The Sermon on the Mount

When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain,(A) and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then[a] he began to teach them, saying:(B)

The Beatitudes

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,(C)
for the kingdom of heaven(D) is theirs.
Blessed are those who mourn,(E)
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the humble,(F)
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,(G)
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.(H)
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.(I)
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.(J)
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for the kingdom of heaven(K) is theirs.

11 “You are blessed when they insult you 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?[b] It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.(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, 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 before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.(R)

Christ Fulfills the Law

17 “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.(S) 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter[c] or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does 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 get into the kingdom of heaven.

Murder Begins in the Heart

21 “You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder,[d](U) and whoever murders will be subject to judgment.(V) 22 But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister[e] will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults[f] his brother or sister will be subject to the court.[g] Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hellfire.[h](W) 23 So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Reach a settlement quickly with your adversary while you’re on the way with him to the court, or your adversary will hand you over to the judge, and the judge to[i] the officer, and you will be thrown into prison.(X) 26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny.[j]

Adultery Begins in the Heart

27 “You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery.[k](Y) 28 But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.(Z) 29 If your right eye causes you to sin,(AA) gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.(AB) 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Divorce Practices Censured

31 “It was also said, Whoever divorces(AC) his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.[l](AD) 32 But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.(AE)

Tell the Truth

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors,You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord.[m](AF) 34 But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, because it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.(AG) 36 Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.(AH)

Go the Second Mile

38 “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.[n](AI) 39 But I tell you, don’t resist[o] an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.(AJ) 40 As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.(AK)

Love Your Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor[p](AL) and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies[q] and pray for those who[r] persecute you,(AM) 45 so that you may be[s] children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.(AN) 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary?[t](AO) Don’t even the Gentiles[u] do the same? 48 Be perfect,(AP) therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Footnotes

  1. 5:2 Lit Then opening his mouth
  2. 5:13 Or how can the earth be salted?
  3. 5:18 Or not one iota; iota is the smallest letter of the Gk alphabet.
  4. 5:21 Ex 20:13; Dt 5:17
  5. 5:22 Other mss add without a cause
  6. 5:22 Lit Whoever says ‘Raca’; an Aramaic term of abuse that puts someone down, insulting one’s intelligence
  7. 5:22 Lit Sanhedrin
  8. 5:22 Lit the gehenna of fire
  9. 5:25 Other mss read judge will hand you over to
  10. 5:26 Lit quadrans, the smallest and least valuable Roman coin, worth 1/64 of a daily wage
  11. 5:27 Ex 20:14; Dt 5:18
  12. 5:31 Dt 24:1
  13. 5:33 Lv 19:12; Nm 30:2; Dt 23:21
  14. 5:38 Ex 21:24; Lv 24:20; Dt 19:21
  15. 5:39 Or don’t set yourself against, or don’t retaliate against
  16. 5:43 Lv 19:18
  17. 5:44 Other mss add bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you,
  18. 5:44 Other mss add mistreat you and
  19. 5:45 Or may become, or may show yourselves to be
  20. 5:47 Or doing that is superior; lit doing more
  21. 5:47 Other mss read tax collectors

八福

耶稣看见这些人群,就上了山,刚坐下,门徒便走到祂跟前, 祂就开口教导他们,说:

“心灵贫穷的人有福了,
因为天国是他们的。
哀痛的人有福了,
因为他们必得安慰。
谦和的人有福了,
因为他们必承受土地。
爱慕公义如饥似渴的人有福了,
因为他们必得饱足。
心存怜悯的人有福了,
因为他们必蒙上帝的怜悯。
心灵纯洁的人有福了,
因为他们必看见上帝。
使人和睦的人有福了,
因为他们必被称为上帝的儿女。
10 为义受迫害的人有福了,
因为天国是他们的。

11 “人们因为我的缘故侮辱、迫害、肆意毁谤你们,你们就有福了。 12 要欢喜快乐,因为你们在天上有很大的奖赏。他们也曾这样迫害以前的先知。

盐和光

13 “你们是世上的盐。如果盐失去咸味,怎能使它再变咸呢?它将毫无用处,只有被丢在外面任人践踏。 14 你们是世上的光,如同建在山上的城一样无法隐藏。 15 人点亮了灯,不会把它放在斗底下,而是放在灯台上,好照亮全家。 16 同样,你们的光也应当照在人面前,好让他们看见你们的好行为,便赞美你们天上的父。

成全律法

17 “不要以为我是来废除律法和先知书,我不是来废除,乃是来成全。 18 我实在告诉你们,就是到天地都消失了,律法的一点一划都不会废除,全都要成就。 19 所以,谁违背这些诫命中最小的一条,并教导别人违背,谁在天国将被称为最小的。但谁遵守这些诫命,并教导别人遵守,谁在天国将被称为大的。 20 我告诉你们,除非你们的义胜过律法教师和法利赛人的义,否则断不能进天国。

论仇恨

21 “你们听过吩咐古人的话,‘不可杀人,杀人的要受审判。’ 22 但我告诉你们,凡无缘无故[a]向弟兄发怒的,要受审判;凡骂弟兄是白痴的,要受公会[b]的审判;凡骂弟兄是笨蛋的,难逃地狱的火。

23 “所以,你在祭坛前献祭的时候,要是想起有弟兄和你有过节, 24 就该把祭物留在祭坛前,先去跟他和好,然后再来献祭。

25 “趁着你和告你的人还在去法庭的路上,你要赶紧与对方和解。不然,他会把你交给审判官,审判官会把你交给差役关进监牢。 26 我实在告诉你,要是有一分钱没有还清,你绝不能从那里出来。

论通奸

27 “你们听过这样的话,‘不可通奸。’ 28 但我告诉你们,凡看见妇女就动淫念的,他在心里已经犯了通奸罪。 29 如果你的右眼使你犯罪,就把它剜掉!宁可失去身体的一部分,也比整个人下地狱好。 30 如果你的右手使你犯罪,就把它砍掉!宁可失去身体的一部分,也比整个人下地狱好。

论休妻

31 “还有话说,‘人若休妻,必须给她休书’。 32 但我告诉你们,除非是妻子不贞,否则,休妻就是使妻子犯通奸罪,娶被休女子的人也犯了通奸罪。

论起誓

33 “你们也听过吩咐古人的话,‘不可违背誓言,总要向主遵守所起的誓。’ 34 但我告诉你们,不可起誓。不可指着天起誓,因为天是上帝的宝座。 35 不可指着地起誓,因为地是上帝的脚凳。不可指着圣城耶路撒冷起誓,因为那是大君王的城。 36 也不可指着自己的头起誓,因为你不能使一根头发变黑或变白。 37 你们说话,是就说是,不是就说不是,多说的便是来自那恶者[c]

论爱仇敌

38 “你们听过这样的话,‘以眼还眼,以牙还牙。’ 39 但我告诉你们,不要跟恶人作对。有人打你的右脸,连左脸也转过来让他打。 40 有人想控告你,要夺取你的内衣,连外衣也给他。 41 有人强迫你走一里路,你就跟他走二里路。 42 有求你的,就给他;有向你借的,不可拒绝他。

43 “你们听过这样的话,‘要爱邻居,恨仇敌。’ 44 但我告诉你们,要爱仇敌,为迫害你们的人祷告。 45 这样,你们才是天父的孩子。因为祂让阳光照好人也照坏人,降雨给义人也给恶人。 46 如果你们只爱那些爱你们的人,有什么值得嘉奖的呢?就是税吏也会这样做。 47 如果你们只问候自己的弟兄,有什么特别呢?就是外族人也会这样做。 48 所以,你们要纯全,正如你们的天父是纯全的。

Footnotes

  1. 5:22 有古卷无“无缘无故”。
  2. 5:22 公会”是当时犹太人的最高司法机构,处理宗教、道德和伦理等事务。
  3. 5:37 那恶者即魔鬼,又名撒旦。