Matthew 5:1-20

Holman Christian Standard Bible

The Sermon on the Mount

5 When He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain,^(A) and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. ² Then^[a] He began to teach them, saying:^(B)

The Beatitudes

¹¹ “You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. ¹² Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted^(L) the prophets who were before you.^(M)

Believers Are Salt and Light

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.^(N)

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.^{(O) 15} No one lights a lamp^(P) and puts it under a basket,^[b] but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.^{(Q) 16} In the same way, let your light shine^[c] before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.^(R)

Christ Fulfills the Law

¹⁷ “Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.^{(S) 18} For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter^[d] or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished. ¹⁹ Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches people to do so 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.^{(T) 20} For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.