M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

In this chapter and the two next following is contained the most excellent and loving sermon of Christ in the Mount, which sermon is the very key that opens the understanding into the law. In this fifth chapter especially, he preaches of the 8 beatitudes, or blessings; of manslaughter, wrath, and anger; of adultery, of swearing, of suffering wrong; and of love, even toward a person’s enemies.

5 When Jesus saw the crowds of people, he went up into a mountain. And when he was seated, his disciples came to him. ² And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

¹³ You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt has lost her saltness, what can be salted with it? It is thereafter good for nothing but to be cast out and to be trodden underfoot by men.

¹⁴ You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵ Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

¹⁷ Do not think that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets. No, I have not come to destroy them, but to fulfil them. ¹⁸ For truly I say to you, till heaven and earth perish, not one jot or one tittle of the law shall escape, till all be fulfilled. ¹⁹ Whosoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, he will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whosoever observes and teaches them, the same will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I say to you, unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.

²¹ You have heard how it was said to the people of the old time, You shall not kill. For whosoever kills will be liable to judgment. ²² But I say to you, whosoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment. Whosoever says to his brother, Racha! will be liable to a council. But whosoever says, You fool! will be liable to hell fire.

²³ Therefore, when you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has anything against you, ²⁴ leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way first and be reconciled to your brother; and then come and offer your gift.

²⁵ Reconcile with your adversary quickly while you are in the way with him, lest the adversary commit you to the judge, and the judge commit you to the officer, and then you be cast into prison. ²⁶ Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there till you have paid the last penny.

²⁷ You have heard how it was said to the people of the old time, You shall not commit adultery. ²⁸ But I say to you that whosoever looks on a wife, lusting after her, has committed adultery with her already in his heart. ²⁹ Therefore, if your right eye causes you to offend, tear it out and cast it from you. It is better for you that one of your members perish than that your whole body should be cast into hell. ³⁰ Also, if your right hand causes you to offend, cut it off and cast it from you. Better it is that one of your members perish, than that all your body should be cast into hell.

³¹ It is said, Whosoever puts away his wife, let him give her a testimonial also of the divorce. ³² But I say to you, whosoever puts away his wife (unless it be for fornication), causes her to break matrimony. And whoever marries her who is divorced, breaks wedlock.

³³ Again, you have heard how it was said to the people of old time, Do not forswear yourself, but perform your oath to God. ³⁴ But I say to you, do not swear at all – neither by heaven, for it is God’s seat, ³⁵ nor yet by the earth, for it his footstool, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of that great king. ³⁶ Neither should you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ But let your communication be yes, yes, and no, no. For whatever is more than that, comes of evil.

³⁸ You have heard how it is said, An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. ³⁹ But I say to you, do not resist wrong. But whosoever gives you a blow on your right cheek, turn to him the other. ⁴⁰ And if any man would sue you at law and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. ⁴¹ And whoever would compel you to go a mile, go with him two. ⁴² Give to him who asks, and from him who would borrow, turn not away.

⁴³ You have heard how it is said, You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy. ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies. Bless those who curse you. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for those who do you wrong and persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be the children of your Father that is in heaven. For he makes his sun to arise on the evil and on the good, and sends his rain on the just and the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward should you have? Do not the publicans do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you are friendly to your brethren only, what singular thing are you doing? Do not the publicans do likewise? ⁴⁸ You must therefore be perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

The dissembling of Ananias and Sapphira is punished. Miracles are done by the apostles, who are seized, but the angel of God brings them out of prison. They are brought before the council. The advice of Gamaliel. The apostles are beaten. They rejoice in trouble.

5 A certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold some property, ² and kept back part of the money (his wife also knowing of it), and brought a certain part and laid it down at the apostles’ feet. ³ Then Peter said, Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you would lie to the Holy Spirit and keep away part of the proceeds of the land? ⁴ Did it not belong to you alone? And after it was sold, was the money not at your own disposal? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.

⁵ When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and gave up the spirit. And great fear came on all them that heard these things. ⁶ And the young men rose up, and put Ananias apart, and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ And then, about the space of three hours after, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened. ⁸ And Peter said to her, Tell me, did you sell the land for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much. ⁹ Then Peter said to her, Why have you agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and will carry you out.

¹⁰ Then she fell down straightaway at his feet and yielded up the spirit. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carried her out and buried her by her husband.

¹¹ And great fear came on all the congregation, and on as many as heard these things.

¹² By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were shown among the people. And they were all together with one accord in Solomon’s porch. ¹³ And none of the rest dared join himself to them; nevertheless, the people held them in high regard.

¹⁴ The number of those who believed in the Lord, both of men and women, grew more and more, ¹⁵ insomuch that they brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and pallets so that at least the shadow of Peter, when he came by, might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ Many people also came from the towns round about Jerusalem, bringing sick folks and those who were vexed with unclean spirits. And they were healed, every one.

¹⁷ Then the chief priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and were full of indignation, ¹⁸ and laid hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. ¹⁹ But the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night and brought them out, and said, ²⁰ Go; step forth, and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. ²¹ When they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning and taught.

The chief priest came, and those who were with him, and called a council together with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to fetch the apostles. ²² When the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, saying, ²³ We found the prison shut as securely as was possible, and the guards standing outside before the doors. But when we opened up, we found no one within.

  ²⁴ When the most chief priest and the chief warden of the temple and the high priests heard these things, they were fearful about them, what this might grow into. ²⁵ Then someone came and told them, Behold, the men that you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.

²⁶ Then the chief warden of the temple went with officers, and brought them without violence because they feared to be stoned by the people.

²⁷ And when they had brought the apostles, they set them before the council. And the chief priest asked them, ²⁸ saying, Did we not strictly order you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought more to obey God than men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew, hanging him on a tree. ³¹ Him God has lifted up with his right hand, to be a ruler and a saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are his witnesses concerning these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.

³³ When they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and thought to kill them. ³⁴ Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a doctor of law greatly respected among all the people, and directed that the apostles be put apart for a little while, ³⁵ and said to them, Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves, what you intend to do regarding these men. ³⁶ Before these days, one Theudas rose up, claiming himself to be somebody, and a number of men joined him – about four hundred. But he was slain, and all the people who believed him were scattered abroad and brought to nothing. ³⁷ After this man, Judas of Galilee arose, in the time when tribute began, and he drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all, even as many as followed him, are scattered abroad. ³⁸ And now I say to you, restrain yourselves concerning these men. Let them alone. For if the counsel of this work is of men, it will come to nothing. ³⁹ But if it is of God, you cannot destroy it, and you might even be found to be striving against God.

⁴⁰ And they agreed with him, and called the apostles, and beat them, and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

⁴¹ And they departed from the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for his name. ⁴² And daily in the temple and in every house they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus Christ.