Matthew 5:1-12

Easy-to-Read Version

Jesus Teaches the People^(A)

5 When Jesus saw the crowds of people there, he went up on a hill and sat down. His followers came and sat next to him. ²Then Jesus began teaching the people. He said,

³“Great blessings belong to those who know they are spiritually in need.^[a]
    God’s kingdom belongs to them.
⁴Great blessings belong to those who are sad now.
    God will comfort them.
⁵Great blessings belong to those who are humble.
    They will be given the land God promised.^[b]
⁶Great blessings belong to those who want to do right more than anything else.^[c]
    God will fully satisfy them.
⁷Great blessings belong to those who show mercy to others.
    Mercy will be given to them.
⁸Great blessings belong to those whose thoughts are pure.
    They will be with God.
⁹Great blessings belong to those who work to bring peace.
    God will call them his sons and daughters.
¹⁰Great blessings belong to those who suffer persecution for doing what is right.
    God’s kingdom belongs to them.

¹¹“People will insult you and hurt you. They will lie and say all kinds of evil things about you because you follow me. But when they do that, know that great blessings belong to you. ¹²Be happy about it. Be very glad because you have a great reward waiting for you in heaven. People did these same bad things to the prophets who lived before you.

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Footnotes

Matthew 5:3 those … in need Literally, “the poor in spirit.”
Matthew 5:5 They will … promised This is the meaning of these words in Ps. 37:11. Here, they probably refer to a spiritual “promised land,” but they can also mean “The earth will belong to them.”
Matthew 5:6 want … more than anything else Literally, “hunger and thirst for righteousness.”