The Sermon on the Mount; The Beatitudes

(A)Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on (B)the [a]mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. And (C)He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,

[b](D)Blessed are the poor in spirit, for (E)theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are (F)those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

“Blessed are (G)the [c]gentle, for they will inherit the earth.

“Blessed are (H)those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

“Blessed are (I)the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

“Blessed are (J)the pure in heart, for (K)they will see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for (L)they will be called sons of God.

10 “Blessed are those who have been (M)persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for (N)theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people (O)insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for (P)in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Disciples and the World

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but (Q)if the salt has become tasteless, how [d]can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people.

14 “You are (R)the light of the world. A city set on a [e]hill cannot be hidden; 15 (S)nor do people light a lamp and put it under a [f]basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may (T)see your good works, and (U)glorify your Father who is in heaven.

17 “Do not presume that I came to abolish the (V)Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, (W)until heaven and earth pass away, not [g]the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished! 19 Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches [h]others to do the same, shall be called least (X)in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever [i]keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 “For I say to you that unless your (Y)righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Personal Relationships

21 (Z)You have heard that [j]the ancients were told, ‘(AA)You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to (AB)the court.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to (AC)the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘[k]You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to [l](AD)the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the [m](AE)fiery hell. 23 Therefore, if you are (AF)presenting your [n]offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your [o]offering there before the altar and go; first be (AG)reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your [p]offering. 25 [q](AH)Come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way to court, so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I say to you, (AI)you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last [r]quadrans.

27 (AJ)You have heard that it was said, ‘(AK)You shall not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman (AL)with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 Now (AM)if your right eye is causing you to sin, tear it out and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, [s]than for your whole body to be thrown into [t](AN)hell. 30 And (AO)if your right hand is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; for it is better for you [u]to lose one of the parts of your body, [v]than for your whole body to go into [w](AP)hell.

31 “Now it was said, ‘(AQ)Whoever sends his wife away is to give her a certificate of divorce’; 32 (AR)but I say to you that everyone who [x]divorces his wife, except for the reason of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a [y]divorced woman commits adultery.

33 “Again, (AS)you have heard that [z]the ancients were told, ‘[aa](AT)You shall not [ab]make false vows, but shall fulfill your [ac]vows to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, (AU)take no oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is (AV)the throne of God, 35 nor by the earth, for it is the (AW)footstool of His feet, nor [ad]by Jerusalem, for it is (AX)the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you take an oath by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37 But make sure your statement is, ‘[ae]Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is [af]of (AY)evil origin.

38 (AZ)You have heard that it was said, ‘(BA)Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, do not show opposition against an evil person; but (BB)whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other toward him also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your [ag]tunic, let him have your [ah]cloak also. 41 Whoever [ai]forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 (BC)Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

43 (BD)You have heard that it was said, ‘(BE)You shall love your neighbor (BF)and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, (BG)love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may prove yourselves to be (BH)sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For (BI)if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same? 48 Therefore (BJ)you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:1 Or hill
  2. Matthew 5:3 I.e., fortunate or prosperous, and so through v 11
  3. Matthew 5:5 Or humble, meek
  4. Matthew 5:13 Lit will
  5. Matthew 5:14 Or mountain
  6. Matthew 5:15 Lit peck-measure
  7. Matthew 5:18 Lit one iota (Heb yodh) or one projection (serif)
  8. Matthew 5:19 Lit people
  9. Matthew 5:19 Lit does
  10. Matthew 5:21 Lit it was said to the ancients
  11. Matthew 5:22 Or You empty-head; Gr Raka (Raca) from Aramaic reqa
  12. Matthew 5:22 Lit the Sanhedrin; i.e., Jewish High Court
  13. Matthew 5:22 Lit Gehenna of fire
  14. Matthew 5:23 Or gift
  15. Matthew 5:24 Or gift
  16. Matthew 5:24 Or gift
  17. Matthew 5:25 I.e., settle the case
  18. Matthew 5:26 A small Roman copper coin, worth about 1/64 of a laborer’s daily wage
  19. Matthew 5:29 Lit and that your whole body not be
  20. Matthew 5:29 Gr Gehenna
  21. Matthew 5:30 Lit that one...be lost
  22. Matthew 5:30 Lit and not your whole body
  23. Matthew 5:30 Gr Gehenna
  24. Matthew 5:32 Lit sends away, the Heb term for divorce
  25. Matthew 5:32 Lit woman sent away
  26. Matthew 5:33 Lit it was said to the ancients
  27. Matthew 5:33 you and your are singular here
  28. Matthew 5:33 Or break your vows
  29. Matthew 5:33 Lit oaths
  30. Matthew 5:35 Or toward
  31. Matthew 5:37 I.e., a clear “yes” or “no”
  32. Matthew 5:37 Or from the evil one
  33. Matthew 5:40 A long shirt worn next to the skin
  34. Matthew 5:40 Or outer garment
  35. Matthew 5:41 Lit will force

When Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach saw the multitudes, he ALAH HAHAR (went up the mountain, SHEMOT 19:3) and when he sat down, his talmidim came to him.

Then Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach began to speak, and gave them this torah (teaching), saying,

Ashrey ANIYEI HARUACH (Blessed, Happy are the poor in spirit, YESHAYAH 66:2) for theirs is the Malchut HaShomayim.

Ashrey are the AVELIM (the ones mourning, YESHAYAH 61:2), for they will be comforted.

Ashrey are the ANAVIM (humble, YESHAYAH 29:19; ZEFANYAH 2:3), for YIRESHU ARETZ (they will inherit the land, TEHILLIM 37:11).

Ashrey are the ones hungering and thirsting for Tzidkat Hashem (Tzedek Olamim, Everlasting Righteousness, DANIEL 9:24), for they will be satisfied.

Ashrey are the merciful, for they will be shown rachamim (mercy).

Ashrey are those of LEV TAHOR (pure heart, TEHILLIM 51:12 [10]), for they will see Hashem.

Ashrey are the peacemakers, for they will be called bnei haElohim (sons of G-d).

10 Ashrey are the ones being persecuted because of Tzidkat Hashem (righteousness, DANIEL 9:24), for theirs is the Malchut HaShomayim.

11 Ashrey are you when they reproach you and persecute you and speak all kinds of lashon horah against you, speaking sheker (falsehood, lies) because of me [Moshiach].

12 Have simcha (joy) and lev sameach (glad heart), for your sachar (reward) is great in Shomayim, for thus they persecuted the Neviim before you.

13 You are the melach haaretz (salt of the earth), but if the salt becomes tasteless, in what way will it become salty again? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled by men.

14 You are the Ohr HaOlam (the Light of the World). A city lying on a mountaintop cannot be nistar (hidden).

15 No one, after lighting a menorah, places it under a measuring basket, but on the shulchan (table), and it gives ohr (light) to kol anshei habais (all in the house).

16 In like manner, let your light so shine before Bnei Adam, that they may see your maasim tovim (good works) and give kavod (glory) to your Av shbaShomayim (Father in Heaven).

17 Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Neviim. I did not come to abolish but to complete.

18 For, omein, truly I say to you, until Shomayim and haaretz pass away, not one yod, not one tag (ornamental flourish), will pass from the Torah until everything is accomplished.

19 Therefore, whoever annuls one of the least of these mitzvot (divine commandments given by Hashem to Moshe Rebbenu) and so teaches Bnei Adam, shall be called katon (least) in the Malchut HaShomayim; but whoever practices and teaches them, this one will be called gadol (great) in the Malchut HaShomayim.

20 For I say unto you that unless the Tzedek (Righteousness) of you exceeds that of the Sofrim and Perushim, you will certainly not enter the Malchut HaShomayim.

21 You have heard that it was said to the ancients, LO TIRTZACH (Do not murder, SHEMOT 20:13; DEVARIM 5:17), and every rotzeach (murderer) shall be liable before the Bet Din (Court).

22 But I say to you, that everyone who harbors kaas (anger) against his Ach [b’Moshiach], his chaver, shall be subject to mishpat (judgment); and whoever shall say to his Ach [b’Moshiach], Reyka! (Good for nothing!) will be subject to the Sanhedrin; and whoever shall say Shoteh! (Fool) shall be subject to Eish Gehinnom (Fire of Hell).

23 Therefore, if you bring your korban (sacrifice) to the Mizbeach (altar), and there you remember that your Ach [b’Moshiach] has something against you,

24 leave your korban there before the Mizbeach, and go and first be reconciled to your Ach [b’Moshiach]; and then come offer your korban.

25 Come to terms quickly with your ish riv (opponent in a lawsuit), while you are a fellow-traveler on the derech eretz, lest the ish riv might deliver you to the shofet (judge), and the shofet might deliver you to the shoter (law official), and the shoter might deliver you to the beit hasohar (prison house).

26 For, omein, truly I say to you, you may never come out from there until you repay the last peruta (small coin).

27 You have heard that it was said, LO TINAF (Do not commit adultery, SHEMOT 20:14).

28 But I say to you that everyone looking upon a woman with taavah (lust) for her has already committed niuf (adultery) with her in his heart.

29 And if your right eye causes you to commit chet (sin), tear it out and throw it from you, for it is better for you that one of your evarim (members) be lost and not your whole basar (body, flesh) be thrown into Gehinnom.

30 And if your right hand causes you to commit chet, cut it off and throw it from you, for it is better for you that one of your evarim (members) be lost and not that your whole basar may go into Gehinnom.

31 It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife, let him give to her a “get,” a SEFER KERITUT (bill of divorce, DEVARIM 24:1).

32 But I say to you that everyone divorcing his wife, except for the DVAR (indecent thing, DEVARIM 24:1) of zenut (fornication), makes her become a noefet (adulteress), and whoever marries a gerusha (divorcee) commits niuf (adultery).

33 Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, You shall not break your nederim (vows), but you shall repay your vows to Hashem.[T.N.See VAYIKRA 19:12; BAMIDBAR 30:3; DEVARIM 23:22]

34 But I say to you, Do not swear shevuot (oaths) at all, neither by Shomayim, for it is the kes malchut of Hashem (throne of G-d),

35 nor by haaretz, for it is the hadom (footstool) of his feet, nor by Yerushalayim, for it is the kiryat melech rav (city of the great king, TEHILLIM 48:3[2]).

36 Neither are you to swear by your rosh, for you are not able to make one hair turn white or black.

37 But let your word be ken, ken (yes, yes) or lo, lo (no, no), but anything beyond this is lashon horah.

38 You have heard that it was said, AYIN TACHAT AYIN, SHEN TACHAT SHEN (An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth SHEMOT 21:24).

39 But I say to you, Do not set yourself against the rasha (evil person), but whoever hits you on your right cheek, turn to him also the other cheek.

40 And the one wishing to sue you and take your tunic, give to him also your kaftan.

41 And whoever will force you to go one mile, go with him two.

42 And the one asking you to give and the one wishing to borrow from you, from these do not turn away.

43 You have heard that it was said, VAHAVTAH LREIACHAH (You shall love your neighbor, VAYIKRA 19:18) and you shall hate your oyev (enemy).

44 But I say to you, Love your enemies, and offer tefillos (prayers) for the ones bringing redifah (persecution) upon you.

45 Do this so that you may become banim of your Av shbaShomayim, for His shemesh (sun) He makes to rise on the ra’im (evil ones) and the tovim (good ones), and He sends His geshem (rain) upon the tzaddikim (righteous ones) and the resha’im (unrighteous ones).

46 For if you have ahavah (love) for the ones who have ahavah for you, what sachar (reward) do you have? Even the mochesim (tax collectors) do that, don’t they?

47 And if you give Drishat Shalom (greetings) only to your Achim [b’Moshiach], what extraordinary thing are you doing? Don’t even the Goyim do the same?

48 Therefore, be shlemim (complete), even as is your Av shbaShomayim.