Jesus Begins to Preach

¹² When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison,^(A) he withdrew to Galilee.^{(B) 13} Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum,^(C) which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— ¹⁴ to fulfill^(D) what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁷ From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven^(F) has come near.”

Jesus Calls His First Disciples^(G)

¹⁸ As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee,^(H) he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter^(I) and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ “Come, follow me,”^(J) Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ²⁰ At once they left their nets and followed him.^(K)

²¹ Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John.^(L) They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, ²² and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.^(M)

Jesus Heals the Sick

²³ Jesus went throughout Galilee,^(N) teaching in their synagogues,^(O) proclaiming the good news^(P) of the kingdom,^(Q) and healing every disease and sickness among the people.^{(R) 24} News about him spread all over Syria,^(S) and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed,^(T) those having seizures,^(U) and the paralyzed;^(V) and he healed them. ²⁵ Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,^[b] Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.^(W)

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^(X)

He said:

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

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.^(AN)

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world.^(AO) 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.^{(AP) 16} In the same way, let your light shine before others,^(AQ) that they may see your good deeds^(AR) and glorify^(AS) 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.^{(AT) 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.^{(AU) 19} Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands^(AV) 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.^(AW)

Murder^(AX)

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

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.’^{[g](BD) 28} But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.^{(BE) 29} If your right eye causes you to stumble,^(BF) 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,^(BG) 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.’^{[h](BH) 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.^(BI)

Oaths

³³ “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath,^(BJ) but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’^{(BK) 34} But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all:^(BL) either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;^{(BM) 35} or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.^{(BN) 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’;^(BO) anything beyond this comes from the evil one.^[i](BP)

Eye for Eye

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’^{[j](BQ) 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.^{(BR) 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.^(BS)

Love for Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[k](BT) and hate your enemy.’^{(BU) 44} But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,^{(BV) 45} that you may be children^(BW) 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.^{(BX) 46} If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?^(BY) 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.^(BZ)

Giving to the Needy

6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.^(CA) 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.^(CB)

Prayer^(CC)

⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing^(CD) 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,^(CE) 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^(CF) like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.^{(CG) 8} Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need^(CH) 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.^{(CP) 15} But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.^(CQ)

Fasting

¹⁶ “When you fast,^(CR) do not look somber^(CS) 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.^(CT)