Old/New Testament

The Beatitudes

5 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the hillside, and sat down. His disciples came to him. ² He took a deep breath, and began his teaching:

³ “Blessings on the poor in spirit! The kingdom of heaven is yours.

⁴ “Blessings on the mourners! You’re going to be comforted.

⁵ “Blessings on the meek! You’re going to inherit the earth.

⁶ “Blessings on people who hunger and thirst for God’s justice! You’re going to be satisfied.

⁷ “Blessings on the merciful! You’ll receive mercy yourselves.

⁸ “Blessings on the pure in heart! You will see God.

⁹ “Blessings on the peacemakers! You’ll be called God’s children.

¹⁰ “Blessings on people who are persecuted because of God’s saving plan! The kingdom of heaven belongs to you.

¹¹ “Blessings on you, when people slander you and persecute you, and say all kinds of wicked things about you falsely because of me! ¹² Celebrate and rejoice: there’s a great reward for you in heaven. That’s how they persecuted the prophets who went before you.”

Fulfilling the law

¹³ “You’re the salt of the earth! But if the salt becomes tasteless, how is it going to get salty again? It’s no good for anything. You might as well throw it out and walk all over it.

¹⁴ “You’re the light of the world! A city can’t be hidden if it’s on top of a hill. ¹⁵ People don’t light a lamp and put it under a bucket; they put it on a lampstand. Then it gives light to everybody in the house. ¹⁶ That’s how you must shine your light in front of people! Then they will see what wonderful things you do, and they’ll give glory to your father in heaven.

¹⁷ “Don’t suppose that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy them; I came to fulfill them! ¹⁸ I’m telling you the truth: until heaven and earth disappear, not one stroke, not one dot, is going to disappear from the law, until it’s all come true. ¹⁹ So anyone who relaxes a single one of these commandments, even the little ones, and teaches that to people, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But anyone who does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

²⁰ “Yes, let me tell you: unless your covenant behavior is far superior to that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get in to the kingdom of heaven.”

On murder and reconciliation

²¹ “You heard that it was said to the ancient people, ‘You shall not murder’; and anyone who commits murder shall be liable to judgment. ²² But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; anyone who uses foul and abusive language will be liable to the lawcourt; and anyone who says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to the fires of Gehenna.

²³ “So, if you are coming to the altar with your gift, and there you remember that your brother has a grievance against you, ²⁴ leave your gift right there in front of the altar, and go first and be reconciled to your brother. Then come back and offer your gift. ²⁵ Make friends with your opponent quickly, while you are with him in the street, in case your opponent hands you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you find yourself being thrown into jail. ²⁶ I’m telling you the truth: you won’t get out until you’ve paid every last copper coin.”