⁹ But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham^(A) was mocking,^{(B) 10} and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman^(C) and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.”^(D)

¹¹ The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son.^{(E) 12} But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring^[a] will be reckoned.^{(F) 13} I will make the son of the slave into a nation^(G) also, because he is your offspring.”

¹⁴ Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar.^(H) He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.^(I)

¹⁵ When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. ¹⁶ Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she^[b] began to sob.^(J)

¹⁷ God heard the boy crying,^(K) and the angel of God^(L) called to Hagar from heaven^(M) and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid;^(N) God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. ¹⁸ Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.^(O)”

¹⁹ Then God opened her eyes^(P) and she saw a well of water.^(Q) So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

²⁰ God was with the boy^(R) as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. ²¹ While he was living in the Desert of Paran,^(S) his mother got a wife for him^(T) from Egypt.

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.^(A)

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world.^(B) 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.^{(C) 16} In the same way, let your light shine before others,^(D) that they may see your good deeds^(E) and glorify^(F) 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.^{(G) 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.^{(H) 19} Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands^(I) 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.^(J)