登山宝训

耶稣看见人群,就上了山,坐下来。他的门徒们来到他面前, 他就开口教导他们,说:

天国八福

“灵里贫乏的人是蒙福的,
因为天国是他们的。
悲伤的人是蒙福的,
因为他们将受到安慰。
谦和的人是蒙福的,
因为他们将继承那地。
饥渴慕义的人是蒙福的,
因为他们将得饱足。
怜悯人的人是蒙福的,
因为他们将蒙怜悯。
心里洁净的人是蒙福的,
因为他们将看见神。
使人和睦的人是蒙福的,
因为他们将被称为‘神的儿女’。
10 为义受逼迫的人是蒙福的,
因为天国是他们的。

11 “当人们因我的缘故责骂你们、逼迫你们、用各种捏造出来的恶事毁谤你们的时候,你们就是蒙福的。 12 你们当欢喜,当快乐,因为你们在天上的报偿是大的。要知道,那些人也这样逼迫了在你们以前的先知们。

信徒是光是盐

13 “你们是地上的盐。盐如果失去了味道,还能用什么来把它腌成咸的呢?它再也没有用处,只好被丢在外面,任人践踏。

14 “你们是世界的光。建在山上的城是不能隐藏的; 15 人点亮了油灯,也不会放在斗[a]底下,而会放在灯台上,它就照亮屋子里所有的人。 16 同样,你们的光也应当照耀在人前,使他们看见你们的美好工作,就荣耀你们在天上的父。

基督成全律法

17 “你们不要以为我来是要废除律法和先知[b],我来不是要废除,而是要成全。 18 我确实地告诉你们:即使天和地都消逝了,律法的一点一画也绝不会消逝,直到一切都成就。 19 所以,如果有人违犯了这些诫命中最小的一条,又教导人也这样做,他在天国里将被称为最小的;但无论谁遵行这些诫命,又教导人也这样做,这个人在天国里将被称为大的。 20 我告诉你们:你们的义如果不胜过经文士们和法利赛人的义,就绝不能进入天国。

凶杀始于心

21 “你们听过那吩咐古人的话:‘不可杀人。[c]杀人的,当遭受审判。’ 22 但是我告诉你们:所有向他弟兄[d]发怒的,当遭受审判;骂他弟兄‘废物’的,当遭受议会的审判;骂‘蠢货’的,当遭受烈火的地狱。 23 所以,如果你在祭坛献上祭物的时候,在那里想起弟兄向你怀着怨, 24 就要把祭物留在祭坛前,先去与弟兄和好,然后再回来献上你的祭物。 25 你要趁着与你的对头还在路上的时候,赶快与他和解,免得他把你交给审判官,审判官把你交给差役,你就会被投进监狱了。 26 我确实地告诉你:除非你还清了最后的一个铜币[e],否则你绝不能从那里出来。

内心的奸淫

27 “你们听过那吩咐[f]:‘不可通奸。’[g] 28 但是我告诉你们:所有怀着欲念看女人的,就已经在心里和她通奸了。 29 如果你的右眼使你绊倒,就把它剜出来丢掉!因为对你来说,失去你身体的一部分[h],总比你全身被丢进地狱要好。 30 如果你的右手使你绊倒,就把它砍下来丢掉!因为对你来说,失去你身体的一部分,总比你全身下地狱要好。

谴责离婚行为

31 “又有吩咐:‘如果有人休妻,要给妻子一份休书。’[i] 32 但是我告诉你们:凡是休妻的,除非为了淫乱的缘故,否则就是让她犯通奸罪了;凡是娶了被休的女人的,也是犯通奸罪。

说诚实话

33 “另外,你们听过那吩咐古人的话:‘不可起假誓。你所起的誓,总要向主偿还。’[j] 34 但是我告诉你们:根本不可起誓。不可指着天起誓,因为天是神的宝座; 35 不可指着地起誓,因为地是神的脚凳;不可用耶路撒冷起誓,因为耶路撒冷是那大君王的城; 36 也不可指着自己的头起誓,因为你不能使一根头发变白或变黑。 37 你们的话语应该如此:是,就说是;不是,就说不是。再多说,就是出于那恶者。

以德报怨

38 “你们听过这吩咐:‘以眼还眼,以牙还牙。’[k] 39 但是我告诉你们:不要与恶人作对。有人打你的右脸,把左脸[l]也转给他; 40 有人想要控告你,并要拿走你的里衣[m],你就连外衣也由他拿去; 41 有人强迫你走一里[n]路,你就与他一起走两里; 42 有人求你,你要给他;有人要向你借什么,你不要拒绝。

爱敌人

43 “你们听过这吩咐:‘要爱你的邻人[o],恨你的敌人[p]。’ 44 但是我告诉你们:要爱你们的敌人[q][r]为那些[s]逼迫你们的人祷告, 45 好让你们成为你们天父的儿女。因为他使太阳升起,对着恶人,也对着好人;降雨给义人,也给不义的人。 46 其实你们如果只爱那些爱你们的人,会有什么报偿呢?连税吏不也这样做吗? 47 你们如果只问候自己的兄弟,这样做有什么特别呢?连外邦人[t]不也这样做吗? 48 所以,你们当成为完全的,就像你们的天父是完全的。

Footnotes

  1. 马太福音 5:15 斗——指“一种度量谷物的量器”;容量约为9升。
  2. 马太福音 5:17 先知——或译作“先知书”。
  3. 马太福音 5:21 《出埃及记》20:13;《申命记》5:17。
  4. 马太福音 5:22 有古抄本附“毫无理由地”。
  5. 马太福音 5:26 铜币——原文为“柯锥特”。1柯锥特=约1/64日工资的罗马铜币。
  6. 马太福音 5:27 那吩咐——有古抄本作“那吩咐古人的话”。
  7. 马太福音 5:27 《出埃及记》20:14;《申命记》5:18。
  8. 马太福音 5:29 身体的一部分——或译作“一个肢体”。
  9. 马太福音 5:31 《申命记》24:1。
  10. 马太福音 5:33 《利未记》19:12;《民数记》30:2;《申命记》23:21。
  11. 马太福音 5:38 《出埃及记》21:24;《利未记》24:20;《申命记》19:21。
  12. 马太福音 5:39 左脸——原文直译“另一边”。
  13. 马太福音 5:40 里衣——或译作“衬袍”。
  14. 马太福音 5:41 一里——原文为“1米利翁”。1米利翁=1500公尺。
  15. 马太福音 5:43 《利未记》19:18。
  16. 马太福音 5:43 敌人——或译作“反对者”。
  17. 马太福音 5:44 敌人——或译作“反对者”。
  18. 马太福音 5:44 有古抄本附“祝福那些诅咒你们的人,善待那些恨你们的人,”。
  19. 马太福音 5:44 有古抄本附“诋毁、”。
  20. 马太福音 5:47 外邦人——有古抄本作“税吏”。

Jesus teaches his disciples

Jesus saw that crowds of people were following him. So he went up a hill and he sat down there to teach them. His disciples came near to listen to him. He began to teach them. This is what he said:

‘Happy are the people who know that they need God very much.
    The kingdom of heaven belongs to people like that.[a]
Happy are the people who are sad now.
    God will come near to help them.[b]
Happy are the people who are kind.
    The whole earth will belong to them.
Happy are the people who want to obey God, as much as they want to eat food.
    God will give to them everything that they need.
Happy are the people who help other people and who forgive them.
    God will forgive people like that.
Happy are the people who have only good thoughts.
    They will come near to God and see him.
Happy are the people who bring people together to be friends.
    God will call them his children.
10 Happy are the people who do what is right but other people hurt them because of it.
    The kingdom of heaven belongs to people like that.

11 Yes, happy are you when people say bad things against you because you believe in me. Or they may hurt you. Or they may say things about you that are not true. 12 God is preparing many good things for you in heaven. So you should be very happy when people do these bad things to any of you. People did these same things to God's prophets who lived long ago.’

Jesus' disciples are like salt and light

13 Jesus said, ‘You are like salt for all people to taste and use. Salt is good. But if it is not salty any more, you cannot make it salty again. People can no longer use it for anything. They just throw it away and they walk on it.

14 You are like a light for everybody in this world. If people build a city on a hill, then other people can see it easily. 15 Nobody lights a lamp and then puts it under a pot. He will put the lamp in a high place.[c] Everybody who is in the house can then see the light from the lamp. 16 You must be sure that your light shines well. Then you will give light to other people. They will see all the good things that you do.[d] Then they will praise God, who is your Father in heaven.’

Jesus talks about the Laws that Moses gave to the Jews

17 Jesus said, ‘You should not think that I have come to destroy God's Law. Also, I have not come to destroy the messages that God's prophets wrote down. No, I have not come to destroy their words. I have come to make what they taught become true. 18 I tell you this: One day, even the earth and the sky will finish. But while they remain, God's Law will also remain. Nobody can remove even the smallest thing from it. The Law will remain until everything in it has happened.

19 A person may choose not to obey a rule in God's Law. He may think it is the least important rule. He may also teach other people to think like that. Then God will call him the least important person in the kingdom of heaven. But a person may choose to obey all the rules in God's Law. And he may teach other people to obey them too. Then God will call that person great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 I tell you this: You must always do what is right. You must live in a way that is better than the teachers of God's Law and the Pharisees.[e] You will never come into the kingdom of heaven if you do not do better than them.’

Jesus teaches about angry people

21 Jesus then said, ‘You know the rule that God gave to your ancestors: “You must not kill anyone. Any person who does kill someone will stand in front of a judge.[f] The judge will punish him because he has done a wrong thing.” 22 But what I now say to you is this: Anybody who is angry with his brother will have to stand in front of a judge. Or someone might call his brother by a bad name. Then he will have to stand in front of the Jewish leaders. They will judge him. But someone may say to his brother, “You are a fool.”[g] God will judge that person. God may punish him in the fires of hell.

23 Maybe you go to the temple to give your gift to God. You take it to the altar. But then you remember that your brother is angry with you. 24 You must leave your gift there in front of God's altar. First you must go and find your brother. Tell him that you are sorry. Then you can both become friends with each other again. After that, you can return to the altar and give your gift to God.

25 Also, somebody may say that you have done something wrong against him. He may take you to stand in front of the judge.[h] You should quickly try to agree with this person. Decide with him how to make things right again. Do this even while you are going with him to the judge. If you do not do that, the judge may agree that you have done a wrong thing. Then he will give you to his officer. His officer will put you in prison. 26 I tell you this: You will remain in prison until you have paid all the money, even the last small coin.’

Jesus teaches people about bad thoughts

27 Jesus then said, ‘You know what God's rule says: “You must not have sex with anyone who is not your husband or your wife.” 28 But what I tell you is this: A man may look at a woman who is not his wife. And he may want to have sex with her. In his thoughts, he has had sex with her, so he has done a wrong thing. 29 If your right eye leads you to do wrong things, then you should take it out. You should throw it away. Yes, you will lose one eye. But it will be much worse if you keep your whole body and God throws you into hell. 30 Also, if your right hand leads you to do wrong things, then you should cut it off. You should throw it away. You will lose one hand. But it will be much worse if you keep your body in one piece and go to hell.’[i]

Jesus talks about when a man sends his wife away

31 ‘God's Law also says: “Any man who wants to send his wife away must give her a letter. This letter must say that they are no longer married.” 32 But what I tell you is this: A man must not send his wife away except for one reason. He may only send her away if she has had sex with another man. If he sends her away for any other reason, he has done a wrong thing. It is like he has caused her to have sex with another man. Also, if a woman has left her husband, another man must not marry her. That is the same as if he had sex with another man's wife.’

Jesus teaches people about promises to God

33 ‘You also know the rule that God gave to your ancestors: “If you make a promise to God, you must do what you have said.” 34 But what I tell you is this. Do not use any name to make a promise stronger. Do not use the words “by heaven” to make a promise stronger. Heaven is the place where God rules. Do not use the words “by the earth” to make a promise stronger. The earth is the place where God rests his feet. 35 Do not use the words “by Jerusalem” to make a promise stronger. Jerusalem is God's city. He is the great King who rules from there. 36 Do not use the words “by my head” to make a promise. You cannot make the colour of even one of your hairs black or white. 37 Instead, when you make a promise, you should say only “Yes, I will do it.” Or you should say only “No, I will not do it.” If you say anything more than this, what you say is bad.[j] It comes from Satan.’

Jesus teaches how to love people

38 Jesus then said, ‘You also know that God's Law says: “If somebody destroys your eye, then you should destroy that person's eye. If somebody destroys your tooth, then you should destroy that person's tooth.” 39 But what I tell you is this. If somebody does something bad to you, do not do anything against him.[k] Somebody may slap you on one side of your face. Then you should also let him slap the other side of your face.

40 Maybe somebody wants to take you to the judge. He says that you should give him your shirt. Give the man your shirt, and give him your coat too. 41 Or a soldier may tell you, “Carry my luggage for one kilometre.” You should do that. Even agree to carry it for two kilometres. 42 When people ask you for something, you should give it to them. If they ask you to lend them something, then you should not refuse.

43 You have heard people say, “Love the people who are your friends. But hate those who want to hurt you.” 44 What I tell you is this: You should love the people who want to hurt you. If people want to give you pain, pray for them. Pray that God would help them. 45 If you live like this, you will show that you really are children of your Father above. God is kind to everyone. He causes the sun to shine on everyone, both good people and bad people. He also causes the rain to fall on everyone, people who obey him and people who do not obey him. 46 Do you only love people who love you? God will not give you good things just for doing that. Even the men who take taxes love their friends![l]

47 If you are only kind to your friends, then you are not doing anything special. Even people who do not believe in God do that. 48 So you must be good in every way, as your Father above is good in every way.’

Footnotes

  1. 5:3 ‘Happy’ here means that God has blessed people who are like this. They may not always feel happy, but they are in a good place, a happy place. God will take care of them.
  2. 5:4 Jesus was not only speaking about people who are sad. Some people are sorry about all the bad things that they have done. Jesus was speaking about those people.
  3. 5:15 At this time, people burned oil in a dish to make a light. They called this a lamp. When it was burning, they sometimes put it on a place high on a wall.
  4. 5:16 Jesus is teaching his disciples about how they must live in a good way that makes God happy. Light shows people the way. In the same way, the disciples must show people the way to God.
  5. 5:20 The teachers of God's Law and the Pharisees thought that they obeyed every rule in the Law. But they did not do it because they loved God. They wanted other people to think well of them.
  6. 5:21 At the time when Jesus said this, there were 71 important rulers in Jerusalem. And they met together to judge a bad person. The leader of the priests was their leader. These men had great power. God is the most powerful judge. Only he can send a person to hell.
  7. 5:22 When Jesus used the word brother, he was also talking about any special friend.
  8. 5:25 A judge listens to what people say against each other. He then decides who is right or wrong. Jesus is telling the people that everyone has done wrong things to God. They do not obey him in the way that they should. Jesus says that we should believe in him now. If we do not, then God will judge us. And he will punish us when we stand in front of him.
  9. 5:30 Jesus does not want his disciples to cut their bodies. It is very important for them not to do wrong things. And Jesus is telling them this.
  10. 5:37 People used to say these extra words when they made a promise. They wanted other people to know that they would keep their promise. Jesus taught that we should always keep our promises (do what we promised to do).
  11. 5:39 We should not do bad things to other people who have done bad things to us.
  12. 5:46 The men who took taxes for the Roman government took the money from their own people, the Jews. They often took more money than they should have taken. So people hated the men who took taxes from them.

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

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

The Beatitudes(A)

He said:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(B)
Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.(C)
Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.(D)
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.(E)
Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.(F)
Blessed are the pure in heart,(G)
    for they will see God.(H)
Blessed are the peacemakers,(I)
    for they will be called children of God.(J)
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,(K)
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(L)

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)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:21 Exodus 20:13
  2. Matthew 5:22 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woman; also in verse 23.
  3. Matthew 5:22 Some manuscripts brother or sister without cause
  4. Matthew 5:22 An Aramaic term of contempt
  5. Matthew 5:27 Exodus 20:14
  6. Matthew 5:31 Deut. 24:1
  7. Matthew 5:37 Or from evil
  8. Matthew 5:38 Exodus 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21
  9. Matthew 5:43 Lev. 19:18