Matthew 5:21-37

International Children’s Bible

Jesus Teaches About Anger

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to our people long ago, ‘You must not murder anyone.^[a] Anyone who murders another will be judged.’ ²² But I tell you, if you are angry with your brother,^[b] you will be judged. And if you say bad things to your brother, you will be judged by the Jewish council. And if you call your brother a fool, then you will be in danger of the fire of hell.

²³ “So when you offer your gift to God at the altar, and you remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there at the altar. Go and make peace with him. Then come and offer your gift.

²⁵ “If your enemy is taking you to court, become friends with him quickly. You should do that before you go to court. If you don’t become his friend, he might turn you over to the judge. And the judge might give you to a guard to put you in jail. ²⁶ I tell you that you will not leave that jail until you have paid everything you owe.

Jesus Teaches About Adultery

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You must not be guilty of adultery.’^{[c] 28} But I tell you that if anyone looks at a woman with lust, he has already committed adultery with her in his mind. ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to sin, then take it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell. ³⁰ If your right hand causes you to sin, then cut it off and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Jesus Teaches About Divorce

³¹ “It was also said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a written divorce paper.’^{[d] 32} But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife is causing his wife to be guilty of adultery. The only reason for a man to divorce his wife is if she has been unfaithful to him. And anyone who marries that divorced woman is guilty of adultery.

Make Promises Carefully

³³ “You have heard that it was said to our people long ago, ‘When you make a promise, don’t break your promise. Keep the promises that you make to the Lord.’^{[e] 34} But I tell you, never make an oath. Don’t make an oath using the name of heaven, because heaven is God’s throne. ³⁵ Don’t make an oath using the name of the earth, because the earth belongs to God. Don’t make an oath using the name of Jerusalem, because that is the city of the great King. ³⁶ And don’t even say that your own head is proof that you will keep your oath. You cannot make one hair on your head become white or black. ³⁷ Say only ‘yes’ if you mean ‘yes,’ and say only ‘no’ if you mean ‘no.’ If you must say more than ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ it is from the Evil One.