Matthew 5:21-37

New King James Version

Murder Begins in the Heart^(A)

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to those ^[a]of old, ^(B)‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that ^(C)whoever is angry with his brother ^[b]without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ^(D)‘Raca!’^[c] shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ^[d]‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of ^[e]hell fire. ²³ Therefore ^(E)if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, ^24 (F)leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. ^25 (G)Agree with your adversary quickly, ^(H)while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

Adultery in the Heart

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said ^[f]to those of old, ^(I)‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I say to you that whoever ^(J)looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ^29 (K)If your right eye causes you to ^[g]sin, ^(L)pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to ^[h]sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Marriage Is Sacred and Binding^(M)

³¹ “Furthermore it has been said, ^(N)‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ ³² But I say to you that ^(O)whoever divorces his wife for any reason except ^[i]sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

Jesus Forbids Oaths

³³ “Again you have heard that ^(P)it was said to those of ^[j]old, ^(Q)‘You shall not swear falsely, but ^(R)shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ ³⁴ But I say to you, ^(S)do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is ^(T)God’s throne; ³⁵ nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of ^(U)the great King. ³⁶ Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. ^37 (V)But let ^[k]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.