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When Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach saw the multitudes, he ALAH HAHAR (went up the mountain, SHEMOT 19:3) and when he sat down, his talmidim came to him.

Then Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach began to speak, and gave them this torah (teaching), saying,

Ashrey ANIYEI HARUACH (Blessed, Happy are the poor in spirit, YESHAYAH 66:2) for theirs is the Malchut HaShomayim.

Ashrey are the AVELIM (the ones mourning, YESHAYAH 61:2), for they will be comforted.

Ashrey are the ANAVIM (humble, YESHAYAH 29:19; ZEFANYAH 2:3), for YIRESHU ARETZ (they will inherit the land, TEHILLIM 37:11).

Ashrey are the ones hungering and thirsting for Tzidkat Hashem (Tzedek Olamim, Everlasting Righteousness, DANIEL 9:24), for they will be satisfied.

Ashrey are the merciful, for they will be shown rachamim (mercy).

Ashrey are those of LEV TAHOR (pure heart, TEHILLIM 51:12 [10]), for they will see Hashem.

Ashrey are the peacemakers, for they will be called bnei haElohim (sons of G-d).

10 Ashrey are the ones being persecuted because of Tzidkat Hashem (righteousness, DANIEL 9:24), for theirs is the Malchut HaShomayim.

11 Ashrey are you when they reproach you and persecute you and speak all kinds of lashon horah against you, speaking sheker (falsehood, lies) because of me [Moshiach].

12 Have simcha (joy) and lev sameach (glad heart), for your sachar (reward) is great in Shomayim, for thus they persecuted the Neviim before you.

13 You are the melach haaretz (salt of the earth), but if the salt becomes tasteless, in what way will it become salty again? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled by men.

14 You are the Ohr HaOlam (the Light of the World). A city lying on a mountaintop cannot be nistar (hidden).

15 No one, after lighting a menorah, places it under a measuring basket, but on the shulchan (table), and it gives ohr (light) to kol anshei habais (all in the house).

16 In like manner, let your light so shine before Bnei Adam, that they may see your maasim tovim (good works) and give kavod (glory) to your Av shbaShomayim (Father in Heaven).

17 Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Neviim. I did not come to abolish but to complete.

18 For, omein, truly I say to you, until Shomayim and haaretz pass away, not one yod, not one tag (ornamental flourish), will pass from the Torah until everything is accomplished.

19 Therefore, whoever annuls one of the least of these mitzvot (divine commandments given by Hashem to Moshe Rebbenu) and so teaches Bnei Adam, shall be called katon (least) in the Malchut HaShomayim; but whoever practices and teaches them, this one will be called gadol (great) in the Malchut HaShomayim.

20 For I say unto you that unless the Tzedek (Righteousness) of you exceeds that of the Sofrim and Perushim, you will certainly not enter the Malchut HaShomayim.

21 You have heard that it was said to the ancients, LO TIRTZACH (Do not murder, SHEMOT 20:13; DEVARIM 5:17), and every rotzeach (murderer) shall be liable before the Bet Din (Court).

22 But I say to you, that everyone who harbors kaas (anger) against his Ach [b’Moshiach], his chaver, shall be subject to mishpat (judgment); and whoever shall say to his Ach [b’Moshiach], Reyka! (Good for nothing!) will be subject to the Sanhedrin; and whoever shall say Shoteh! (Fool) shall be subject to Eish Gehinnom (Fire of Hell).

23 Therefore, if you bring your korban (sacrifice) to the Mizbeach (altar), and there you remember that your Ach [b’Moshiach] has something against you,

24 leave your korban there before the Mizbeach, and go and first be reconciled to your Ach [b’Moshiach]; and then come offer your korban.

25 Come to terms quickly with your ish riv (opponent in a lawsuit), while you are a fellow-traveler on the derech eretz, lest the ish riv might deliver you to the shofet (judge), and the shofet might deliver you to the shoter (law official), and the shoter might deliver you to the beit hasohar (prison house).

26 For, omein, truly I say to you, you may never come out from there until you repay the last peruta (small coin).

27 You have heard that it was said, LO TINAF (Do not commit adultery, SHEMOT 20:14).

28 But I say to you that everyone looking upon a woman with taavah (lust) for her has already committed niuf (adultery) with her in his heart.

29 And if your right eye causes you to commit chet (sin), tear it out and throw it from you, for it is better for you that one of your evarim (members) be lost and not your whole basar (body, flesh) be thrown into Gehinnom.

30 And if your right hand causes you to commit chet, cut it off and throw it from you, for it is better for you that one of your evarim (members) be lost and not that your whole basar may go into Gehinnom.

31 It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife, let him give to her a “get,” a SEFER KERITUT (bill of divorce, DEVARIM 24:1).

32 But I say to you that everyone divorcing his wife, except for the DVAR (indecent thing, DEVARIM 24:1) of zenut (fornication), makes her become a noefet (adulteress), and whoever marries a gerusha (divorcee) commits niuf (adultery).

33 Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, You shall not break your nederim (vows), but you shall repay your vows to Hashem.[T.N.See VAYIKRA 19:12; BAMIDBAR 30:3; DEVARIM 23:22]

34 But I say to you, Do not swear shevuot (oaths) at all, neither by Shomayim, for it is the kes malchut of Hashem (throne of G-d),

35 nor by haaretz, for it is the hadom (footstool) of his feet, nor by Yerushalayim, for it is the kiryat melech rav (city of the great king, TEHILLIM 48:3[2]).

36 Neither are you to swear by your rosh, for you are not able to make one hair turn white or black.

37 But let your word be ken, ken (yes, yes) or lo, lo (no, no), but anything beyond this is lashon horah.

38 You have heard that it was said, AYIN TACHAT AYIN, SHEN TACHAT SHEN (An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth SHEMOT 21:24).

39 But I say to you, Do not set yourself against the rasha (evil person), but whoever hits you on your right cheek, turn to him also the other cheek.

40 And the one wishing to sue you and take your tunic, give to him also your kaftan.

41 And whoever will force you to go one mile, go with him two.

42 And the one asking you to give and the one wishing to borrow from you, from these do not turn away.

43 You have heard that it was said, VAHAVTAH LREIACHAH (You shall love your neighbor, VAYIKRA 19:18) and you shall hate your oyev (enemy).

44 But I say to you, Love your enemies, and offer tefillos (prayers) for the ones bringing redifah (persecution) upon you.

45 Do this so that you may become banim of your Av shbaShomayim, for His shemesh (sun) He makes to rise on the ra’im (evil ones) and the tovim (good ones), and He sends His geshem (rain) upon the tzaddikim (righteous ones) and the resha’im (unrighteous ones).

46 For if you have ahavah (love) for the ones who have ahavah for you, what sachar (reward) do you have? Even the mochesim (tax collectors) do that, don’t they?

47 And if you give Drishat Shalom (greetings) only to your Achim [b’Moshiach], what extraordinary thing are you doing? Don’t even the Goyim do the same?

48 Therefore, be shlemim (complete), even as is your Av shbaShomayim.

People talk about this Jesus, this Preacher and Healer. Word spreads of His charisma and wisdom and power and love. People who are too sick to walk persuade their friends and relatives to carry them to Jesus. These cripples and demonized and ill and paralytics come to Jesus, and He heals them, and they follow Him.

Now when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountain (as Moses had done before Him) and He sat down (as Jewish teachers of His day usually did). His disciples gathered around Him.

There on the mountain Jesus teaches them all. And as He is teaching, crowds gather around and overhear His teachings, listen in, and are captivated. This, the Sermon on the Mount, is the first of the five Mosaic-like sermons in Matthew.

And He began to teach them.

Jesus: Blessed are the spiritually poor—the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
    Blessed are those who mourn—they will be comforted.
    Blessed are the meek and gentle—they will inherit the earth.
    Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness—they will be filled.
    Blessed are the merciful—they will be shown mercy.
    Blessed are those who are pure in heart—they will see God.
    Blessed are the peacemakers—they will be called children of God.
10     Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness—the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

11 And blessed are you, blessed are all of you, when people persecute you or denigrate you or despise you or tell lies about you on My account. 12 But when this happens, rejoice. Be glad. Remember that God’s prophets have been persecuted in the past. And know that in heaven, you have a great reward.

Salt draws out the good flavors subtly hidden in food and preserves what would otherwise spoil, as do those who claim to be children of God.

13 You, beloved, are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes bland and loses its saltiness, can anything make it salty again? No. It is useless. It is tossed out, thrown away, or trampled.

14 And you, beloved, are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. 15 Similarly it would be silly to light a lamp and then hide it under a bowl. When someone lights a lamp, she puts it on a table or a desk or a chair, and the light illumines the entire house. 16 You are like that illuminating light. Let your light shine everywhere you go, that you may illumine creation, so men and women everywhere may see your good actions, may see creation at its fullest, may see your devotion to Me, and may turn and praise your Father in heaven because of it.

17 Do not think that I have come to overturn or do away with the law or the words of our prophets. To the contrary: I have not come to overturn them but to fulfill them.

18 This, beloved, is the truth: until heaven and earth disappear, not one letter, not one pen stroke, will disappear from the sacred law—for everything, everything in the sacred law will be fulfilled and accomplished. 19 Anyone who breaks even the smallest, most obscure commandment—not to mention teaches others to do the same—will be called small and obscure in the kingdom of heaven. Those who practice the law and teach others how to live the law will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you this: you will not enter the kingdom of heaven unless your righteousness goes deeper than the Pharisees’, even more righteous than the most learned learner of the law.

Righteousness is the reason Jesus has come—to make the people righteous through and through. He then begins to interpret the law of Scripture for them with this in mind.

21 As you know, long ago God instructed Moses to tell His people, “Do not murder;[a] those who murder will be judged and punished.” 22 But here is the even harder truth: anyone who is angry with his brother will be judged for his anger. Anyone who taunts his friend, speaks contemptuously toward him, or calls him “Loser” or “Fool” or “Scum,” will have to answer to the high court. And anyone who calls his brother a fool may find himself in the fires of hell.

23 Therefore, if you are bringing an offering to God and you remember that your brother is angry at you or holds a grudge against you, 24 then leave your gift before the altar, go to your brother, repent and forgive one another, be reconciled, and then return to the altar to offer your gift to God.

25 If someone sues you, settle things with him quickly. Talk to him as you are walking to court; otherwise, he may turn matters over to the judge, and the judge may turn you over to an officer, and you may land in jail. 26 I tell you this: you will not emerge from prison until you have paid your last penny.

27 As you know, long ago God forbade His people to commit adultery.[b] 28 You may think you have abided by this Commandment, walked the straight and narrow, but I tell you this: any man who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery in his heart. 29 If your right eye leads you into sin, gouge it out and throw it in the garbage—for better you lose one part of your body than march your entire body through the gates of sin and into hell. 30 And if your right hand leads you into sin, cut it off and throw it away—for better you lose one part of your body than march your entire body through the gates of sin and into hell.

31 And here is something else: you have read in Deuteronomy that anyone who divorces his wife must do so fairly—he must give her the requisite certificate of divorce and send her on her way, free and unfettered.[c] 32 But I tell you this: unless your wife cheats on you, you must not divorce her, period. Nor are you to marry someone who has been married and divorces, for a divorced person who remarries commits adultery.

33 You know that God expects us to abide by the oaths we swear and the promises we make. 34 But I tell you this: do not ever swear an oath. What is an oath? You cannot say, “I swear by heaven”—for heaven is not yours to swear by; it is God’s throne. 35 And you cannot say, “I swear by this good earth,” for the earth is not yours to swear by; it is God’s footstool. And you cannot say, “I swear by the holy city Jerusalem,” for it is not yours to swear by; it is the city of God, the capital of the King of kings. 36 You cannot even say that you swear by your own head, for God has dominion over your hands, your lips, your head. It is He who determines if your hair be straight or curly, white or black; it is He who rules over even this small scrap of creation. 37 You need not swear an oath—any impulse to do so is of evil. Simply let your “yes” be “yes,” and let your “no” be “no.”

38 You know that Hebrew Scripture sets this standard of justice and punishment: take an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.[d] 39 But I say this, don’t fight against the one who is working evil against you. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, you are to turn and offer him your left cheek. 40 If someone connives to get your shirt, give him your jacket as well. 41 If someone forces you to walk with him for a mile, walk with him for two instead. 42 If someone asks you for something, give it to him. If someone wants to borrow something from you, do not turn away.

43 You have been taught to love your neighbor and hate your enemy.[e] 44 But I tell you this: love your enemies. Pray for those who torment you and persecute you— 45 in so doing, you become children of your Father in heaven. He, after all, loves each of us—good and evil, kind and cruel. He causes the sun to rise and shine on evil and good alike. He causes the rain to water the fields of the righteous and the fields of the sinner. 46 It is easy to love those who love you—even a tax collector can love those who love him. 47 And it is easy to greet your friends—even outsiders do that! 48 But you are called to something higher: “Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

The Sermon on the Mount; The Beatitudes

(A)Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on (B)the [a]mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. (C)And He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,

[b](D)Blessed are the [c]poor in spirit, for (E)theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are (F)those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are (G)the [d]lowly, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are (H)those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are (I)the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are (J)the pure in heart, for (K)they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for (L)they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who have been (M)persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for (N)theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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

Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but (Q)if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out to be trampled under foot by men.

14 “You are (R)the light of the world. A city set on a [e]hill cannot be hidden; 15 (S)nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a [f]basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may (T)see your good works, and (U)glorify your Father who is in heaven.

17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the (V)Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, (W)until heaven and earth pass away, not [g]the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches [h]others to do the same, shall be called least (X)in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 “For I say to you that unless your (Y)righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Personal Relationships

21 (Z)You have heard that [i]the ancients were told, ‘(AA)You shall not murder’ and ‘Whoever murders shall be guilty before (AB)the court.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before (AC)the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘[j]Raca,’ shall be guilty before the [k](AD)Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the [l](AE)fiery hell. 23 Therefore if you are (AF)presenting your [m]offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your [n]offering there before the altar and go; first be (AG)reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your [o]offering. 25 (AH)Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I say to you, (AI)you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last [p]quadrans.

27 (AJ)You have heard that it was said, ‘(AK)You shall not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman (AL)to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 (AM)But if your right eye makes you [q]stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you [r]to lose one of the parts of your body, [s]than for your whole body to be thrown into [t](AN)hell. 30 (AO)And if your right hand makes you [u]stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you [v]to lose one of the parts of your body, [w]than for your whole body to go into [x](AP)hell.

31 “Now it was said, ‘(AQ)Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’; 32 (AR)but I say to you that everyone who [y]divorces his wife, except for the reason of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a [z]divorced woman commits adultery.

33 “Again, (AS)you have heard that [aa]the ancients were told, ‘[ab](AT)You shall not [ac]make false vows, but shall fulfill your [ad]vows to the [ae]Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, (AU)make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is (AV)the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is the (AW)footstool of His feet, or [af]by Jerusalem, for it is (AX)the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is [ag]of (AY)the evil one.

38 (AZ)You have heard that it was said, ‘(BA)An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but (BB)whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your [ah]tunic, let him have your [ai]garment also. 41 And whoever [aj]forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 (BC)Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

43 (BD)You have heard that it was said, ‘(BE)You shall love your neighbor (BF)and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, (BG)love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may [ak]be (BH)sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For (BI)if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore [al](BJ)you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:1 Or hill
  2. Matthew 5:3 Fortunate or prosperous, so through v 11
  3. Matthew 5:3 Those who are not spiritually arrogant
  4. Matthew 5:5 Or humble, meek
  5. Matthew 5:14 Or mountain
  6. Matthew 5:15 Or peck-measure
  7. Matthew 5:18 Or one projection of a letter (serif); lit one iota (Heb yodh)
  8. Matthew 5:19 Gr anthropoi
  9. Matthew 5:21 Lit it was said to the ancients
  10. Matthew 5:22 Or empty-head; from Aram reqa
  11. Matthew 5:22 Or Council
  12. Matthew 5:22 Lit Gehenna of fire
  13. Matthew 5:23 Or gift
  14. Matthew 5:24 Or gift
  15. Matthew 5:24 Or gift
  16. Matthew 5:26 A Roman copper coin, approx. 1/64 of a laborer’s daily wage
  17. Matthew 5:29 Sin
  18. Matthew 5:29 Lit that one...be lost
  19. Matthew 5:29 Lit not your whole body
  20. Matthew 5:29 Gr Gehenna
  21. Matthew 5:30 Sin
  22. Matthew 5:30 Lit that one...be lost
  23. Matthew 5:30 Lit not your whole body
  24. Matthew 5:30 Gr Gehenna
  25. Matthew 5:32 Or sends away
  26. Matthew 5:32 Or sent away
  27. Matthew 5:33 Lit it was said to the ancients
  28. Matthew 5:33 you and your are singular here
  29. Matthew 5:33 Or break your vows
  30. Matthew 5:33 Lit oaths
  31. Matthew 5:33 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Deut 23:21
  32. Matthew 5:35 Or toward
  33. Matthew 5:37 Or from evil
  34. Matthew 5:40 A garment worn next to the body
  35. Matthew 5:40 An outer garment
  36. Matthew 5:41 Lit will force
  37. Matthew 5:45 Or show yourselves to be
  38. Matthew 5:48 Lit you shall be