

5:23  "Therefore if you present your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

5:24  leave your offering there before the altar and go; first reconcile to your brother, and then come and present your offering.

5:25  "Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you travel with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

5:26  "Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.

5:27  "You have heard that the scriptures say, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY';

5:28  but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

5:29  "If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for you would find it better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than to have your whole body thrown into hell.

5:30  "If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it would prove better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.

5:31  "The scriptures say, 'WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE';

5:32  but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

5:33  "Again, you have heard that the ancients received the warning, 'YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.'

5:34  "But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it represents the throne of God,

5:35  or by the earth, for it represents the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it represents THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING.

5:36  "Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

5:37  "But let your statement consist of, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these derives from an evil intent.

5:38  "You have heard that the scriptures said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.'

5:39  "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

5:40  "If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.

5:41  "Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

5:42  "Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

5:43  "You have heard that the scriptures said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.'

5:44  "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

5:45  God will recognize you as sons. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

5:46  "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

5:47  "If you greet only your brothers, what more do you do than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

5:48  "Therefore you must become perfect, as your heavenly Father has perfection.