Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes^(A)

He said:

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you,^(M) persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.^{(N) 12} Rejoice and be glad,^(O) because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.^(P)

Salt and Light

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.^(Q)

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world.^(R) A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.^{(S) 16} In the same way, let your light shine before others,^(T) that they may see your good deeds^(U) and glorify^(V) your Father in heaven.

The Fulfillment of the Law

¹⁷ “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.^{(W) 18} For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.^{(X) 19} Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands^(Y) and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.^(Z)

Murder^(AA)

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,^[a](AB) and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ ²² But I tell you that anyone who is angry^(AC) with a brother or sister^[b][c] will be subject to judgment.^(AD) Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’^[d] is answerable to the court.^(AE) And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.^(AF)

²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

²⁵ “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Adultery

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’^{[e](AG) 28} But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.^{(AH) 29} If your right eye causes you to stumble,^(AI) gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to stumble,^(AJ) cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Divorce

³¹ “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’^{[f](AK) 32} But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.^(AL)

Oaths

³³ “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath,^(AM) but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’^{(AN) 34} But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all:^(AO) either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;^{(AP) 35} or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.^{(AQ) 36} And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. ³⁷ All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;^(AR) anything beyond this comes from the evil one.^[g](AS)

Eye for Eye

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’^{[h](AT) 39} But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.^{(AU) 40} And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹ If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.^(AV)

Love for Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[i](AW) and hate your enemy.’^{(AX) 44} But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,^{(AY) 45} that you may be children^(AZ) of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.^{(BA) 46} If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?^(BB) Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.^(BC)

Giving to the Needy

6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.^(BD) If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

² “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.^(BE)

Prayer^(BF)

⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing^(BG) in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father,^(BH) who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling^(BI) like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.^{(BJ) 8} Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need^(BK) before you ask him.

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:

¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.^{(BS) 15} But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.^(BT)

Fasting

¹⁶ “When you fast,^(BU) do not look somber^(BV) as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷ But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.^(BW)

Treasures in Heaven^(BX)

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,^(BY) where moths and vermin destroy,^(BZ) and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,^(CA) where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.^{(CB) 21} For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.^(CC)

²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,^[l] your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eyes are unhealthy,^[m] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.^(CD)

Do Not Worry^(CE)

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry^(CF) about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.^(CG) Are you not much more valuable than they?^{(CH) 27} Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[n]?^(CI)

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor^(CJ) was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?^{(CK) 31} So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.^{(CL) 33} But seek first his kingdom^(CM) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.^{(CN) 34} Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Judging Others^(CO)

7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.^{(CP) 2} For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.^(CQ)

³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

⁶ “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Ask, Seek, Knock^(CR)

⁷ “Ask and it will be given to you;^(CS) seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds;^(CT) and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

⁹ “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts^(CU) to those who ask him! ¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,^(CV) for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.^(CW)

The Narrow and Wide Gates

¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate.^(CX) For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

True and False Prophets

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets.^(CY) They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.^{(CZ) 16} By their fruit you will recognize them.^(DA) Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?^{(DB) 17} Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.^{(DC) 19} Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.^{(DD) 20} Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

True and False Disciples

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’^(DE) will enter the kingdom of heaven,^(DF) but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.^{(DG) 22} Many will say to me on that day,^(DH) ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’^{(DI) 23} Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’^(DJ)

The Wise and Foolish Builders^(DK)

²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice^(DL) is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things,^(DM) the crowds were amazed at his teaching,^{(DN) 29} because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

²⁰ Looking at his disciples, he said:

²³ “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy,^(G) because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.^(H)

Love for Enemies^(N)

²⁷ “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,^{(O) 28} bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.^{(P) 29} If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. ³⁰ Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.^{(Q) 31} Do to others as you would have them do to you.^(R)

³² “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?^(S) Even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?^(T) Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. ³⁵ But love your enemies, do good to them,^(U) and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children^(V) of the Most High,^(W) because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶ Be merciful,^(X) just as your Father^(Y) is merciful.

Judging Others^(Z)

³⁷ “Do not judge, and you will not be judged.^(AA) Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.^{(AB) 38} Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.^(AC) For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”^(AD)

³⁹ He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?^{(AE) 40} The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.^(AF)

⁴¹ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴² How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

A Tree and Its Fruit^(AG)

⁴³ “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. ⁴⁴ Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.^(AH) People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. ⁴⁵ A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.^(AI)

The Wise and Foolish Builders^(AJ)

⁴⁶ “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’^(AK) and do not do what I say?^{(AL) 47} As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice,^(AM) I will show you what they are like. ⁴⁸ They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. ⁴⁹ But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^{[a](A) 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^{[b](B) 40} All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”^(C)

The Greatest Commandment^(A)

²⁸ One of the teachers of the law^(B) came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

²⁹ “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^{[a] 30} Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’^{[b](C) 31} The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[c](D) There is no commandment greater than these.”

³² “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.^{(E) 33} To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”^(F)

³⁴ When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”^(G) And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.^(H)

³⁴ “A new command^(A) I give you: Love one another.^(B) As I have loved you, so you must love one another.^{(C) 35} By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”^(D)

¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.^{(A) 13} Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.^(B)

¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.^(A)

¹² On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’^[a](A) For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”^(B)